Let’s do the math: we sleep a third of our lifetimes away, and slightly less are dreams. Many say that lucid dreams are the perfect answer to winning back those “squandered” hours. But lucid dreaming scholars would never claim that ordinary dreams are unimportant. Instead, we can envision clear dreaming as a chance to unfold the significance of the dreams we already have.

The broadest definition of conscious dreaming is to be aware you are dreaming while still in the dream state. The popular assumption that being aware in the dream means you can perfectly control the dream is actually false. Rather, dream control is best achieved as self-control: learning to modulate emotions, attention, and intentionality in the dream. In particular, emotions are so volatile that without vigilance the lucid dream can spiral out-of-control into fears and confrontations.

That’s why there is so much focus on dream control: in order to defend against these powerful emotions. Lucid dreaming scholars, such as cognitive psychologists and psychotherapists, recommend that consciousness in the dream is directed towards these emotional calling cards, rather than against. No wonder dream control sounds so tempting! Awareness is a powerful force, but it can easily be used in defense of self-knowledge. Many cultures use clear dreaming as a healing practice, and harnessing the emotional substrate of the dream is a key part of the training. To sum it up, focusing on self-control is the best way to learn about the gift of awareness during dreams.