I start each of my RCs and mantras (during day) with a question that stops me from doing whatever I'm doing. I ask myself "wow, am I dreaming? This could be (is) a dream". And I believe that to be the truth. I look around me and expect something to happen, as if it could in a dream. Then I do RCs and mantras.
Then, when you are in regular dream, this startling "wow, am I dreaming" feeling hits you and you become aware and lucid, or you get an urge to RC and to confirm. But by the time I finish RCs, most of the time I already know I'm dreaming. Awareness question in
Collection of techniques for DILD.
If you don't have enough awareness, than even if you decide to RC and see 7 fingers, not even that gets you lucid. First comes awareness, than you either know without RC, or RC confirms. Or you just decide to RC before jumping off the balcony

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