Today we’d like to introduce you to Dana Grant.
Dana, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
It all kinda started when I was approaching my 30s. I was living in Atlanta, had been married for about seven years, and I had a 3-year-old son. These are all things that people tell you that you need in order to achieve happiness and success, yet it was one of the emptiest periods of my life. The emptiness literally drove me to a point where I petitioned God…” either you’re gonna let me know my intended purpose on this earth, or I no longer want to be here on this earth.” It was almost immediately that I began to get “answers” concerning my “why”. It came in the form of questions that caused me to search deep within myself; simple questions that I had never really given thought to because I didn’t think it mattered. “What are some things you enjoy doing? Make a list.” It may sound taboo to some, but I could hear/feel God asking me this question. I adhered and made a list. I then proceeded to make the list and group like things together. There were a few other “steps” before coming to my final conclusion, but I’ll spare the details for now. This simple question led me to the belief that we were each created to ENJOY life. It wasn’t meant to be some mundane experience with no joy or intent. It led me to the belief that I have value and what I WANT matters just as much as my basic needs for survival. It led me to the belief that EVERYONE is entitled to the knowledge and experience of this simple fact. It led me to ME and has since prompted me to be an example for others to be led to themselves as well.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has not been the smoothest of roads. The struggle is almost always internal though. Talking myself out of limiting beliefs about my worth and abilities has been my conversation with myself MANY-a-day. The external world creates so many “standards” for people to live “up” to, and if you don’t fit, you’re made to feel worthless. BUT if you know that your worth cannot be measured, it changes the game. The hardest part is believing that though. However, it’s also the easiest part. For those who don’t yet feel purposed to be here, the best advice I can give is to get to know and LOVE yourself. There’s no cookie-cutter way to this process. Just start with the simple questions, and you’ll soon find yourself in the abyss of your true essence. It sounds mystical… and it kind of is. We are all mystical and magical beings who, when we are all authentically ourselves, create a beautiful story.
Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of. What sets you apart from the competition?
I am currently the Studio Operations Manager at River Flow Yoga and Wellness in Columbus, Ga. I am also a certified yoga instructor (RYT200) and certified wellness coach. I am the Brand Ambassador for a skin and haircare company called The Doxa Gene. The Doxa Gene is comprised of products that cleanse the skin and hair using only water, herbs, vegetables, and fruit. I also co-host 2 podcasts. Just Winging It (a podcast about adulting and how none of us really know what we’re doing) and Well Well Well (a podcast about overall wellness- mental, emotional, physical, spiritual).
To be honest, I don’t really feel “known”. All I know is that in everything I do… whether it’s admin work for the studio, teaching a class, or helping someone “figure out life”, I do it with the best of intentions and the purest of hearts. I have an innate ability to SEE people and invite them to see and feel their value. That is probably the most fulfilling thing for me… when people KNOW how much they mean.
Looking back on your childhood, what experiences do you feel played an important role in shaping the person you grew up to be?
As a little girl, I remember being happy. I remember being smart. I remember loving to interact with people whether I knew them or not. (I once got separated from my mom in the mall because I had walked off with another lady just talking my head off to her. Lol! Thankfully, she wasn’t a kidnapper and she took me to mall security and my mom came to get me!) Back to the point though, I was a genuinely happy child. Some pretty unfortunate things happened to me during my teenage years and it sent me on a downward spiral from the happiness I had as a child. I think I had to feel the high highs… and then, the low lows in order to learn the lessons and share the messages I share today. Even in the low lows, I had a reference point for how I could feel, think, and be. While I wasn’t always sure of how to get there, I KNEW that it was possible because I had felt it before. Ya know?
Pricing:
- River Flow Yoga and Wellness memberships ranging from $59-$109 per month with short term commitments.
Contact Info:
- Email: dday781@gmail.com
- Instagram: danamyte781
- Facebook: Dana Grant
- Twitter: danamyte781
- Other: justwingingitpod and wellwellwellpod
Image Credit:
Gina Spinelli
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