Can Everyone Really Learn Lucid Dreaming? November 16, 2008
Posted by janey in : motivation , comments closedScientists suggest that the average 60 year old is asleep for 20 of those years. But do those years have to belong to the land of nod? This is the promise of lucid dreaming, or consciously being aware of the dream state. By lucid dreaming, you can take back those boring dreams and start exploring the boundaries of the universe as you know it.
Once thought to be the territory of only mystics and yogis, now we know that lucid dreaming can be learned by almost anyone. The most important factor is for potential lucid dreamers to have a strong intention to learn, or they will be disappointed. Having said this, here are some things to consider if lucid dreaming is right for you.
Before anyone can learn about lucid dreaming, it’s important to be adept at remembering dreams. After all, how can you become aware you are dreaming if you don’t even remember your dreams in the first place? Thankfully, improving dream recall is easy enough for most people, by simply writing dreams down upon awakening, and making a habit to think about dreams during the day. This is the first connection of many between the waking world and the dreaming world that needs to be made in order to succeed at lucid dreaming.
Also, successful lucid dreamers tend to have good balance in waking life; this is because awareness is related to having a grasp of where you are in relationship to the larger environment. It follows that beginner lucid dreamers who have a body practice that develops their balance will learn the skill more easily. Some examples are yoga, tai chi, gymnastics, and the martial arts.
Lastly, the beginners who will have the greatest success are those who also are working on becoming more conscious in their daily lives. There are lots of ways to build brain power during the day, such as gardening, having a meditation practice, playing competitive sports, and board games like Scrabble or Risk. Lucid dreaming isn’t for everyone, but if you can remember your dreams, develop your body’s balance, and keep a mind-development regime, you will easily find success in becoming aware during the dream state.
My Job Now Drives Me Crazy November 16, 2008
Posted by janey in : stress management , comments closedI recently started asking myself a few questions when I found I no longer enjoyed my job. Why do I work, and more importantly why do I work a job that I don’t like? Life seems too short and I figure it’s high time I go find myself a new vocation. Of course what logically follows from that is an inquisition as to what new career path I would enjoy following.
My primary question to myself was why I even work at all. People work hard all year long looking forward to when they can wake up to the sound of their cheerful children shaking presents under the christmas wreath. That’s the image that get’s me out of bed in the morning. The world of business is stressful and people work hard with nothing but a paycheck to look forward to.
Second, I figured I should think of stuff I do enjoy doing. Running is fun. I don’t think being a runner is exactly bread into me at 5 foot 7 inches. Starting at my age also doesn’t seem like a great idea. Something else I like is helping with my daughters softball team. Maybe I could be a teacher. That actually would be a good job apart from the drawback of going back to school.
When I think about things realistically I know I’m stuck where I am for now. I’m close enough to retirement that I can taste it. I suppose I can cope for a few more years anyway. It’s really participating in the rat race that is really hard for me, playing the game. There, that’s my solution! I’ll relax and let the world go by. Stop bringing work home with me, and stop checking my email before bed. They won’t fire me. My severance package alone would take me past my planned retirement.
Now I can just sit back and slack, hang a christmas wreath wreath with the kids, and make some real memories. Now I have something major to think about. A merry Christmas, and a new years resolution to do less work. That’s one I may actually keep.
