The power of identity, nervous system, and play

We all want bliss, or at least we say we do! That deep, satisfying sense of joy and contentment that feels like life itself is smiling back at us. But here’s the truth most people miss and even seem to prefer to blatantly ignore: bliss isn’t found in a fleeting moment, a paycheque, or even a relationship. Bliss is only sustainable when it is rooted in who you truly are.

And sadly, most people are extremely cut off from who they truly are or just have a vague idea of it. 

If you don’t know yourself- your identity, your values, your nervous system- you’ll forever be chasing a version of happiness that slips through your fingers as quickly as it arrives.

The three levels of identity

To access real bliss, you need connection to your three levels of identity (a framework I designed for my clients to improve their relationships with themselves):

1. Your Human Self: This is the grounded, physical you. The one who feels hunger, fatigue, joy, and sadness. It’s where your nervous system lives, and where the regulation of your body dictates how safe you feel in the world.
2. Your Source Self: This is the wise, intuitive you. The inner voice that knows the truth even when your mind is clouded with doubt. It’s where you remember that you’re part of something bigger than yourself.
3. Your Vortex Self: This is the limitless, visionary you. The dreamer, the magnet, the one who plays in possibility and channels the future you desire into reality.

Without rituals and practices to stay connected to each level, bliss remains elusive because your connection to you waivers. Think of these identities as your ecosystem. Neglect one, and the whole system wobbles. Nurture all three, and you create a foundation for joy that can withstand the storms of life and bounces back to higher levels and more miracles each time.

(These three identities form part of what I call my Manifest OS™ method - a no-fluff 5-step approach to manifestation that blends neuroscience, nervous system regulation, and spiritual wisdom to help you live the life you see on your vision board.)

Why nervous system regulation matters

Bliss can’t land in a body that feels unsafe. If your nervous system is dysregulated -constantly in fight, flight, or freeze- you’ll find yourself stuck in survival, not creation. That’s why regulating your nervous system is non-negotiable. Breathwork, meditation, movement, and rest aren’t luxuries. They’re the soil in which bliss grows.

When your body is regulated, you can actually hear your inner voice, receive your desires, and play with possibility instead of fighting invisible battles inside.

Tea party energy

Remember being a kid at a tea party? Sitting with floppy hats, feather boas, and stuffed animals, completely unbothered by what was “reasonable” or “practical.” You weren’t calculating ROI or productivity - you were simply there to enjoy the moment.

That’s the energy you need to cultivate to reconnect with bliss. Curiosity. Play. Experimentation.

One of my favourite practices is “shopping without price tags.” I walk through a store and ignore what things cost. Instead, I ask myself: Do I like this, or do I not like this? It’s not about buying anything, or deciding where you’re going to wear it, or what you already have that’s going to work with it - it’s about re-teaching myself to listen to desire without judgment and who you really are.

Joy mapping exercise

Here’s an exercise: think back to the three most joyful moments of your life. They don’t need to be dramatic or picture-perfect. Maybe it was floating in the ocean at sunrise. Maybe it was sipping coffee on your porch as the morning light kissed the deck.

Now ask yourself: What was present in those moments that is missing in my daily life? Was it spaciousness? Connection? Beauty? Silence? Freedom?

The answer is your map. Those qualities are your personal building blocks of bliss. The work is simply bringing more of them into your everyday life. How can I include more of this in my day-to-day. 

Bliss isn’t found. It’s remembered.

Your bliss was never lost. It’s been waiting under the noise of expectation, conditioning, and survival. When you regulate your nervous system, align with your three levels of identity, and let yourself play, bliss stops being a thing you chase and becomes a way of being.

So the next time you’re searching for happiness, stop searching. Slow down. Go back to the child within you. Put on your feather boa. Pour yourself a cup of tea. Ask your Human, Source, and Vortex selves what they need to feel alive.

Your bliss is right there, waiting for you to remember.

✨ Want to go deeper? Download my free MEAT workbook - a step-by-step guide to manifestation that’s practical, playful, and rooted in my Manifest OS™ method. It’ll help you uncover what you truly want, regulate your energy, and bring your bliss into everyday life.