Esther Levy

All of that counts.

All of that drains you.

- the open tabs in life.

1 month ago | [YT] | 0

Esther Levy

The Path to Awareness
"Most of the problem starts with not even knowing how much we have going on. Be aware of all the unopened unfinished stuff."
Supporting Statement: "Most of the problem starts with not even knowing how much we have going on". We must first "be aware of all the unopened unfinished stuff"

1 month ago | [YT] | 0

Esther Levy

Taking Control (Do Less, Do Better)

"There's stuff that we can control and then there's the stuff that we can't control. Today, focus only on the things that you can control. Start with one room, one drawer, one thing."

1 month ago | [YT] | 0

Esther Levy

Stop forcing things.
Stop pushing when it doesn’t feel right.
Stop moving from pressure and guilt.

You don’t have to earn your rest.
 You don’t have to prove your worth.
 You’re allowed to feel good.

7 months ago | [YT] | 1

Esther Levy

Stripped Down: Why Simplicity Is the Secret to Showing Up

This week, I found myself speaking again about a theme that keeps returning - simplicity.
Not because it's trendy. Not because it's easy.
 But because it's quietly powerful.
And it's one of the only things that's allowed me to keep showing up - in life, in business, in motherhood, in my relationships.
We talk a lot about what gets in the way of progress. Procrastination. Overwhelm. Resistance.
 But the real culprit, more often than not, is that we're asking too much of ourselves and everyone else - and we haven't paused to ask what actually matters.

---

What Happens When Life Gets Too Loud
Here's the thing I've noticed:
 When we're disconnected from what we really want, we start throwing everything into the pot.
We give too much information.
 We demand too many things at once.
 We complicate what could be simple.
 And we leave people - and ourselves - confused, frustrated, and exhausted.
This isn't just about communication.
 It's about how we eat. How we work. How we connect.
 It's about how we live.

---

Personal Example: Why I Still Do This Work
If I had made this work about aesthetics - perfect lighting, a curated background, styled content - I wouldn't still be here.
I've been showing up to this space for 6 years. Sometimes from a couch. Sometimes from a car. Sometimes mid-mess.
 But I'm still here because I made it simple:
I show up. I support. I speak what's real.
That's it. That's the whole goal.
And when I do that - without the extra pressure - I have the space and energy to keep going.
 Because I'm not carrying the weight of everything else.

---

What Simplicity Actually Looks Like
Simplicity isn't "doing nothing."
 It's doing less - but better.
It's being clear. Focused. Honest.
 It's choosing one ask instead of five.
 It's showing up in your messy clothes because your presence is more important than your presentation.
It's cooking a five-minute meal and sitting down to eat it with someone you love.
 It's going for a walk without the fancy shoes, playlists, or perfect weather.
 It's asking yourself: What do I really need right now?
 And then… doing that.

---

How to Begin
If you're overwhelmed, if your nervous system is screaming, if your list is too long:
Start with this:
Pick one thing.
 Not ten. Not five. Just one.
 One message to share. One task to complete. One need to name.
Let go of the rest - for now.
 It's not all urgent. Some things are just loud.
Do it simply.
 Cut the fluff. Show up. Deliver. Rest.

You'll be shocked how much more energy you have when you aren't trying to carry it all.

---

When Simplicity Feels Boring
One of the hardest parts of simplifying is the emotional withdrawal.
For many of us, complexity has been a coping mechanism.
 It's how we've felt important.
 It's how we've justified our worth.
 It's how we've distracted from deeper work.
When you remove all that noise… sometimes you're left sitting with yourself.
But if you can stay there - just a little longer - you'll find the gold:
Stillness.
 Clarity.
 Energy.
 Peace.



Practice: Simplify Something Today

Choose one conversation to make clearer.
Let go of one "should" that's not serving you.
Ask for only what you truly need.
Show up without the extras - and trust it's enough.

And ask yourself:
What would become possible if I stopped making everything so complicated?

---

You're Not Lazy. You're Overloaded.
This is your reminder:
 If you're tired, you don't need more motivation.
 You might just need less noise.
Less pretending. Less pressure.
 More clarity. More rest. More connection.
Simplicity isn't small. It's essential.
Let it bring you back to what matters.

---

💬 Want to explore this further?
📚 Books + Newsletter Sign-Up
 🌿 Skincare + Healthy Lifestyle
 📂 Free Worksheets + Tools
 📲 Join the WhatsApp Channel
🕣 Live Derech Hashem Classes
 Thursdays @ 8:30 AM EST
 Fridays @ 10:00 AM EST

Skip the Carousel

1 2 3

8 months ago | [YT] | 1

Esther Levy

When Everything Feels Off
The Power of Returning to the Deep Work

We often say we're "just tired" or "in a funk." 
We tell ourselves we need a break, or that something external has thrown us off. But if you look closely - beneath the surface, beneath the excuses, beneath the overwhelm - what we're usually struggling with isn't exhaustion or failure. 
It's disconnection.
And most often, that disconnection starts in our relationships.
Not only with people - but with purpose, with process, with the things that used to give us meaning.
We find ourselves frustrated with our parents. Distant from our partners. Numb toward our children. Unmotivated by our work. Bored in our communities. Or cynical toward our mentors and teachers.
And what we're really doing is placing blame - on the boss, the spouse, the system, the structure - because we haven't taken the time to build the process within ourselves.
We haven't aligned.
We haven't gone deep enough.
We want deep relationships without building deep presence.
We want satisfying work without building satisfying discipline.
We want meaningful connection without tending to the soil of ourselves.
This kind of disconnection doesn't come from laziness. It comes from fear.
It comes from avoiding the work required to get intimate with life itself. The slower rhythms. The daily practices. The stillness. The reflection. The uncomfortable truths.
And yes - it's easier to say "my job isn't meaningful" or "my parents don't get me" or "my partner isn't emotionally available." But what if - just what if - some of that disconnection is coming from the resistance within?
What if the very thing that would give you back your vitality… was on the other side of presence?

---

The Deeper Truth: We Don't Just Need More Time - We Need More Depth
We live in a world that celebrates quick wins and shallow metrics.
It praises the busy, the loud, the visible.
But quality lives aren't built in the spotlight.
They're built in the shadows. In the basics. In the quiet discipline of building strong foundations.
When you show up to your work with intention. When you relate to your family with curiosity. When you speak with your parents and choose empathy, not ego. When you learn how to be present in a moment - not because it's impressive, but because it's real.
That's where quality comes from.
That's where nourishment begins.

---

How Do We Return to Ourselves?
It starts with the day-to-day work. The boring stuff. The beautiful stuff.
The small moments that build a strong nervous system, a strong perception, and an aligned self.
Because when you are grounded and connected to yourself, everything becomes clearer.
You stop blaming. You start building. You stop chasing. You start choosing.
You stop looking for shortcuts, because you realize depth - true depth - is the reward.

---

Your Questions for Today
Where have I been placing blame in my life?
Where do I feel disconnected from the people and processes that once brought me meaning?
Am I rushing through life without tending to the soil of my own experience?
What daily practices help me build trust with myself?
What would it look like to choose presence over performance today?

---

Closing Thought
We suffer not because we lack things - but because we've forgotten how to digest what we already have.
You don't need to do more. You need to go deeper.
Nurture the soil. 
Water the process. 
Trust the slow work.
And connection - true connection - will return.
Esther

Skip the Carousel

1 2

8 months ago | [YT] | 1

Esther Levy

Softening Your Approach
Stepping Into Wholeness Instead of Hustle
The start of the week often arrives not with ease, but with overwhelm.

Before we’ve even had a moment to settle, the to-do list screams louder than our own body’s needs. Our minds are already in motion, strategizing how to get it all done, how to stay on top of the spinning pieces.

We forget to ask: What am I stepping into?
And more importantly: Who is stepping in?

Because when we enter our body, everything shifts.
We soften into the experience.
We stop racing past the moment—and we start actually living it.

Start from Fullness, Not Fear
A truth we overlook:
Greed is born from fear.

Not just financial greed, but the greed for time, attention, perfection, praise.
We hoard tasks, overcommit, overachieve—believing that if we don’t chase it all, we’ll be left behind.

But what if you already had enough?

What if you are enough, right now?

When we begin from fullness instead of deficiency, the pressure fades.
We stop performing. We start showing up.

Greed tightens. Gratitude softens.
Fear grasps. Fullness expands.

What’s Your Emotional Outfit Today?
You choose your clothes in the morning—why not your mood?
Choose calm.
Choose presence.
Choose softness.

Then commit to it like a sacred thread woven through your day.

If someone doesn’t like your outfit, you don’t rush home to change.
Why do we do that with our mood?
If it’s yours, wear it proudly.

Success Isn’t Found at the Finish Line
We measure too much by results.
But peace, satisfaction, joy—they all live in the process.

The truth is: we don’t suffer from a lack of things.
We suffer from indigestion in a world of abundance.

We’re overloaded with options, input, opinions.
But our systems—body, mind, soul—can only hold what we’re prepared to receive.

Fullness begins when we digest life intentionally.

Emotions Are Contagious—Lead with Clean Ones
Anxious people spread anxiety.
Grounded people spread calm.

So ask yourself:
Are you stepping into someone else’s chaos—or inviting them into your clarity?

Build internal calm. Regulate your nervous system.
And watch the world respond differently to you.

Practice for the Week: Softening Your Grip
Instead of focusing on outcomes, focus on tone.

Ask:

Where can I soften today?

In my approach? With myself? With others?

On a scale of 1–100, how much force or intensity am I using right now?

Could I turn the dial down to 70—and still show up fully?

Don’t wait until it’s unbearable.
Softening is not a luxury. It’s a nervous system reset.
It’s how we return to connection.

Self-Check-In
To discover what’s important to you, write out your current priorities in order of importance. Then ask:

Am I building systems that support this list?

Often, stress and anxiety are the system.
They’re not signs we’re failing—they’re signals to adjust.

Start by softening. That’s the first step to making real change.

💬 Join the conversation
We live in a world of constant input—doing, producing, giving. But without learning how to receive, regulate, and reconnect, we burn out.

This week, choose softness.
Let it shape your voice, your pace, your presence.
Watch what changes.

🔗 Resources
📖 Books & Newsletter Sign-Up: Esther on Amazon
🧴 Skincare + Healthy Lifestyle: ujjayiinc.com
📬 Free Worksheets + Resources: estherlevy.kit.com
💬 Join the WhatsApp Channel: Click here

Skip the Carousel

1 2

8 months ago | [YT] | 0

Esther Levy

Stress, Anxiety & the Power of Boundaries

How clarity and connection begin with knowing your limits

We talk a lot about stress and anxiety. But we rarely talk about what causes them.
Yes, life is full. Yes, we're balancing a lot. But often, the deeper cause of anxiety is being stuck between two opposing forces - two "yeses," two "nos," or a loud "I should" fighting a quiet "I can't." The body tenses, the mind spins, and we feel trapped between choices.
As Naval said:

"You don't reflect to feel better about yourself. You reflect to do something about it."

If your reflection is just a tool to soothe your ego, you're not solving the problem - you're strengthening your attachment to it. You're inflating your sense of powerlessness instead of practicing responsibility. And when we avoid action, our anxiety becomes a kind of high - an overcharged loop that feels like urgency but isn't grounded in truth.
That's why boundaries matter so much more than we think.
They're not just a communication tool.
 They're a nervous system tool.
 They're a relationship tool.
 They're a self-respect tool.
Boundaries help reduce anxiety by turning emotional confusion into clarity. They move us from spinning to steady, from guessing to knowing. And most importantly, they let us stay connected - to ourselves and to others - without burnout or resentment.


Let's walk through five practices that aren't just about "saying no" - they're about reclaiming your energy, restoring calm, and building relationships that work.

---

1. Boundaries Build Connection - Not Walls
So many people think boundaries are rejection. That saying no means closing off or pushing someone away.
But real boundaries are about creating space for connection.
When you say, "I love spending time with you. I also need quiet after a visit so I can recharge," you're not rejecting the person. You're building a bridge of honesty and mutual respect. You're saying, "I want this relationship to last - and here's how it can."
Don't wait until something is unbearable to set a boundary. That only creates resentment. Catch it while it's still manageable. Boundaries set early are lighter, clearer, and easier to receive.

---

2. Validate First, Then Express
One of the most common breakdowns in communication is when we jump straight into frustration. We say, "You never call me back." Or, "You don't care." And the other person naturally pulls away.
Instead, lead with validation:
 "I know you've been really busy, and I respect that. I also miss you. Can we talk sometime soon?"
Validation isn't weakness - it's strength. It says, "I see your world. And I also want to let you into mine."
This works internally, too. You can say to yourself:
 "I know I've had a lot on my plate lately. I also miss the part of me that slows down and checks in. Let's take a walk today."

---

3. Speak Calmly and Clearly
Your nervous system needs clarity. So do your relationships.
Avoiding a conversation may seem easier in the short term, but it slowly builds tension under the surface. And when it finally bubbles up, it often comes out sharp, sarcastic, or explosive.
Instead, speak from your own experience:
 "I feel disconnected when I don't hear from you. Can we find a rhythm that works for both of us?"
Notice if your body is leaning forward in conversation (trying to push or prove something), or if you can sit back, grounded in your truth. When you communicate with calm and clarity, your words carry more weight and less friction.

---

4. Be Curious - Not Critical
Criticism is the body's armor. It steps in when we feel vulnerable or afraid to be open.
But curiosity is the opposite. Curiosity says: "I wonder what's underneath this."
When we're in survival mode, we often default to analysis, judgment, or micromanagement. But if we stay curious - instead of trying to be right or in control - we open ourselves up to understanding and connection.
Ask yourself in moments of tension:
 "What am I really afraid of here? Can I stay open and ask instead of assume?"

---

5. Give What You Want to Receive
Want more kindness? Lead with kindness.
 Want more presence? Show up fully.
 Want more respect? Speak respectfully.
Boundaries don't only happen in what you say no to.
 They also live in what you give first.
Respect, warmth, and softness - these are not things to withhold until someone else earns them. They're things to offer as a way of shaping your relationships into what they can be.
And if someone repeatedly doesn't meet you there?
 That tells you what you need to know - without a fight.


---

✨ So what now?
If you're feeling overwhelmed or stuck, don't try to fix everything.
 Just begin with one of these five practices today. Try one sentence. One pause. One shift. And track what happens.
Boundaries aren't about controlling others.
 They're about taking back control of your own energy.
When you feel calm in your body, clear in your words, and aligned in your values - everything else starts to flow. And connection feels safe again.

---

📝 Discover what matters:
To get clearer on what you need, write out your current priorities in order of importance.
 Then, instead of obsessing over the end goal, focus on what systems you need to put in place to support those priorities day by day.
For most of us, stress and anxiety are just our body's alert system - a signal that something needs adjusting. Use that signal to build new systems. That's how we move from overwhelm to ownership.
Esther 

---

🧭 Looking for more support?
📬 Newsletter + Book Sign-Up
 🧴 Skincare + Lifestyle Tools
 📚 Free Worksheets + Tools
 💬 Join the WhatsApp Channel
For all other inqueries my email Esther@ujjayiinc.com

Skip the Carousel

1 2 3

9 months ago | [YT] | 1

Esther Levy

Your Problem Is…
A Wake-Up Call to Get Out of Your Head and Into Your Life.
---

We all have moments when we fall into the trap of self-pity.
When we convince ourselves that we're the victim, that life is unfair, that everyone else is the problem. That if things were just different - easier, clearer, more supportive - then we'd succeed.
But here's the truth:
Your problem is… you've convinced yourself you have a problem.
You blame your circumstances, your schedule, your environment, your body, your mood, the people around you.
You build a flawless argument in your head that makes total sense - to you. But that story? It's just a distraction.
Your problem isn't that you lack intelligence or potential - you have both.
 Your problem is that you're living in your head and neglecting your body.
 Your problem is that you're making excuses instead of making moves.
 Your problem is that you're trying to argue with reality instead of rising to meet it.
Let me tell you something: life is hard. For everyone.
And that's not an excuse to give up - that's a reason to get up.

---

You Are Not Weak - But You're Acting Like You Are
Strength is not just muscle mass.
 Strength is:
Waking up when your alarm goes off.
Showing up when you'd rather hide.
Saying no to distractions that drain you.
Doing what needs to be done before the pain becomes unbearable.

If you rely only on your intellect, your feelings, your justifications - you will lose.
If you stay in your head and neglect your body - you will burn out.
 Discipline is not punishment. It's freedom.

---

It's Not Complicated - It's Simple
Your problem is you want life to be more complicated than it is - so you can avoid taking responsibility.
But life is actually simple:
 Get up. Show up. Be accountable. Do the work.
 That's it.
Not because someone else told you to - but because you respect yourself enough to do what's right.

---

A Final Word, From Love
You are enough. You have what it takes. You are set up to succeed.
 But none of that matters unless you take action.
 Don't waste your day convincing yourself of your limits.
Prove your strength by what you do - not what you say.
 The answers you're looking for are in the action you've been avoiding.
Move Your Body Before You Move Your Life
Before you try to fix anything in your life - get up.
 Don't think. Don't overplan. Don't talk yourself out of it.
Do one physical thing:
Make your bed
Take a cold shower
Go for a 10-minute walk
Put your phone down and clean one surface

Why? Because motion breaks emotion.
 Your body holds the key to shifting your state.
Reflection Questions - For When You're Ready to Get Real
Where am I blaming others instead of taking action?
What do I already have that I keep telling myself I'm missing?
What excuses do I keep repeating - and are they actually helping me?
How often am I living in my head instead of using my body to move forward?
What's one small thing I can do today to show up for myself - no matter how I feel?

We live in a world of constant input - doing, producing, giving. But without learning how to receive, regulate, and reconnect, we burn out. In this episode, we explore how to reset the nervous system, recognize where our energy is being controlled by outside forces, and build real support through intentional structure and alignment.

💬 Join the conversation on how to bring your full self - body, senses, and intuition - into your daily life.
🔗 Books + Newsletter Sign-Up: www.amazon.com/author/estherdresdner
 🔗 Skincare + Healthy Lifestyle: ujjayiinc.com/
 📬 Free Worksheets + Resources: estherlevy.kit.com/
 💬 Join the WhatsApp Channel: whatsapp.com/channel/0029ValL3M4HltY9a5TSwb1J
📅 Live Derech Hashem Classes:
 🕣 Thursdays @ 8:30 AM EST
 🕙 Fridays @ 10:00 AM EST

Skip the Carousel

1 2

9 months ago | [YT] | 0

Esther Levy

It’s a wake-up call to live with integrity, to stop wasting what’s been given, and to realize that strength isn’t about intellect or theory, but about action.
•
Your problem is… you’ve convinced yourself you have a problem.
•
Your problem isn’t that you lack intelligence or potential — you have both.
•
Your problem is that you’re living in your head and neglecting your body.
•
Your problem is that you’re making excuses instead of making moves.
•
Your problem is that you're trying to argue with reality instead of rising to meet it.
•
Life is hard. For everyone. And that’s not an excuse to give up — that’s a reason to get up.
•
You Are Not Weak — But You’re Acting Like You Are.
•
Wake up when your alarm goes off.
•
Show up when you’d rather hide.
•
Say no to distractions that drain you.
•
Do what needs to be done before the pain becomes unbearable.
•
Discipline is not punishment. It’s freedom.
•
It’s Not Complicated — It’s Simple: Get up. Show up. Be accountable. Do the work.
•
Do it because you respect yourself enough to do what’s right.
•
You are enough. You have what it takes. You are set up to succeed. But none of that matters unless you take action.
•
Don’t waste your day convincing yourself of your limits.
•
Prove your strength by what you do — not what you say.
•
The answers you’re looking for are in the action you’ve been avoiding

- Esther

(follow for more)

Skip the Carousel

1 2 3 4 5

9 months ago | [YT] | 0