It is lovely to feel your presence again gallen.
I have some ideas to share, more for Etoile's concerns than 4space's question.
Balance in qigong is not just your meditations, but your whole life. Some of the elements are nutrition, exercise, sleep and of course qigong.
As for moving to another level, recently I had the thought of the pilgrimmage or labrynth experience. The idea that you have to take many steps to get to your destination. Then I thought "No, you don't you can just be there. You don't have to walk you can fly or instantly be there." However, you experience and growth will be different. It's not the sitting on the top of the mountain that causes your growth, it's your experiences along your particular path. Each step is as precious as the last.
As for the issue with fitful sleep. I sometimes have this issue. I can sometimes relate it to not the best supporting dietary habits. Sometimes, it can't be attributed to diet. At these times I return to using sleep as a SFQ practice. I set up and intention of lying down at (look at clock) XX:XX time and waking at 5:00. During my sleep I will merge deeply with the emptiness and sleep soundly throuhout the night, and wake totally open, totally healed, and very energetic and desirous to engage in the day's experience. I sometimes change to intent to work on something specific, but I try to remember to focus on one issue. I try to remember to keep it simple. I then say the password and do one of several meditations. Sometimes small universe, sometimes breathing of the universe, sometimes going into the emptiness. In this sleep meditation, I do not worry if my thoughts wonder from chosen meditation, since that is the nature of sleep. I am trying to use sleep with and intention and qigong to help myself even more.
Lastly, I'll add to the smiling issue, that I find calling on Master Lin to always be helpful. I see him coming to me and his loving smile. How can I not find the love for my current state, when he can so easily find love to share with me.
Also I don't always express the smile the same way. Sometimes it is more physically pronounced than others. However I think gallen as the right of it. The smile is a smile of love, not of happiness. Not that I don't feel happy when feeling love. However, I find it easier to approach love than happiness. I used to have a bunch of posts on what I called the Faces of Love. Different roads that lead to love. Gratitude / appreciation was one road. Caring and Kindness were others. Forgiveness was another. Often just the act of joining with the universe is a path.
Sometimes I spend quite a while before starting a meditation (active or sitting). Spending more time getting the smile or joing with the universe / love, or forming intent for the session, or calling on my master(s) and / or joining. I know that you can go into the emptiness quickly, but I still like to take my time with the password and fully experience it. Sometimes one breath per phrase is not long enough for me.
Sorry, I've started to ramble about the smile idea. The idea that it is a physical link to the experience of love and not happiness seems appropriate to me.
You are perfection.
Iam2 
