Is It Possible To Control Your Own Dreams

Did you know that an average person dreams four to six times per night? Yes, this sounds a lot, especially when considering that we don’t often remember our imaginary events. Little is known about this world, but what we do know is that dreams are a tool our minds use to deal with real-life issues and struggles.

Furthermore, over half of the popularity says that they have lucid illusions. We have all experienced these occasionally. You know what we are talking about, right? It’s when you know that you are dreaming and that your mind is playing tricks on you. But a big question arises – Is it possible to control it? Keep on reading to find out this answer.

Is it possible to control dreams?

Yes, it is possible, and an experiment from 1981 proved it. Well, technically, you can increase the chances of having a lucid dream, even though you may not be successful every time. Some people are simply more prone to these, and according to studies, they have a larger pre-cortex, meaning that their cognitive abilities are better.

Another study has shown that if you focus on problems you face in a lucid dream, you may be able to find a solution to challenges in real life. If you need some help analyzing these visions, you should explore www.luciddreamsociety.com, and now, we will give you some tips you can try out.

Focus on the problem

This is the easiest technique you can try. Why? Well, because most of us think about challenges we face every night before we go to sleep. This is actually quite exhausting, but it can help you provoke a lucid dream. In addition, if it includes a physical item, you should focus on it before you go to bed. Place the item on your nightstand or somewhere in the room so that it is the last thing you see before you fall asleep. It can be a picture of the loved one or even some object you are currently working on, such as a device you are trying to build or upgrade.

Wake back to bed technique

How does this method work? Well, it increases the chances of having a lucid fantasy by waking up during the REM cycle. During this cycle, your brain is the most active, meaning that this is usually when dreaming occurs. If you were to interrupt this cycle and then go back to sleep, you would be more likely to experience this concept.

So, go to bed at your usual time, and set the alarm to wake you in about five hours. Then, stay awake for about half an hour. During this time, you should engage in light activity, such as reading, and then go back to sleep. When you do this, you will return directly to the REM cycle you have previously interrupted.

MILD technique

Mnemonic induction of lucid dreams is a method originally created for provoking lucid dreams. It was created back in 1980, and it is set on so-called prospective memory. What does this mean? Well, by implementing this technique, you create an intention to experience something.

For this to work, you should start writing a dream journal. Every morning you weak, try to remember your dreams, and then write them down. You may not be very successful at first, but as you continue thinking about those images, you will eventually be able to remember them better.

Think about something that is specific about the experience, something that you are not able to do, for example, fly, or speak a foreign language. Then, before you go to sleep, think about that and say out loud that you want to continue that exact experience or dream about the same thing. You can even combine it with the previous method and think about the experience you want to relive when you wake up from the REM cycle.

Reality testing

This method is actually a way for you to increase your mind’s ability to recognize awareness. According to research, the level of your metacognition is similar when you are alert and sleeping, so by further increasing it when you are awake, you will simultaneously boost it when you are dreaming.

How to do this? Well, it is quite simple. Make sure to check the reality every few hours during the day. You can do it by simply asking yourself if you are awake. We know this may sound odd, but by creating a habit out of it in your waking state, you will start doing it when sleeping, and therefore, induce a lucid illusion. There are many things you can do when alert. For example, you can look at the mirror to see if your reflection is normal, or you can do silly things, like trying to put your hand through a solid object.

WILD technique

With the wake-initiated lucid dream technique, your mind will stay awake when your body goes to sleep. This method is proven to be successful, and it works great with meditation. However, keep in mind that this technique requires a lot of practice, so you may want to start with the previously described ones.

Still, there are some instances when you should try to practice. Firstly, you can try it before an afternoon nap if you haven’t had a good night’s sleep the previous night. Your body will be exhausted, which is why it will easily “fall asleep.” You have to stay as still as possible, meaning that you shouldn’t move a single muscle while at the same time, you have to keep your mind awake. You can also do this before you go to sleep at night and even when you interrupt the REM cycle. Relax and focus on your breathing. This is when hypnogogic hallucinations will occur. These occur when you are just about to fall asleep. During this time, you should focus on the concept of your future dream and let your mind wander, and create the entire scene. If you have practiced reality checks, now it is time to perform one before you fall asleep completely.