What does "becoming more aware of waking life" mean to you?

Just browsing the forums and had my curiosity peaked. I guess you could say I became more aware :cheeky: Often we LDers suggest to those learning to LD that they need to become more "aware" during waking life to help attain lucidity. During a reality check, it is recommended that one become more "aware" in order to duplicate that awareness while in the dreamworld. I have noticed that many of us, as oneironauts, criticize others for seemingly acting their lives out as zombies or automatons, beings who are not aware and who seem to live their real lives they way we all do in our non-lucids.

So I am curious, when you think of "becoming more aware" of waking life, what do you mean? Please share, because surely some of you think there is more to being 'aware' than simply second-guessing your actions and interpreting why you feel certain emotions.

To me, being more aware means being less on autopilot. To have a purpose for everything you're doing, and to know where you are relative to the world around you. Not just second guessing your actions and interpreting emotions, but at the same time recognizing that all that is thought, and that thinking is but a small fraction of what you are.

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Originally Posted by Schmaven

Not just second guessing your actions and interpreting emotions, but at the same time recognizing that all that is thought, and that thinking is but a small fraction of what you are.

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I agree. I think of it like coming into the moment. Loosing this illusion of time we have and just being still. Being aware of the body and emotions and thoughts as seeing them just as they are.

Know your impact. Know what you are doing, and how it will affect your future (no matter how slight or soon the effect may come). The internal stuff mentioned above is a part of it, too. You also have to be external, though. You've got to take in your surroundings. Don't just hear those footsteps in the distance, but think "Who could they be from? Are they in a hurry? Is there only one?" Don't just look at the cracks in the pavement, think "How long have these cracks been here? Why hasn't anyone filled them?" Ask questions, and the waking experience will deepen.

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Originally Posted by Abra

Know your impact. Know what you are doing, and how it will affect your future (no matter how slight or soon the effect may come). The internal stuff mentioned above is a part of it, too. You also have to be external, though. You've got to take in your surroundings. Don't just hear those footsteps in the distance, but think "Who could they be from? Are they in a hurry? Is there only one?" Don't just look at the cracks in the pavement, think "How long have these cracks been here? Why hasn't anyone filled them?" Ask questions, and the waking experience will deepen.

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Yes and if we delve deep into the mundane things we do, it broadens our mind, makes us much more aware, and makes our waking life more real and less like a dream.
Hence when we then dream in bed there is a distinct difference and we can become Lucid much more easily.
It is all about awareness and making the real more real and the Lucid more Lucid.

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Originally Posted by DreamChaser

Yes and if we delve deep into the mundane things we do, it broadens our mind, makes us much more aware, and makes our waking life more real and less like a dream.
Hence when we then dream in bed there is a distinct difference and we can become Lucid much more easily.
It is all about awareness and making the real more real and the Lucid more Lucid.

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Do you feel that it is about the contrast of "realness" in the dreamworld vs waking world (when you are 'aware' in waking?) or about learning to transition that awareness into the dreamworld so that you are attentive and recognize the dream state?

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Originally Posted by Shift

Do you feel that it is about the contrast of "realness" in the dreamworld vs waking world (when you are 'aware' in waking?) or about learning to transition that awareness into the dreamworld so that you are attentive and recognize the dream state?

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It is both.
We would have to get to very high Lucidity levels to focus and see something as clearly as we would concentrating as you say in real life on an object.
Also transitioning the awareness, as our basic dream state is not as Lucid as real life or Lucidity, and therefore we can realise its vagueness in comparison.

good post and great responses