As you settle into your bed now your body is already beginning to recognize that it's time to rest.
You may notice how the mattress gently supports you,
How there is nothing you need to hold up,
Nothing you need to stay alert for.
And even as you listen to these words your body knows how to sleep.
It remembers this natural rhythm.
There is no effort required.
Notice your breathing and you may become aware that each breath out naturally releases the day.
With every exhale your body can soften just a little.
Energy settling downward.
You might already sense a pleasant heaviness beginning to spread in your legs,
Your arms,
Your eyelids.
And that heaviness is a sign that your system is doing exactly what it needs to do.
Now in your mind imagine yourself near a gently flowing stream.
This is a peaceful place,
A place where your mind doesn't need to be busy anymore.
The water moves slowly and smoothly and just watching it has a calming effect on you.
Floating along the surface leaves,
Drifting easily without effort,
Without urgency.
And as you watch the stream your thoughts can begin to slow in the same way.
Any thought that appears,
Whether it's about today,
Tomorrow or something unfinished,
Can gently be placed onto a leaf.
And as soon as it's there the stream naturally carries it away.
You don't need to push the thought away.
You don't need to solve it.
Just placing it on a leaf is enough.
And you may notice that as each leaf drifts further downstream your mind feels a little quieter,
A little lighter,
A little more ready for sleep.
If your mind offers many thoughts that's perfectly fine.
Each one can float away in its own time.
And if a thought returns it can simply go on to another leaf.
Your mind is learning that it no longer needs to stay alert tonight.
You are safe.
The day is done.
Nothing important is being missed.
And hearing these words may already be allowing deeper rest to unfold.
As you continue watching the leaves drift by you may notice longer spaces between thoughts.
Those spaces are where sleep gently begins.
Your breathing may become slower now,
Deeper,
More rhythmic.
Your eyelids may be heavier as if they are naturally choosing to remain closed.
And even if you are still aware of sound your mind can drift further inward toward a calm dreamy state.
At some point you may stop actively placing thoughts on leaves.
The stream may fade.
The image may blur.
And that's because sleep is beginning to take over.
You don't need to notice the moment it happens.
Your body knows exactly when to cross that threshold.
And you may find yourself drifting,
Floating,
Slipping easily into deep natural sleep.
From here there is nothing,
Nothing else for you to do.
No listening required.
No effort needed.
Just resting.
Breathing.
Sleeping.
And as the night continues your sleep can become deeper,
More restoring,
More peaceful.
Until eventually you are fully asleep,
Safe and deeply at rest.
