Happiness – Drift Into Sleep With A Sense Of Peace And Bliss

There are countless songs about happiness—but what does it truly feel like, deep within you?
In this gentle sleep meditation you'll be guided through the many quiet shades of happiness... the simple things that bring a sense of joy, warmth, and peace.

It might begin with something as natural as your breath—
the quiet miracle that moves through you…
softly, steadily, keeping you alive.
All you have to do is feel it. Breathe in… breathe out…
and let the awareness of this wonder settle in.
Wishing you a peaceful night’s rest… and many moments of happiness, both now and in the days to come.

Royalty-free music Chris Collins

Transcript

Never listen to recordings like these while driving or using machinery.

Only listen in a safe environment.

It's often the little unexpected things that make all the difference.

The things that simply bring you joy.

Like listening to a song or a simple melody.

Or a bird that surprises you with her lovely sounds.

As both the day and you begin to awaken.

Pure happiness.

Something that touches you unexpectedly if you allow it to.

If you allow yourself to be touched and to let it pass again.

Knowing that the memory may or may not remain.

As things naturally do.

Where you drift with the waves that make up life.

Where everything comes and everything goes.

Hi,

I'm Paola Pissou.

And in this session we'll explore happiness in a light-hearted and playful way.

Magnifying it.

With the aim that,

Over the coming days,

Weeks or perhaps even months,

Your mindset will become more attuned to those small,

Precious,

Unexpected moments that make you feel,

Directly or indirectly,

Consciously or subconsciously,

Straight after,

Or perhaps later on,

That quiet realisation,

Ah,

I'm simply happy.

What bliss.

I feel joy.

Those deeply meaningful moments that you may suddenly become aware of on yet another level.

Simply by surrendering to this slow,

Spacious meditation,

Where the words,

The phrases and their meanings will keep resonating for a while,

Like an echo softly lingering in both your conscious and subconscious mind.

With a purpose that,

More often,

Every now and then,

At unexpected times,

You may pause for a moment and become quietly aware of happiness.

But first and foremost,

May you enjoy the simple fact that you're here now,

Lying in stillness.

And I wish for you to gently enjoy your breath,

To be in touch with the wonder of your own breathing and all that this breath brings you.

Take a little time now to settle in,

To find the position that feels just right for you.

And once you've found that comfort,

Let your entire body lean into it.

Let go and lean back,

Fully aware of how you're lying here,

Relaxed,

In the way that suits you best right now.

Feel the pillow beneath your head,

The softness of the fabric against your skin,

Around you and all around your body.

There's nothing you need to do,

Nothing you need to achieve,

Just being here,

In this moment,

In this comfort.

You're held by the stillness,

And whether you're listening more or less,

It doesn't matter.

Let all these words pass you by,

As if they were a whisper on the wind,

A gentle breeze that guides your attention inward.

There's nothing you need to do,

Nothing to reach for,

Just be.

And feel how your body begins to settle naturally,

Nestling into the bed,

Held by the earth.

Everything may soften now.

Your jaw,

Your shoulders,

Your belly,

As if your body remembers once again,

That it's safe here,

Deeply safe.

Now,

Slowly,

Gently,

Allow your eyes to close,

As if they were a tiny shutter softly rolling down,

Inviting in the darkness,

The silence,

The stillness.

Letting yourself know in a quiet,

Deep way,

That this day is truly ending,

As if all that happened today is being gently tucked in,

Covered and cared for.

Take a deep breath in,

And breathe out,

Slowly.

And again,

Breathe in,

Filling your lungs with air,

And exhale,

Letting go of everything that now belongs to the past,

Everything that's already behind you.

Feel how your body becomes heavier and happier,

How it begins to relax on its own,

Giving in to gravity.

And you may allow yourself to surrender to the stillness,

To let the day slip away from your shoulders,

As though taking off a clock,

Laying it beside you.

Everything you've done,

Let it rest.

You may rest now.

And bring your attention once more to your breathing,

Not to change it,

Simply to feel it.

The breath comes and the breath goes,

A soft,

Whispering wave moving through you.

And hidden in this rhythm is a quiet secret,

Each breath is a gift that brings life,

That offers you energy.

Notice how calmness flows in with every inhale,

And with every exhale,

Tension quietly melts away.

Breathe in,

Calm.

Breathe out,

Release.

Inhale,

Lightness.

Exhale,

Softness.

And with a sense of curious kindness,

Stay with the breath.

No need to change it,

Just observe.

The breath comes and the breath goes,

Without haste,

Without judgment.

Notice how the air flows into your body and slowly drifts out again,

Like the gentle tide of a calm sea,

Always there,

Always loyal.

Every breath is a quiet reminder,

You are alive,

You are here,

And that's wonderful.

With each inhale,

Invite in a sense of ease,

And with each exhale,

Allow tension to dissolve.

In,

Calm.

Out,

Letting go.

In,

Peace.

Out,

Softness.

And perhaps you begin to notice subtle sensations,

The rise of your chest,

The coolness of the air at your nostrils as you breathe in,

And the warmth as you breathe out.

Feel life flowing through you,

Simply and purely through your breath.

And there,

In the simplicity of this breathing moment,

You may discover a quiet kind of happiness.

Not the kind that shouts or seeks,

But the gentle,

Quiet knowing,

I'm here,

I'm alive,

And that feels good.

Allow yourself to sink more deeply into this relaxation,

Carried by your breath,

And know and realise you only need to be.

The night wraps around you like a warm and safe blanket,

The silence know you and your breath is your anchor.

And now I ask you to imagine,

Imagine that with every inhale light is entering,

A soft,

Warm light spreading through your entire body.

And you know its colour,

The colour that brings you rest.

A soft,

Warm light that fills you from your lungs to your heart.

Your shoulders,

Your arms,

Your belly,

Your legs,

Your feet.

And with every exhale you let go of tension,

Of thoughts,

Of expectations.

They dissolve like morning mist in the sun.

You breathe and with every breath you come home to yourself.

Deeper into peace.

Deeper into stillness.

Deeper into rest.

And there,

Within that stillness,

You may find something truly precious,

A kind of happiness that needs nothing.

Nothing from the outside.

No possessions,

No success,

No perfection.

Just being.

Being yourself.

And the quiet,

Breathing awareness I am.

Bathed,

Restored in the joy of simplicity,

The joy of surrender,

The joy of life itself.

Let yourself drift away,

Completely absorbed in this moment.

As if you were floating in an endless,

Peaceful space of stillness and light.

Nothing is needed.

Everything is welcome.

And if thoughts begin to rise,

Just notice them kindly and let them go.

Let them pass.

Then gently return to your breath.

Always back to your breath,

Your safe anchor.

Your companion in this night.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Deep.

Just let your breath carry you like a quiet river leading you towards deep sleep.

There's nowhere you need to go,

For you are already there.

And if you begin to drift off into peaceful sleep,

Your breath continues its quiet rhythm.

It knows the way through your body.

Your soul is resting.

You are helped by life itself.

You are safe.

You are loved.

You are home.

And you may begin to feel from deep within.

I am happiness.

I am pure joy.

Happiness flows effortlessly through me.

I rest in happiness.

I sleep in happiness.

I awake in happiness.

I am happiness.

I am pure joy.

And now that you are so deeply relaxed,

A thought may arise,

An affirmation,

An intention about happiness gently moving through you.

Something you can feel.

Something you want to let resonate within.

Something that will naturally begin to manifest itself,

Softly,

Often unnoticed,

In the days to come.

While you continue to feel more and more at peace,

Realizing that happiness is fleeting,

That it's something beyond possession or owning,

That happiness is not tied to what you earn or achieve,

It's not something you can grasp,

Not something you can hold or pursue.

Happiness is an experience that drifts in,

Unexpectedly,

Like a breeze.

It may linger briefly or for a while and then,

Like mist,

Dissolve and disappear from sight.

Happiness comes and happiness goes,

Just like the tides or like clouds across the sky.

As an old sage once said,

One becomes more truly happy when this is gracefully accepted with gratitude and quiet wisdom.

Happiness is like the warm embrace of someone you love,

Two hearts beating softly together.

In silence,

In rhythm.

The world fades away as their arms speak,

Saying things that no words could ever say.

Only the growing awareness that,

In this still happiness,

I feel completely at home.

Happiness is found in those quiet moments,

Walking,

Feeling peace in nature,

The city,

The busy world far behind.

The sun is rising and the earth slowly breathes in and out.

Sunlight kisses the dewdrops resting gently on each leaf.

And the birds,

Awake for hours now,

Sing to you as you walk your path,

Each step part of the journey.

A silent journey where words are unnecessary,

Entirely superfluous.

Happiness is smiling,

Laughing with friends,

Sometimes to the point of tears.

As companions bound together in laughter,

As joy flows like invisible light spilling from smiling mouths,

Radiating outward like sunlight dancing on water,

Connected and shared.

The self dissolves and what remains is the dance of souls united.

That precious fleeting moment of happiness when a child takes your hand,

Tiny fingers,

Immense trust.

Innocent,

Unaware,

Untouched by the world's weight.

The child holds on,

Trusting you completely,

Not yet caught in the tangle of thought,

Still unfolding.

A living reminder that life is simple,

That happiness is simple,

Playful,

Sacred and pure.

Happiness is that very moment you hear a song,

Just when you need it most.

As if it was meant to find you.

A gift,

A keepsake.

Familiar lyrics,

Rhythm,

Melody.

Touching something ancient within you,

Something never truly forgotten,

Just quietly resting.

And as the song reaches you,

A tear may fall,

Sliding softly down your cheek,

Needing no explanation,

For this is happiness in its purest form.

Sometimes it simply asks for a new way of seeing,

A fresh awareness of your surroundings,

Of what you're doing,

Or what another quietly does for you.

To notice happiness suddenly,

Unexpectedly.

To feel it.

That noticing itself becomes a realization,

That true,

Pure happiness is often found in the way you live,

Moment by moment,

Just being present.

Completely aware and alert,

Attentive to what you're doing,

To what you're experiencing now,

Over and over,

Each moment standing on its own.

In the act of experiencing lies the hidden gift,

The chance to value smell moments,

The tiny,

Intimate happenings,

So that happiness can be felt and lived through,

A quiet guarantee of joy,

A certain blessing,

A state of bliss.

By living with intention,

Life becomes more meaningful.

By living with a joyful,

Open heart,

You rise above the ordinary.

By becoming aware of what the world places in your path,

And what may still come.

When you embody this awareness and live it through,

You may come to know happiness as a state of being,

Filled with deep and satisfying contentment.

Happiness becomes something you connect with and feel,

Sometimes in an impulse,

When you do something meaningful for another,

Without expectation,

A silent act of kindness,

Offering your hand just to be held.

With no wish for reward,

No need for recognition,

Simply out of love,

From the warm light flowing within you.

Just like that warmth of happiness that flows through you when you come home after a short trip or a long one.

From the moment you place the key in the lock and slowly open the door,

And everything is just as you left it,

You step inside and allow yourself back in,

Grateful for the familiar,

The colors,

The scents,

The calm of the walls standing tall,

As if they recognize you,

As if they say,

Welcome home,

How good that you're safely here again.

And your body sighs,

Fully relieved,

Your soul stretches wide,

And everything within says,

I'm home,

A familiar one in my own house.

That and all those other spontaneous moments of stillness and insight when you're gazing out the window or just waking up,

Hovering in that soft space between sleep and waking.

When suddenly the idea appears,

The solution arises,

Your inner vision expands,

Precisely then when you're not in a rush,

When you're not demanding answers,

An insight simply unfolds in the quiet of being alone,

As though the truth is whispered to you.

Happiness doesn't need to go anywhere,

Because it's already here,

Because all the answers are already within.

Happiness is so often right there,

Right in front of you.

You only need to notice it,

For instance when sharing a meal with those you cherish,

Breaking bread with laughter between words,

Offering the sweetness of a shared dish,

Or raising a glass of wine together as eyes quietly meet,

And the silence between you says far more than words ever could.

Or when the wind moves with a sigh,

Gently setting,

The tall steps,

The shrubs full of leaves,

And the trees' foliage playfully into motion.

And you're sitting on a bench or have nestled yourself in the soft green grass,

While you gaze around and realize that this is it,

That you may simply sit here in stillness,

And in this very moment your happiness is complete.

And then,

As by itself,

You find yourself getting up to wander along the water's edge.

Perhaps it's a gently flowing stream,

Or perhaps it's a river meandering through the landscape,

Infinite,

Rhythmic,

Breathing.

You sit upon a large stone or a fallen tree trunk,

And you watch how the water moves,

Always in motion,

Always now.

Your breath begins to synchronize with the rhythm of the water,

With the way it gently leaps against the shore and then retreats,

Just as the water comes and then goes.

And you notice that the water simply is,

It just does what it does,

And you simply watch.

You may simply be,

While you notice a bird gliding low over the water,

Or you catch sight of the light shimmering on the water's surface.

And for a brief moment,

There's nothing else but peace and a quiet happiness,

Knowing you need to be nowhere else but here.

Now the season of summer has gently made way for autumn,

Where the air feels a little cooler,

And the trees along the riverbank proudly display their finest coats,

In red,

Copper,

And it seems like gold.

And you see how some leaves let go effortlessly,

Twirling and drifting slowly downwards,

Coming to rest upon the ground or falling into the water,

To be carried along with life,

Slowly and gently,

Just like your breathing that has found its calm,

While your eyes follow the leaves floating by on the water.

This magical wonder that you are witness to simply because you made space for it,

Sitting on a large stone or a fallen tree trunk,

Gazing at the leaves drifting further and further away,

Within the river,

Becoming aware of how,

Through your attention,

The river seems to widen and the current seems to flow with more strength,

Powerful,

And at the same time calm and dignified in this movement.

As if it moves that way within you too.

Life moves in the flowing water,

Life moves within you,

And you flow,

Flowing along,

As if carried with everything unfolding and flowing on its own accord.

As if all that flows is carrying you with it from a place of peace,

Without struggle,

Without direction,

Simply flowing along,

Now,

Knowing,

I am happiness,

And happiness flows on.

The seasons flow on and you step quietly into the stillness of winter,

Where everything comes to rest,

And you turn inward in silence,

Safe within your own warm home,

Perhaps standing in the cozy warm kitchen,

While outside the air seems to crackle with cold and frost settles on the window panes,

Or perhaps all manner of beautiful snowflakes are softly falling,

But inside you,

And inside the kitchen,

It's still cozy and warm.

And before your mind's eye you see your hands at work,

Preparing food,

Slowly and with care.

You see yourself slicing root vegetables,

Peeling garlic,

You cut,

You stir,

You taste,

Everything you need is already here.

There's never any need to hurry.

The steam rising from a cup of hot tea,

The gentle sizzle of oil in the pan,

The sound of the knife on the chopping board,

And you notice how a wonderful fragrance fills the room as something quietly simmers on the stove,

As if time itself dissolves,

While you might be cooking something delicious just for yourself,

Or for your family,

Or friends,

Gathered around the table that you now set,

Adorned with candles,

And you see the flame dancing in such simplicity and abundance,

Present all at once.

You sense it,

And you look around you,

And you know and feel this is happiness.

You feel the connection with yourself,

With all that lives,

With the rhythm of life that reveals itself repeatedly,

Continuously.

Happiness,

It's not a destination,

Not an achievement,

It's being present,

With open eyes,

With an open heart.

Simply being present all year round,

While everything continues to change,

Like a constant,

An unassayable truth.

The garden that is ever-changing,

The changes in your life,

The water that keeps flowing,

And then there's the kitchen carrying the scents of every season,

And you,

You are part of it all,

While you breathe gently all,

Your breath flowing,

The breath,

The fresh air flowing into you,

Always new,

Fresh,

Different air flowing in,

Breathing in gently,

And naturally out.

The seasons showing you that everything is allowed to change,

And how happiness can be found within that,

Time and time again,

In the looking,

The feeling,

The tasting,

The experiencing,

And the breathing,

Where nothing needs to be held onto,

For everything is already here,

Always,

Within you and all around you.

Your home,

Being at home is simply being,

Being with yourself,

That place where you're always warm and safe,

Exactly where you are meant to be.

Happiness is lying in your own bed,

Under the warm duvet when the nights grow colder,

Or beneath a cool sheet on balmy summer nights,

Where the bed carries your body effortlessly,

All you do is rest,

Recover,

Sleep,

Dream,

All that was now lies far behind you,

Your breath flows gently in,

And with each out-breath something is carried away,

Until only stillness remains,

And that stillness holds quiet happiness,

A deep kind of happiness,

Bliss,

Simple,

Whole,

And complete.

Allow yourself to be carried by the breath,

By the night,

By the softness of the fabric,

The sheets,

You may sleep,

You may rest,

You are exactly where you're meant to be,

All is well.