The Ideal Mindset for Learning Lucid Dreaming
When you’re learning how to have lucid dreams, it's really important to think about the kind of mindset that you bring to your lucid dreaming training, in order to get the best results and so that you can enjoy the journey along the way. So, in this video, I'm going to talk about three things you can do to achieve this.
This is a free video from Week 1 of my Lucid Dreaming Training Video Course. You can get the accompanying Week 1 Coursebook by subscribing to my eNewsletter.
Video transcript:
1. Effective goal setting
First, it's important to think about the way we set goals. Now, I'm guessing that your main goal for doing this course is that you either want to have lucid dreams, or you want to do something cool with your lucid dreams, like treating nightmares, gaining creative inspiration, or even just having fun. These are fantastic motivations. But, as far as goals go, they're not so good. The reason for this, is that you don't yet have direct control over when you have lucid dreams – otherwise, you probably wouldn't be doing this course!
When you're setting goals, it's much better to focus on things that you do have some immediate control over, and so instead of being too focused on having lucid dreams, I encourage you to focus on doing the techniques properly. Engage with them as fully as you can. For example, let's say you're able to do, on average, seven reality tests per day. Over the next week I would encourage you to then focus on how you can bump that up to ten per day. Maybe you need to think about using a mobile phone application to remind you during the day or wear a special bracelet that will remind you to do reality tests when you see it.
Every week of this course there will be a video that helps you to reflect on the way you've practiced the techniques and to think about ways to improve them, based on your logbook scores. But for now, just keep in mind that the primary goal is to do the techniques as fully and effectively as possible. It's like a paradox, where if you let go of your attachment to the destination and focus on the journey instead, you will actually get to the destination quicker.
2. Adopt a curious and engaged mindset
The second thing I want to talk about is that it's really, really important to cultivate an open, curious, and engaged mindset when you're practicing the techniques. Not only is this going to make the whole experience more enjoyable, it's actually going to directly help you have lucid dreams in a way that you might not yet realise. Let me explain what I mean. Let's say Person A does a technique just before bed, but although they're trying to do it properly, they're also not very engaged. They’re rushing through. They want to finish as soon as they can, so they can just go to bed.
Now, what's going to happen, is that when Person A goes to bed, they're going to carry this state of consciousness into their dreams – at least to some extent. And what is this state of mind? It's frustrated. It's rushing. It's resisting, at a subtle level, the experience they're having. This isn't very conducive to having lucid dreams! It's going to be quite unlikely that this attitude will help them notice all the little anomalies within the dreaming state that could have helped them realise that they're dreaming.
In contrast, Person B has decided to completely throw themselves into every moment of their lucid dreaming practice. They're fully engaged. They're totally interested in everything that comes up when they're doing the techniques. If it's a thought that comes up, or a feeling, or a sensation, or maybe they're finding something difficult, even that – they're just interested in it. They're watching it all with a curious state of mind, fully engaged.
Now, what's going to happen, is that when Person B falls asleep, they're going to bring this state of consciousness into their dreams. It's much more likely that they're going to notice the anomalies in their dreams that will help them become lucid, because they're engaged. They're interested.
So, I strongly encourage you over the next six weeks, to do your best to fully engage with the techniques. Try not to rush them. Try not to think about what you're going to do once you finish. Just really throw yourself into each moment of your practice, and really engage with interest and curiosity.
3. Embrace the immediate benefits of your practice
The third thing I want to talk about is the fact that all the techniques in this course have intrinsic benefits, as well as helping you have lucid dreams. For example, doing reality tests is not just for helping you have lucid dreams; it's also a wonderful meditation practice. You have an opportunity with every reality test to really come into your centre, to take a deep breath, and to just relax and let go of tension. This is fantastically beneficial not just for lucid dreaming, but for your general health and well-being.
For all the techniques that I teach you in this course, I'm going to highlight some of the immediate benefits for your waking life, and if you keep these in mind it'll help you to stay more motivated and get more out of the course.
So, as you embark on your lucid dreaming training journey, remember to focus more on the process and the journey, rather than the destination. Enjoy the immediate benefits of all the techniques that you'll be practicing and remember to keep an open and interested state of mind for everything that you do. If you're able to do these things, you're going to give yourself the best chance of success, and you'll get the most benefit out of this course.
If you've enjoyed this video and if you're interested in learning how to have lucid dreams, then I invite you to check out my Lucid Dreaming Training Course. My course is based on the latest scientific research, including my own International Lucid Dream Induction Study. The course is also based on my experience of teaching people all over the world how to have lucid dreams one-on-one via Skype. I’ll teach you my best tips and tricks for learning lucid dreaming, and at the end of the course I'll show you how to make your own personalised lucid dreaming training program based on the techniques that were most effective for you. If you'd like to find out more about the course, simply visit:
https://drdenholmaspy.teachable.com/
Thank you for watching!