Last Updated on February 20, 2016
Everyone in the world has had an especially crazy dream. They’ve woken up in a cold sweat, or found themselves profoundly upset or happy — but why? Dreams are one of the only places where you’re literally in an alternate reality inside your head. You can see, hear, feel, and taste the world around you, and the entire world is yours to explore. That in of itself is the theory behind lucid dreaming.
What is lucid dreaming?
Lucid dreaming, in a nutshell, is the ability to consciously observe, control, and act in your dreams, and these types of lucid dream reactions only occur when you’ve approached an altered state of consciousness where you still KNOW that you’re dreaming (otherwise your brain goes too far into the dream) and you’re allowed to wake up inside the dream.
Usually, when you’re resting and relaxing normally, your awareness is negated, and you feel like you’re out of control, which can sometimes be scary. Contrary to the fuzzy and distant feelings that some dreams bring, lucid dreaming is more conscious, and you’re literally waking up during your sleep cycles.
You’re completely safe, and this practice is completely normal. The best part — when you want to wake up, you can wake up!
What are the benefits of lucid dreaming?
Lucid dreaming is great if you’re wanting your senses to become alive in dreams. Plus, your inner workings allow you to explore the recesses of your brain in ways that you’d never be able to before. It’s not just about escape either; some believe that you can visit old relatives, explore towns that you miss, even become a superhero and fly all over the world. It’s you — actively doing some of the things that you love.
Experts say there are a huge number of benefits to lucid dreamers. Among them:
-An enhanced ability to solve problems.
-A boost in creativity.
-The ability to combat your deepest fears.
-A means to establish new confidence.
-The opportunity to learn and establish new skills.
-A greater understanding of yourself.
-The chance to delve into the secrets of your unconscious mind.
-The opportunity to work on difficult or complicated feelings that you can’t face in real life.
There are a lot of lucid dreaming techniques out there that will teach you how to become a lucid dreamer. The Lucid Dreaming Online Course by Charlie Morley is a program that teaches you how to gain control of your dreamworld and shares techniques that have helped others to explore the lucid dreaming progress. You have to WANT to have lucid dreams. Sometimes, the best way to get into the practice is by carrying a dream journal with you to help focus your thoughts. With these techniques and practices, you can start honing your mind to act how you want, giving you total control over your senses and emotions when you’re dreaming — which can be very powerful.