Perspectives: Lisa Levine
Lisa Levine is a certified Life and Health Coach, and the author of Midlife No Crisis: An Audacious Guide to Embracing 50 and Beyond. Through her company, Audacious Health & Wellness, she does retreats, workshops and 1:1 coaching and helps women who are approaching mid-life create new and healthy habits in the way they think, eat, sleep, and move. Lisa shared her strategies and tips for navigating midlife with us at “Summer of Self-Love: A Road Map for an Audacious Life” in July 2021.
What have you learned over the past year+ of the pandemic? What have you learned about yourself?
So many things! I learned that we are all way more resilient than we thought we were. I also learned that so many of us were craving change without even realizing it. Virtually everyone I’ve spoken to has said that they don’t want things to return to “normal,” referring to multiple, deeply ingrained cultural systems. Personally I learned that I don’t actually need a gym or yoga membership to work out regularly (although at some point I will probably rejoin - because I miss the community). Although virtual connection was a lifeline, I learned how important real hugs are and I’ll never take them for granted again. And I learned that I can write a book, because I did. :)
What are you grateful for?
My family: my husband has always been super encouraging & supportive no matter what new thing I embark on or become enamored with and my kids have grown into happy and engaged young adults, which thrills me. We are all very close and for that I am extremely grateful.
My home: This house, built in 1913, is old and has plenty of issues but it has sheltered and sustained us for 24 years. It’s seen us through the best of times and the worst of times. During the pandemic there wasn’t a day that went by that I didn’t feel grateful for it.
My health: Always - and especially this past year.
My East Coast roots and my West Coast blossoming. I moved to this side of the country when I was 24 years old and while I love where I’m from, I can’t imagine being anywhere other than where I am now.
What is something that you do during the day that brings you joy?
My daily 4-mile walk. It’s become a non-negotiable routine and it keeps me sane, brings me back into my body and absolutely brings me joy every day.
If you had 15 minutes of unexpected free time, what would you do?
Ideally I’d call my mother, sister or a BFF, look through Bon Appetit or check out of my favorite recipe bloggers for ideas and inspiration, pull some weeds in my garden or straighten up my office. Less ideal but just as likely: scroll through social media, fold laundry, read the news headlines or open the mail that I sometimes let pile up!
What would you do if you knew you wouldn’t fail?
I love this question. I often ask it of my clients but I can’t remember the last time I asked myself. The “genie-in-a-bottle” answer would be put a stop to climate change and solve the homeless crisis. The more personal answer changes as I change, but these days, if I knew I wouldn’t fail, I would find a way to work as a nomad for a couple of years, traveling with my husband to places we’ve always wanted to see while continuing to write and coach and do the work I currently do. Upon my return I’d like to open a neighborhood cafe/specialty market with a focus on healthy, organic, sustainable fare that could ultimately be a family business. Audacious Bliss Balls for everyone!
What is a daily ritual that you can’t live without? A mantra you are living with?
I tend to change up my mantras from time to time, and my current one is Presence and Grace - on repeat. Presence as a reminder to drop whatever story is leading me either forwards or backwards and to come back to my self in the right now. Grace as a reminder to be kind to myself when I do get tangled up in what I refer to as “mind crack” (which can be anything from a mindless Instagram scroll to fretting about this, that or the other thing.).
My morning matcha is a ritual that grounds me and brings me joy every morning. After I make it I try and drink the first sips in silence, either outside on my back porch or in the cozy chair in my office. Then I like to write in my journal or read a few pages of whatever book I’m into while I enjoy the rest.
What story do you tell yourself that you would like to change? And what would you change it to?
I have several versions of the “not enough” story that I tend to fall into: not successful enough, not thin enough, not consistent enough, etc.. I would love to permanently change those to I am ______ enough, so that I could free my mind up for way more truthful and enjoyable stuff.
How are you juggling business, family and personal time from home?
I feel pretty fortunate in this area as I already work from home, so that was never an issue for me. Also my kids are both away at school and while my daughter was home on and off last year, it was mostly off, which means I’m now officially an empty nester. All in all it wasn’t that much of a juggle for me and for that I am grateful.