LM=Lisa Murray
SG=Sandy Grason
LM: What is a Journalution?
SG: The official definition (which I made up) is:
• the act of revealing inner wisdom through writing. 2. producing or furthering radical change from within. 3. free from confusion or doubt. 4. dazzling or shining in one's passion and purpose. 5. cleansing emotional blocks 6. journey from one place to another (i.e., from where you are now to the life of your dreams).
It's that magical moment when your inner critic shuts off and your inner wisdom begins to flow. It's the ultimate “a-ha!” moment.
LM: Where do you think this dream to write Journalution came from?
SG: I feel like my entire life I was questioning, “what am I supposed to be doing?” I felt that I had a bigger dream or mission, but I didn't know what it was. I would hear a very small, faint whisper, but I was too afraid to follow it. I think by journaling more and more, my inner wisdom got louder and I got braver.
LM: Where do you think all dreams come from?
SG: Deep within your Soul. That's my feeling. There is a whisper, inside everyone. Are you brave enough to follow it? It takes courage to put yourself out there. You become vulnerable when you share your dream. It can be scary. But it is soooo worth it. When you get that rare moment of clarity. A glimpse, out of the corner of your eye, of what is possible. That initial inspiration, you have to capture it. Write it down. Do not ignore it. Those are the moments we live for. Then you have to go do something with them! Take action. You can do it. I believe you would not have the inspiration, if you were not equipped to accomplish that dream.
LM: When/how did you accomplish your dream? What as the defining moment?
SG: One day at a time. There are *A LOT* of moments, but it always comes down to the daily tasks. Sitting down and doing the work of your dream. It's usually not glamorous and beautiful. I tell my coaching clients. “This is what it looks like to BE a published author.” It looks like sitting down and writing the edits, over and over. It looks like sending out another query letter and watching the rejections roll in. (I was rejected by more that 20 literary agents, before finally selling Journalution to New World Library).
There were so many defining moments. I always say that for me, accomplishing my dream was a process of overcoming Extreme Self Doubt. Looking back, I can see a definite Internal Shift that took place. It was gradual, but it is undeniable.
One of the defining moments happened after sending 2 proposals directly to editors (rather than agents) and getting an immediate rejection from one. I did nothing. No follow-up with the other editor. 3 mos passed. I did nothing. I was browsing in a bookstore, buying a birthday gift and ended up back in the publishing section (as always) looking at the newest version of Literary Marketplace (the bible for authors wanting to get published). I already owned a copy of this large, expensive book, but this was the “new and improved” version. I remember looking at this book, asking myself “what have I missed? What did I NOT do? Why am I still not published???!!!” And very clearly, I heard that whisper. “Sandy, there is nothing in that book that you need. You already have everything you need to be a published author.” I slammed the book shut and repeated to myself; “Dammit Sandy! There is nothing you need in that book. You have everything you need inside of you to BE published author!” I felt the words deeply. I walked downstairs and waited in line to pay for my gift. As I waited in the line, my cell phone rang. It was the editor at New World Library who bought my book.
I believe, in that moment, there was another (one of many) internal shifts that took place. I ‘got it' on the inside and then it showed up on the outside. I would say to anyone right now who is struggling to make their dream a reality. “You already have everything you need inside of you to do this. You already are that. Just go do it.”
LM: How did accomplishing your dream affect your life? Your outlook? Your day-to-day existence?
SG: Well, it's still THE MOST exciting and fun thing to sign my book and speak about my book. Just meeting people and having them ask me “what do you do?” is fun now. For me, it gave me a confidence that I was searching for. I did it! What an accomplishment! I wrote a book! Accomplishing this goal, naturally leads to other goals. I definitely feel that I can do just about anything I set my mind to. It's given me the absolute knowledge that “If they can do it, I can do it.”
Day-to-day, some things are very different, like instead of doing a free talk at the bookstore around the corner for 10 people, I'm being flown to Canada, California and New York to speak in front of very large groups. That's really fun. But I'm also a mom, (my daughters are 10 & 9 years old) and so, I drive them to school and have to do laundry and go grocery shopping. I still have to make myself sit down and write, it's not always a big inspiring moment. Most times it's “I've got a deadline and I have to get this done before I can go play.” Like right now, it's Sunday morning and I have to send this off to you today. I'm sitting in my pajamas in my bed with a fresh cup of coffee and my laptop and I'm forcing myself to get this interview done before leaving the house. (my café mocha is my bribe/reward to get me to work) I work best with rewards. J If I do ______, then I can do ______. You get to fill in the blanks…..
LM: What is the single most important factor to your personality that gave you an edge in making this dream a reality?
SG: Perseverance. Tenacity. You have to be willing to do what others are not. You have to keep going. I believe the only difference between those who accomplish their dreams and those who do not is; some people stop trying. If you keep going and stay connected to your inner wisdom. You will do it. Your dream may take a turn in an unexpected direction, (probably a better direction) but you will accomplish your dreams.
LM: What are your beliefs about being challenged? Are they "a part of life", an opportunity to grow, a "test from the Universe?"
SG: I think you have to look at challenges as just questions from the Universe. “Do you really want this?” “Are you sure you really want this?” It's an opportunity to get clearer. Because if you know in your heart that this is truly your dream, then you will keep going. You will find a way. It doesn't matter what other people say, if they criticize you and tell you that your dream is silly or that it is too hard. None of that matters when you are committed to making your dream a reality. So when you run up against roadblocks, it's just another opportunity to take a breath and reflect if this is what you really want. And when the answer from within comes back “Yes.” Then you will figure out a way to keep going. You will make it happen. You will accomplish your dream. Challenges are a way to ‘weed out' the ones who are really serious.
LM: When was the first time you
publicly declared your dream to others?
SG: I had a mastermind group that I worked with when I decided to get my book published. They supported me through the long and winding road.
LM: Did others treat you differently once they knew about your dream? If so, how?
SG: I chose to carefully include others in my dreams, because my self-confidence was very fragile. I didn't believe in myself so I couldn't afford to have people (especially people who didn't know anything) criticize me. I knew I was going to get criticism from the industry in the form of rejection, so I really protected myself until I felt confident that I could trust others with my dream.
Now I think people do treat me differently when they find out I'm an author and a speaker. They are impressed. It makes me feel good. It helps me recognize what an accomplishment it is to do what I've done.
During the process, I never really ‘felt like an author'. If I chose to introduce myself as a writer or a speaker, I felt like a fraud. So for me, becoming a published author, was a journey of self-discovery and proving to myself that I could actually BE what I dreamed of Being.
LM: Why do you think some people don't follow their dreams?
SG: Fear. Fear of what others will think. Fear of failure. There is so much fear. Your real dream is supposed to scare you. The dream that makes your stomach turn, is “The One”. The one that feels easy won't be as fun or as fulfilling. I like to say, if you're not scared, you're not dreaming big enough. You need to go get a bigger dream. Because when you are afraid, that is when you are really growing. That is when you are stretching your comfort zone.
I remember being on a plane after teaching for a full week to some very impressive people and feeling like I had just grown so much. Then 2 weeks later I was on another plane going to another gig that was really scaring me because of the people I would be speaking with and for. I wrote in my journal. “So this is what it feels like to play big. If I was comfortable I wouldn't be growing. With each new experience, new opportunity that scares me, I grow more. I'm growing into this Big Vision that I created for my life. This is what it feels like to live your dreams. It's not always comfortable. In fact, it's rarely comfortable. Being comfortable means, staying some place where you are comfortable. That's not living your dreams. I have to get comfortable being uncomfortable, because that is when I am really living.
LM: What advice would you givbe someone considering following their dream?
SG: I have a Martha Graham quote that I live by. She was a dancer, choreographer. The quote is long, so I'll only share a bit of it. " There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique, and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium; and be lost. The world will not have it.
So my answer is, you *must* follow your dream! If you choose not to, then the world will never know it. The world will never experience the Unique Expression that is YOU. It is your responsibility to share your unique essence with the world. That is why you were put on this earth. Do not waste it. Do not play small. Do not let fear deter you from living your dreams. Those whispers that you hear, that is your Soul speaking to you. Showing you what is possible. You must honor whose whispers. You must go for it.
LM: Since manifesting your dream, have you had any troubles "living the dream"? Does it live up to your expectation? Is it all you thought it would be? If no, how is it different?
SG: Yes and No. There is so much that is even better than I wished for. I haven't made millions of dollars with my book or my business yet, but I think I had really realistic expectations with the financial part of being a published author. It's the building of your dreams. The ‘overnight' success is usually someone who has been working away in the shadows for many years. Being a published author is so wonderful. I love being a writer and a speaker and getting to have this experience of expressing myself creatively in the world. And there is so much more I want to do. I want to write more songs and make more movies and meet more and more creative people who are following their passions and wanting to add their voice to the world.
I think what I've learned is that I have a creative cycle. I think most artists do. And there are times when I'm totally inspired and working and there is just not enough time in the day to do all the wonderful projects that are inspiring me. And then there are times that I need to be quiet. I call it ‘marinating'. I need to just BE. The first time this happened, I thought I was having a breakdown. My book was out, I had been promoting it and speaking and I was just ‘over it'. I was ready to throw it all out the window. I was sick of Journalution and my talks, blah, blah, blah. That's when I started making movies for youtube.com. I was trying to work only on things that inspired me and for that summer, all I wanted to do was learn how to make movies. I told one of my mentors “I guess I need to meditate and journal and figure out what is next for me.” He said, “no, go float in the pool. Go shopping.”
It was so freeing! No pressure to create. I now realize that this is part of the creative process for me. Sometimes I will be really inspired and then there will come a time that I need to ‘fill myself back up' in order to create something new. Now I don't resist those times when I need to be quiet. It's all about the balance of work and play. Marinating leads to juicy new projects. I'm making a “Sandy-licious Marinade”.
LM: What are some of the things you've manifested in your journals?
SG: Oh, crazy things like David Cassidy showing up at my house and invitations to fly on private jets and unexpected $. I wrote things in my journal like “I am so grateful I am a published author.” Over and over and over. I also wrote “I am so grateful to have an endorsement from Mark Victor Hansen.” (co-author Chicken Soup for the Soul series) and I manifested that.
I believe having a written vision of what you want your life to be is one of the most important things you can do. Let yourself write anything. The most ridiculous, crazy things, allow them to appear on the page. You never know what will show up. Anything is Possible.
LM: Can you give readers 3 quick tips that would help them immediately?
• No Rules…. Just Write : You don't have to write everyday! Whether you write once a day or once a year, you are benefiting from your journaling practice. Each time you write, you get a little bit closer to your Soul, you are giving your inner wisdom a safe place to surface. So no more guilt! Your journal is your friend.
• Journal a Life Vision : Let yourself go, and write from your heart. That is where your real dreams lie dormant. It's time to awaken them and give them some energy. Your vision should be something that moves you to action. Infuse your vision with passion and write from your deepest desires.
• Journal Your Gratitude : Here is a way to change your life faster than anything you've ever seen. Expressing gratitude in your journal connects you to a state of appreciation that spills over into everything you do. It inspires you to view your life from a state of grace, rather than a state of lack. It will connect you to your creativity, your intuition and your inner wisdom.
LM: How can readers get a copy of your book?
My book is available in all major bookstores, if it's not on the shelf, they can get it for you. And of course, you can get it at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, etc… There's also a link on my website. http://www.SandyGrason.com
