Emily Levenson ⋆ seeker of everyday magic

Why you need to learn how to sit with the discomfort (with De Lisa Patterson)

Published August 15, 2018August 13, 2018

I am thrilled to be sitting down with De Lisa Patterson, brand mixologist and all around creative. One, because she’s freakin’ hilarious. And two, because she is a wealth of knowledge and inspiration.

De Lisa’s journey starts with a tale of loss — of a job, a relationship, and her self-confidence all at the same time. She shares how those losses took their toll, and also how they shaped her journey. De Lisa offers practical tips for staying in the room and sitting with the discomfort, as well as mindset shifts that were profound for her own transformation.

We also touch on the importance of patience, mindfulness, and gratitude. Three things that have played a major role in my own life and journey.

(more…)

Get your yoga on with these free resources

Published August 4, 2018August 2, 2018

Yoga has been a key component in my self-care routine for the past 5 years. Not only has yoga helped me feel stronger physically, it has helped to align and support my emotional, mental, and spiritual growth in ways that I could never have imagined or deemed possible.

My very first memories of yoga were as a kid. My mom tells me that we did yoga together, though I don’t really remember it. What I do remember, however, is a book we had at home* that showed pictures of all the different poses. Tree pose was my favorite, probably because I was bendy from gymnastics. I also loved how it calmed my mind and gave me something to focus on.

I didn’t find yoga again until I was an adult. The gym I belonged to had free yoga classes and so I would pop in from time to time. It made me feel like a kid again — tapping into that strength and flexibility I had so enjoyed when I was younger. But I stopped doing it after I was in a car accident and had sciatic nerve pain in my back.

It wasn’t until I found Yoga with Adriene and her 30 Days of Yoga challenge that I got back into a regular yoga practice. Perhaps it was the fact that she talked to her (ridiculously amazing) cat leggings or that her videos made me feel better (and stronger, and more at peace). I didn’t care. I was hooked.

(more…)

12 things to declutter right now for peace of mind

Published August 10, 2018August 2, 2018

I have long known that a cluttered and messy home or work environment is a recipe for disaster in my life. Not only does the clutter and mess feel stifling, it also blocks any and all productivity, creativity, and focus.

When I came across the concept of decluttering while reading Get Rich, Lucky Bitch*, I began to see the impact of clutter and mess in all areas of life, and not just in my home. From mindset to relationships to physical possessions, clutter had taken on many different shapes, sizes, and forms in my life and was wreaking havoc.

Decluttering became my new mantra and I started to systematically work through the different facets of my life and began processing, organizing, and letting go of anything that wasn’t useful or loved.

(more…)