Introduction

Many people around the world experience dreams (and sadly, nightmares too) in their sleep. That is the specific way our brain processes all of the information gathered while we're awake. However, have you ever wondered if there is a way to control what you will dream? How about what you are going to do in that specific dream? This is where lucid dreams come into the picture, as they are similar to dreams yet vastly different at the same time.

But what exactly are lucid dreams, and how do they work? Is there a specific way for an individual to have access to their lucid dreams when asleep? Or do they need to prepare during their waking life beforehand?e.

How and When Do Lucid Dreams Work?

First of all, let's cover how a lucid dream happens while you are asleep. These occur when you are fully aware that you are in a dream. In that particular dream scenario, you can recognize both your emotions and thoughts throughout the whole duration of the dream.

Lucid dreams will usually happen when a person in sleep has reached the sleeping stage called Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep. Do take note that you cannot consciously reach REM sleep, as your brain automatically cycles from both REM and non-REM sleep states.

When in a non-REM sleep state, it is noticeable that the following are moving in a slow, inactive state: eye movements, heartbeat, and brainwaves. Meanwhile, it is the exact opposite of a REM sleep state, as all three mentioned are highly active, with increased eye movements and a higher heartbeat rate.

What Can You Do In a Lucid Dream?

When it comes to the things you have control of in your lucid dream, you can easily change many things inside it, such as the main storyline, the characters involved in it, and the overall outcome of the said lucid dream.

Remember that you are fully aware of your lucid dream, and during that awareness, you have most of the control in that particular dream

How to Experience Lucid Dreams During Sleep?

When it comes to the steps on getting to experience lucid dreams during your sleep, the only way for that to happen is via a REM sleep state. For more REM sleep states to happen, below are some tips in doing so:

Getting enough and proper amounts of sleep is the major key to getting in a REM sleep state, resulting in healthy sleeping habits.

Having healthy sleeping habits is the second key to get yourself into REM sleep states during sleep. Once your body has a healthy sleeping habit, it can easily experience the complete four stages of sleep.

Having a proper and healthy sleeping habit consists of the following: Having a proper sleep schedule Having daily exercises Avoiding any electronics a few minutes before sleeping. Experiencing a relaxed sleeping environment Avoiding the consumption of either caffeine or any alcohol before be

Another way for people to experience lucid dreams during their sleep is via the help of dream journals. Also called by others as a dream diary, dream journals can be useful in getting yourself more into lucid dreaming when you sleep.

After waking up from a dream, try to recall it and log every information that you have gathered in that particular dream in your journal. The act of recalling the events that transpired is a good way of exercising your brain to remember that dream, which will help you to be more aware of that dream when it happens again, making it a lucid dream as a result.

There is also the practice of reality testing, wherein you are increasing your awareness during your awakened state, which will then result in enhanced overall awareness during your dreams that can result in lucid dreaming. If you have watched or know the overall plot and gimmick of the Hollywood movie titled "Inception," then you will have an idea of how this practice works.

In that movie, the characters are trained to be aware if they are dreaming or not by using totems or other similar items of value to help them determine whether they are in a dream or not. You can also practice that in real life, but instead of using totems or complicated methods, you can do and take note of the following:

Overall Conclusion

Finger through palm - pushing your fingers to your opposite palm, and if it passes through, you are in a dream. Mirrors - in dreams, your reflection isn't normal, usually distorted, or even nothing at all. Nose pinching - in your waking life, you cannot breathe properly if you pinched your nose. However, in dreams, you are still able to breathe correctly. Texts in reading materials - in a dream, the text of various reading materials (whether a book or a device like a computer) will change its content when you remove it from your field of

Can We Choose What Kind of Lucid Dream To Have?

Due to the random nature of dreams, unfortunately, we cannot choose what kind of specific dream to be a lucid dream. However, once you have started dreaming in your sleep, you can convert it to a lucid dream as long as you are aware of it being a dream itself.

Overall Conclusion

As we have seen from the information above, there is a specific way for someone to have lucid dreams during their sleep. There are several ways to know and experience lucid dreams, but unfortunately, choosing a specific dream to be a lucid dream is impossible.