Thread: Unsteadyness in thinking, and its ties to lucid dreaming

Originally Posted by Alski

So, I was thinking today. Sometimes when I imagine something during my waking day, such as riding my bike or something, I cant keep it upright if I think its gonna crash. (sorry if that makes no sense) Like, imagine yourself riding a bike. Imagine it tipping sideways and you crash. This ties over to alot of other things. I was wondering if this stuff crosses over to lucid dreaming? If you think you will fall off a bike, will you? Is it all the power of belief?

I think you just made a very good connection here. Lots of people have been affected by what you describe; for example on the forums there is often talk of difficulty reading, or turning on lights during dreams. By reading this, other people are affected, and the cycle continues. Having read many things in nonlucid dreams, and turned on light switches without issue, I conclude that these are not actual truths.

Now, what I think differs most in your scenario is that you are already doing something (for example, I'd already be reading or already have turned on the light). Would then thinking that these things are impossible make me unable to read, or the light turn off? I have never tried, but I do not think so, because you already know it to be possible. A similar thing I did once was think in a lucid dream "Don't wake up" in a way that would make me worried about waking up, but just the thought did not wake me up. I think it is then less of what you are thinking, and more of what you believe. Those people believe that you can't read/turn on lights so they can't (as you hinted). In a lucid dream, I think the question really would be, can you truly make yourself believe the bicycle will tip?

Obviously we can make ourselves believe some things in this manner, in the form of passive control. For instance, in one lucid dream I wanted a bungee cord, so I "believed" it was under a little plaster overhang, and there it was. Personally, I have greater trouble "believing" I can turn the day to night, even though I know that in a lucid dream I can (but like I said before don't let others tell you what isn't possible).

Finally think of nonlucid dreams. I had one just a couple nights ago where I suddenly believed the car I was in was going to crash. It did. At least in nonlucid dreams, I showed myself that the concept you just brought out can be true.

I don't think I understand what you are saying...

I visualized myself riding a bike, it started tipping and I put my foot down and corrected myself...

where's the problem?

Originally Posted by metcalfracing

I don't think I understand what you are saying...

I visualized myself riding a bike, it started tipping and I put my foot down and corrected myself...

where's the problem?

You can do it, but it's hard for him. I've been thinking of this more in a way of "don't think about polar bears." I'm guessing you just thought of a polar bear.

The bike example maybe wasn't best.

Doubt is always your worst enemy. If you focus on the what if's in dreams, they happen. I guess it's like that IRL too, if you lack confidence, sometimes you hesitate or make some minsucle mistake you wouldn't normally do and mess up, fulfilling that "what if".