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Step 3: Practice Reality Checks


One of the main reasons that we fall into the state of unconsciousness when we dream is that we never question our senses of what we are seeing while we are dreaming.

As we go throughout the day in our waking world, we never ask ourselves if we are dreaming. So then why would we think to ponder the same question while we are asleep and dreaming.

When we perform reality checks, we begin to open the door to the possibility that we could be dreaming at anytime. We no longer take it for granted that we are awake at all times. By asking yourself throughout the day "Am I dreaming", then what happens is that you will start to ask yourself this same question in your dream. This is called a "Reality Check".

The key to performing reality checks is to not simply ask it and immediately answer:

"Of course I'm not dreaming. This is the real world."

If you take this attitude, then you will likely have this same dismissive attitude when you perform a reality check while you are asleep and dreaming.

So rather than be so quick to answer, take a moment to look around your surroundings. Really look and think about whether this is a dream or not, whether you are sleeping. The best way to check if you are asleep or not is to look at text or numbers. Since the dream world is not static and is ever changing, the one thing that seems to change most often is text and numbers.

So do the following as a reality check:

1. Find some text or numbers somewhere around you (eg. a book cover, your watch, a clock, etc).
2. Make a mental note of what the text or numbers say.
3. Next, look away somewhere for roughly 5 seconds.
4. Now look back at the text or numbers. If they haven't changed, then you are awake. If they are different, then congratulations, you are dreaming and as a result, you will most likely now become lucid from this realization.

So now that you know the three (3) basic prerequisites to begin practicing lucid dreaming, please continue on to the Induction Techniques and choose one that you feel will be most effective for you...