We had the good fortune of connecting with Liat Philipson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Liat, what makes you happy? Why?
For years, I’ve been on a quest to understand and capture happiness—what it truly means, how we find it, and how we hold on to it. There’s a quote attributed to the Buddha that resonates deeply with me. When one of his disciples asked, “Master, I want Happiness,” Buddha replied, “First, drop ‘I’—that’s ego. Then drop ‘want’—that’s desire. What you’re left with is Happiness.” It sounds so simple; Yet, happiness remains elusive for many of us, primarily because we struggle to live in the present moment. We often find ourselves trapped in our past—our traumas, childhood stories—or consumed and living only in planning our future.

As a very young child, I endured a profound trauma of abandonment when my parents got divorced. My mother and I moved in with my grandparents, and my father quickly disappeared from my life. We had no contact until I was 40 and I decided to reconnect. I was fortunate, though, because my mother remarried, and I was adopted by an incredible man, who became my father when I was 4. For years, I believed we were all truly happy. But at 35, that illusion was shattered, when my mother discovered that my father had been having an affair, leading to their divorce. This event shook me and my life to the core, and my understanding of happiness, trust, and marriage.

However, it also marked the beginning of a profound inner journey to seek answers about life, happiness and our purpose here. For the past 15 years, I’ve been sharing, teaching and spreading what I’ve learned along the way. Today, I understand what brings me happiness. Often, it’s the small, simple things—being fully present and appreciating the gift of the moment: spending time with my children, sailing with my husband, immersing myself in nature, writing and working on my book: Entitled to Be Enlightened, creating the next workshop or women’s retreat, teaching, dancing, practicing yoga, or baking for the people I love.

Happiness, I’ve discovered, isn’t something to be pursued or grasped. It’s found in the art of being present and embracing the beauty of now!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am a multidisciplinary individual, and this diversity is reflected in everything I do and offer, particularly in my two primary businesses. On one hand, I’m an experienced real estate investor and a licensed real estate agent in both Georgia and Florida. My specialty lies in locating, and purchasing unique beach homes, which I then renovate, furnish, and decorate, transforming them into stunning vacation rentals on Airbnb and Vrbo, I currently own and manage 6 of them.

Simultaneously, I hold multiple certifications in the mind-body-soul domain, an area I have deeply immersed myself in for the past 23 years due to a personnal trauma that occurred to me as a young child. Through this spiritual journey, I’ve gathered a wide array of tools and techniques that worked like magic to me and my loved ones, and I’m happy to offer it the the women around me in all stages of life.

I strive to meld spirit and matter in all that I do, bringing balance to both my personal and my professional life. This is exactly what I aim to convey through my teachings, therapy sessions, courses, and women’s journeys and retreats—it’s not just about learning and practicing spirituality, but about integrating these teachings into our everyday life as a parent, partner, employee, entrepreneur, and more.

In the early days of my career, I was fully immersed in the material world, working crazy hours in corporate finance then marketing, and advertising; However, I burned out pretty quickly. This led me to shift my focus almost entirely to the study and practice of yoga and other spiritual and healing methodologies, but I found myself missing the business side. Since moving to the U.S, 10 years ago, I have successfully balanced both worlds. This holistic approach has allowed me to feel more complete and balanced, and has equipped me with valuable tools and skills that I now share with my students and my clients.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I have a deep love for nature—it’s where I find my healing, my reconnection with myself, and a sense of unity with everything around me. If water is involved, it’s pure bliss.

My perfect day would start at my home studio on Lake Lanier, but not before indulging in a delicious breakfast at TBB122 in downtown Alpharetta, where I lived for the past 9 years. The cozy atmosphere, charming decor, perfect coffee, and their sourdough avocado toast—especially when enjoyed outdoors under the trees—make it a place I cherish.

Another spot with similar vibes is the café at Scottsdale Farms in Milton, where the ambiance is equally inviting. When it comes to food, I always gravitate towards lighter meals, and if I’m dining out, it’s usually for something special—like unique Asian cuisine, be it Thai or Japanese, or perhaps from time to time a a taste of Persian food.

If my friend has a passion for furniture and decor, we’d definitely stop by Arhaus—one of my all-time favorite stores (it’s no surprise, since I furnish and decorate all my vacation rental portofolio). We might also explore Westside Market in Roswell or the historic charm of Old Roswell a haven for antique lovers like myself, that also offers plenty of delightful spots to enjoy lunch as well.

Afterward, it’s off to the lake, where we can either take the boat out or paddle-board together, depending on her mood. From there, we could venture further into the North Georgia mountains—Dahlonega, Suches—where hiking trails beckon and a good BBQ joint is never far.
Or we could make it a picnic day, complete with my homemade sourdough bread, rich goat cheeses, all set in a picturesque spot. If she’s up for it, I might even cook up my famous cast iron dish over an open fire—something I often do during my women’s camping retreats.

We’d finish the day with a stop at a charming coffee shop in Cumming: Myth & Legend to summarize our adventurous day, of the day steeped in nature, good food, and even better company.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost my amazing family, my husband David with whom I walk this life, for more than 30 years! and my three amazing kids, now young adults. I couldn’t choose better companions for this journey, for this life. I always laugh and thank David, for choosing me to be his instructor, while we were in the Israeli Ai- Force – yes, he was my commander 🙂 This is where ti all began. As a child, who’s been under two divorces, I wouldn’t think I would be able to be in a long relationship, but here we are, celebrating our 29th anniversary soon + 3 more years of living together.

The other person I need to mention is my mom, as she’s the one who decided when I was less than a year old, to walk away from her marriage, and from this man, she thought she knew, and gave me another life, another family. In so many ways she’s an inspiration. At age 65 she moved here to the US to be with 3 of her children and grandkids, and at age 71 she published an amazing book on her life’s story and still surprising us with her energy and ideas! She can definitely be your next shoutout!

Website: www.awarenessspace.com ; serenewater.staydirectly.com

Instagram: @liatphilipson ; @serene_water_getaway

Facebook: facbook.com/liatphilipson ; facebook.com/awarenessspacebyliatphilipson

Youtube: @awarenessspaceliatphilipson

Image Credits
Liat Shnitman – Photogrpher (purple shirt and treatment image)
Oshrit Hakmon – pink shirt image
Malka Nihum – waves image

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