Meet Maddie-Jo Anderson, she is a former television journalist, abstract artist, and journalism graduate who loves to journal. She is the creator of Drawn Dreams which is a daily gratitude and manifestation activity book. She was kind enough to be interviewed and we are excited to share her new book, Drawn Dreams! I’m sure after watching her recent interview on CTV in Toronto below, you will know why.
What does being grateful mean to you?
Being grateful means being loving; I believe gratitude is a form of love.
When I appreciate the things in my life, I’m showing self-love, for many reasons. Gratitude is a mindfulness practice that brings me to the present moment, therefore I’m not stuck in the past or worried about the future. Also, feeling grateful immediately sparks joy inside me. When I choose to be grateful I am aware that I’m choosing to be joyful, during this short-short life on earth, which is very self-loving.
When I show gratitude for someone else, it tells them that they matter to me and that they are making a positive difference in my life which, in my opinion, is a gesture of love.
Right now in this moment what are 3 things you are grateful for?
This sweet interview with you, my loved ones, and practicing yoga. Oh, how I love savasana!!
Please share with us how you came to develop your book Drawn Dreams and what your hope for others to get out of the practice of using it daily?
My intention for this manifestation/gratitude journal is to spread gratitude, therefore, spread joy. Drawn Dreams is a form of art therapy, but for everybody!
This idea, to draw your gratitude and draw your goals and dreams, came through me when I was living by the sea in County Cork, Ireland – I’m from Toronto, Canada.
For my main inspiration, I would say is my family. Since 1998, my folks, my two brothers and I have been writing our goals on paper each New Years Day and watching as over 75% of them are always coming true. Drawn Dreams was also heavily inspired by the passing of my younger brother Spencer Tillapaugh. Spencer was into gratitude journaling and the law of attraction; those two topics are what Drawn Dreams is all about. Spence once wrote in his gratitude journal “I’m grateful that I’m grateful.” A wise lad.
The heaviness of grieving my younger bro had me at an all-time low, and Drawn Dreams came through at the perfect time. It lifted me up and continues to, every single day.
As human beings, we do think in pictures. How can we apply that knowledge to creating a gratitude-filled life?
When I draw something I am grateful for, I’m super focused on it, I’m even bringing it to life in a sense.
I’m super engulfed in feeling grateful and joyous for the minute or two it takes me to draw it. I do this mindfulness practice each morning with my cup of coffee, I often will draw my cup of coffee lol. I find this feeling of gratitude can last for the entire day.
The more I draw my gratitude the more I find things to be grateful for. It’s because of Drawn Dreams, I now appreciate the little things in life.
Drawing my goals is enriching too. Just like how an athlete uses visualization to attract the ideal outcome in their sporting event, with Drawn Dreams, I use visualization through my drawings, to attract my ideal outcome, every day!
Basically, I use Drawn Dreams to set an intention for my day, making it a smooth and positive one.
How do you feel that gratitude has impacted your journey to get to where you are today and how does it continue to impact where you are headed?
Gratitude brings me to the present moment so I can actually enjoy the journey of life.
I’m grateful, my whole work-life revolves around gratitude, lol. I am going to continue to spread gratitude/joy, I feel like that’s my “career purpose.”
In regards to my personal life, I find sometimes gratitude comes easily and sometimes I have to work at it. It seems to me like being grateful is a muscle that I need to continue to exercise and grow.
When I choose to be grateful I’m truly in a happy state. It’s a choice I try to choose as often as possible. I rely heavily on Drawn Dreams to align me and get me in my grateful state each morning. I’ve made Drawn Dreams a healthy, self-loving, daily habit, so I can continue to live life to the fullest.
Who is the first person that comes to mind when you hear, “Someone in my life that I’m grateful for and why?” 
My epic, fun, loving husband, Chase. We really balance each other. When I’m in a funk, he picks me up and vice versa. He’ll even remind me to be grateful. He’s my rock. He’s out of this world amazing! I’m always drawing stick figures of him in my book lol!
In closing, what is one suggestion that you can give our readers that can help them incorporate gratitude into their daily lives?
Draw it! I developed Drawn Dreams to be the solution for attracting more gratitude, positivity, and goals into our lives. I think it’s the best tool around! The inspiring illustrations, activities, and affirmations throughout will continue to motivate you and keep your drawings fresh. I just freaking love this journal, and I think you will too.
Thank you so much!
I want to thank Maddie-Jo for taking the time to do this interview for us and for giving us a new way to step into gratitude daily with Drawn Dreams!
Connect with Maddie-Jo on – Instagram | drawndreams.com | Facebook | Twitter | Youtube
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