Help Keeping my mind clear- without falling asleep? And a question about breathing too.

Well first off, I'd like to say that you all sure do make WILDing sound easy, but that's far from the truth!
But alas, I refuse to get discouraged! :D
My biggest problem is, well, getting into Sleep Paralysis. I usually attempt WILDing either during an afternoon nap, or after waking myself up after 5 hours of sleep. I'm pretty good at relaxing my body completely, it doesn't take long at all before I feel completely relaxed and almost, "lost within myself" if you will. But then, I just can't seem to relax my mind! I'm either not relaxed enough, or my mind drifts off too much and I fall asleep. Any tips for finding the right balance?
Here's where I come to my next question- I've tried counting my breaths to try and keep my mind passively aware, but I find myself controlling my breathing rather than let my body take over. Will that prevent my body from falling asleep? What are some better methods?
Thanks to anyone who bothered reading this whole thing :cheeky: I'm absolutely itching to get in SP for the first time. (Though I try not to be excited when I'm attempting a WILD! I've heard you guys say that's a big no-no:shadewink: )

Make the mind and body one. While practicing your relaxing method, associate this entry into your own relaxation a mental process as well. While your body is sinking imagine your mind descending with it.
This is just what I think when I read this.

yeah, i have the same problem.

Im an intelligent person, and I pretty much always think about stuff. Its difficult for me to sit there and not think, because I always end up thinking about something, and once I think of something interesting, I cant stop :P

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Originally Posted by EmiryBel

Well first off, I'd like to say that you all sure do make WILDing sound easy, but that's far from the truth!
But alas, I refuse to get discouraged! :D
My biggest problem is, well, getting into Sleep Paralysis. I usually attempt WILDing either during an afternoon nap, or after waking myself up after 5 hours of sleep. I'm pretty good at relaxing my body completely, it doesn't take long at all before I feel completely relaxed and almost, "lost within myself" if you will. But then, I just can't seem to relax my mind! I'm either not relaxed enough, or my mind drifts off too much and I fall asleep. Any tips for finding the right balance?)

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Heh. This is a problem I had as well. Certainly glad to help. :-?

Minds absorb things like sponges and considering we usually talk to a lot of people and see lots of things in a days time, it's natural that our mind would like to shuffle things around a bit before switching to hibernation mode for the night. You have a chattering mind. It's okay. :) What helped me is to let my mind chatter. Remember the goal is not active focus, but passive focus. When you hit the bed, let your mind chatter, talk, gossip, do whatever it wants until YOU notice yourself getting sleepy. This is the part where you step in and begin counting or doing something. Think of it like a kid who cant stop running around the house while the parent watches. As soon as the child loses energy and gets tired enough, the parent then decides that it's quiet enough to begin reading. Same thing applies here. Once the chatter has subsided and you notice (it's important to catch this moment. Awareness practice helps) it, then it's time to begin whatever routine you use to maintain a passive level of awareness into your dream state.

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Originally Posted by EmiryBel

Here's where I come to my next question- I've tried counting my breaths to try and keep my mind passively aware, but I find myself controlling my breathing rather than let my body take over. Will that prevent my body from falling asleep? What are some better methods?
Thanks to anyone who bothered reading this whole thing :cheeky: I'm absolutely itching to get in SP for the first time. (Though I try not to be excited when I'm attempting a WILD! I've heard you guys say that's a big no-no:shadewink: )

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Remember that the goal is passive focus into your dream state, not active focus. Giving anything too much attention will cause you to actively focus on it and set you back, swallowing saliva included. It's not a big deal unless you make it so. A car can't be driven by two drivers fighting over the wheel. Your mind/body is the primary driver. Whenever you notice yourself doing things that are not natural for you (like controlling your own breath as opposed to letting your body do the breathing/driving for you) that's when the conflict comes in. Doesn't matter if you're trying to passively count, if you're actively breathing, you're hindering your own progress. I may be wrong but it also sounds as if you may a bit too excited to do what is necessary to LD in the first place -> go to sleep.

Hope this helps.

Hey, thanks for the GREAT advice! Had my second WILD last night thanks to it. Was a gorgeous dreamscape too (:

Haha id like to know :p

Do i keep my eyes shut?
Where do i breath nose or mouth?
Do i sleep on my side?

yes keep your eyes closed! (: Otherwise it would be really difficult to fall asleep.
Sleep and breathe however you feel comfortable. It doesn't really matter.