I’ve always been someone who is fascinated by dreams, and so the prospect of discovering how to lucid dream both excited and scared me. 

Lucid dreaming is the ability to be conscious of your dream state while it is still occurring, allowing you to manipulate your dreams and test the limits of reality because of this consciousness. The idea of being able to control the events that take place in your dream sounds scary, but if done properly, the quality of your dreams is enhanced: Simply  put, you can momentarily live out your happy, ideal life in your head before having to wake up. 

For some, lucid dreaming is a realm that takes much thought and focus to delve into, but for me, it has been quite simple. I just concentrate on the dream at hand and question whether what is happening is real or not. 

This is sometimes really hard to distinguish because a lot of the events that unfold in my dreams are real-life scenarios of my life on a day-to-day basis. These reality checks that I perform when dreaming make me more aware of what I am thinking, and once I can tell if I am in a dream or not, that’s where the real fun begins. 

The sense of freedom and limitless potential that comes with lucid dreaming is truly astonishing. Dreams are powerful and require an extravagant imagination along with a lot of thought. They serve as a break in our lives — an escape  from the challenges of the real world that can transport us to a limitless realm where quite literally anything you imagine is reality. 

Since I delved into lucid dreaming a few years ago, I have had countless dreams, each one more incredible than the last. For me, it comes naturally, but others may struggle to find their way into their dreams. To assist with that, there are a few simple techniques one can use to unlock this new sense of awareness. 

Being able to remember your dreams and events that take place in them chronologically is helpful in training your mind to lucid dream. Writing down events in a dream journal has helped me document details that I remember, so that may be a helpful first step to try. 

Setting goals to remember parts of your dreams can also be useful in developing the full storyline of your dream and taking you into a world of lucid dreams. An increase in mindfulness and awareness by being present in the moment is crucial as well. Keeping your intention to fall into a lucid dream at the front of your mind is helpful to getting you there.

Finally, being open to trying new things and developing a mindset in which you are open to new experiences changes your way of thinking and can help you lucid dream. Being more curious about your surroundings and environment plays a large role in translating your reality into your dreams. 

Lucid dreaming does have its challenges, though: It can be difficult to maintain conscious awareness, and sometimes, dreams which were once fairytales and rainbows can turn into nightmares extremely fast. With practice and patience, however, minute challenges like these can easily be overcome and you will learn to develop a sense of freedom like no other. 

For me, learning how to lucid dream has been a thrilling and eye- opening experience that has allowed me to tap into the boundlessness of my mind and explore my creative potential in transformative ways. Though it may not be for everyone, having the ability to be in control of your mind and tailor your dreams to your liking is an experience like no other — and one I recommend trying.