LEVE-LEVE — The Art of Taking Life Step by Step
Recently I was introduced to the saying leve-leve used on the island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe. It means "step by step" — a gentle reminder that we don't need all the answers right now, that we can soften into the present moment, and begin to trust that things may work out better than we imagine.
I was watching an episode of Yes Theory (see link below) and realized I had a smile on my face the entire time. There's something so refreshing about watching people step outside their comfort zones, trust life a little more, connect with others, and face their fears head-on. Yes Theory and Seek Discomfort are two of my favourite YouTube channels for exactly that reason.
This particular episode inspired me on several levels, but I really liked their experiment of taking a break from their phones. I'm old enough to remember life before cell phones and I often find myself missing those days. Life felt simpler. There was more space to be present, to daydream, to just be.
The episode also touched on something I've been thinking about a lot lately: taking life one step at a time. Not needing to have everything figured out. Not rushing to the finish line. Just focusing on the next step in front of you.
That brings me back to leve-leve. It's a Portuguese expression that means "lightly," "gently," or "easy does it." Wise words, really. The older I get, the more I appreciate that approach. In fact, it's something I've been weaving more into my tapping sessions lately — helping people soften the pressure, slow down, and trust that they don't have to do it all today.
Step by step.
Leve-leve.
If having a little more leve-leve in your life sounds appealing, tapping is a wonderful way to begin. As we calm the nervous system, we start to learn that we can be with our emotions without being overwhelmed by them. We begin to trust ourselves a little more. It starts to feel safer to settle into our bodies, soften the constant pressure to figure everything out, and trust that the next step will come.
