How to dare do things in a LD, and fight resistance

[Ulalume]

Hurray, I just had a LD last night ! It was fantastic, i’ve never been that lucid that long before The LD came out from a FA in which I was in my room planning to go to bed, so I turned the light off and went to bed, but as I looked up the light were still on, so I retried 2 times to eventually think “How weird… What about my hands ? Hey, 6 fingers !” I also managed to ask for more lucidity, which worked, and I did at least 5 more RCs all along the dream to keep lucid .
But the thing is, I felt like potential limited, like in my previous dreams. I mean, the willing was there but my “dream character” would never dare.

For example, there was a cat in my room trying to bite me, so I decided to turn it into something less threatening : my imagination chose a flower bouquet. It almost worked, for one flower in the bouquet was huge and carnivorous and still trying to bite me !
Other example : I was standing in front of a big mirror willing to walk through it. I really wanted to, but all I did was touching it (like Neo in Matrix) and caressing the surface. Then I took some silver-colored flubber material from the mirror and started playing with it, though I never intended to do that. I was lucid and acting against my willing at the same time. So the questions are, is that subconscience keeping me from doing what I want, or is it by lack of experience in LDing, or was it just a ND/LD mix ? Or am I too scared, not confident enough, or too impatient (though I know I’m the only one who could find the answer to these) ? . Did such resistance occured to your first LDs and how did you manage to get through ? Thanks

[Don_Anonymus]

[size=150]Hello Ulalume,[/size] and welcome to the forum !

[[color=red]!!![/color] Long post ahead, but if you want this to get solved and have an alternative for your problem, read carefully. ]

@Ulalume

So the questions are, is that subconscience keeping me from doing what I want, or is it by lack of experience in LDing, or was it just a ND/LD mix ?

The lack of experience in this case, since you only had 4 (and 1/2) LD’s as I suppose, would be a fact - but not too big, since, later on, you’ll find out some of your own what-to-do-to-stay-lucid-and-do-what-you-want-to’s when LD’ing. Me for example, when I feel the LD fading I let myself fall on my back and waking up in a FA.

@Ulalume

Or am I too scared, not confident enough, or too impatient (though I know I’m the only one who could find the answer to these) ?

I think there are specific/“standard” steps to LD mastering, so people could help you out in most situations. In my opinion, fear is the biggest opponent.

@Ulalume

Did such resistance occurred to your first LDs and how did you manage to get through ?

It still does. I think I understand what you meant now: your mind thinks of things you wouldn’t want to happen. My (and I strongly believe most people’s) problem of controlling dreams (LD’s) is the doubt. Yes, having doubts. I struggle with that myself.

For example (in a LD) if you want to meet someone and say: “As soon as I’ll walk around the corner, he/she’ll be there !”. You walk around the corner: nobody there. Why ? Because you had doubts that it will happen. Why do we have doubts when we know we can do anything ?? This is the construction of the mind…

So, I suggest, having a LD-goal list. Write/remember/record some things you would like to do in a LD. Those are very important. (I once had a LD where I just said “Hey, this is a dream !”. And then I stayed there looking around cause I didn’t knew what to do.).

Next, once you’re in a LD, increase your lucidity as much as possible (shouting, rubbing hands, RC’ing etc.), try to remember some goals you decided during the day and don’t think "Will it work ? ". Jump straight away in the “action” and do everything quickly and with pleasure. I’m telling you, if you jump in the action straight away, you’ll forget about doubts.

How I found that out ? When I went to sleep I was thinking "What if it won’t work ? What if that would happen ? What if, what if, what if … ? ". It seems, that night I had a LD. I also had loads of goals. I was terribly happy and did some of them. When I woke up I remembered the doubting part, and was surprized to see that I didn’t had doubts in the LD I had that night, because I had what to do !

Try that, and give your best with the DR (which is the most important part, IMO).

Good luck !

[Ulalume]

Thank you !

[arne_saknussemm]

You’re not exactly the same person in your dreams that you are when you’re awake. There are always some differences, and sometimes there are some big ones. That’s why it’s always better to plan what you’re going to do the next time you find yourself dreaming, instead of deciding during the dream.