Meet Joshua Gray

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Joshua Gray. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Joshua, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.

My optimism comes from anchoring my faith in the belief that all things will work together for me—even the delays and the denials. Moreover, my optimism is broadened when things actually work together in a way that blows my mind. Recently, I successfully defended my dissertation and research for my doctoral program (Ed.D. in Learning Technologies). In reflection, this 15-year journey in higher education as a student embodied optimism or my belief that all things would work together over time: In 2010, I wanted to go to NYU for my undergraduate career, but I didn’t get accepted and chose Pepperdine, which lead to an unimaginable path involving travels throughout South America, Europe, and Asia. For my graduate school career, I started enrollment at Purdue University, but I pivoted to a Masters in Leadership in Learning Technologies program at Pepperdine Graduate School of Education & Psychology. Not only did this evolve into an enriching and empowering experience, this master’s program emblazoned a path for me to start my Doctor of Education in Learning Technologies program in 2020. Navigating this academic journey towards obtaining my doctorate in December 2024 continues to cultivate an optimism that I take into my personal and professional life—a knowingness that everything will work together, whether it be 10 days or 10 years. This is the thing…optimism doesn’t mean you won’t feel disappointed or defeated, but it’s a fuel to drive your through both disappointment and defeat towards destiny.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

As a creative specialist for individuals and organizations, I “create greater” for individuals and organizations by providing creative services that elevate their identity + ideas. Increasingly, I find joy as a creative specialist in the personal and professional wellness space, creating resources that encourage, enrich & empower others to work, lead & live greater. Recently, I released a creative notebook, “A Place to Put Positive Words: The Notebook to Live Grayter” providing over 150 lined pages, positive prompts, patterns, prints & positive words. On my journey towards obtaining my doctorate & publishing creative resources, I realized that sometimes you really need “A Place to Put Positive Words”, so I created the notebook adaptation of my adult coloring book to give you/us more space to embrace & express positivity.

Recently, destiny has been on my mind—a wondering and wandering through what I’m destined to be and do. I believe the beauty of destiny is its evolutionary nature in our lives—it’s a reality that we grow closer to fulfilling as we evolve. An element of destiny’s beauty is that it doesn’t necessarily mean we have to shift who we are or what we do, but simply elevate. Hence, I’m excited to intersect my insights on positivity, creativity, leadership, learning, and technology to cultivate interactive experiences for others to work, lead, and live greater. The unique prospect of this idea is my unique ability to leverage research and practice to build out these experiences.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

A commitment to lifelong learning, the courage to be creative, and optimism drive me far in my journey as a creative specialist and author. Firstly, the commitment to learning gives me an ease of entry into whatever field I decide to venture into; I think it’s this quality that drove me through the pursuit of my doctorate & sustains me in my research endeavors…a thirst for learning to figure out ways to chase destiny and fulfill purpose. So for anyone looking to deepen their commitment to learning…it starts with resonating with a reality that In order to do something in an excellent or more excellent way, learning is at the root of that chase.

Creativity sparks my work and sparks my life—the trying of something new regarding something old or trying the unknown in the realm of the known fuels what I do, where I do, and how I do. Most recently, creativity fueled the design and development of my first two books—something I had never done before. My multigenerational coloring book and accompanying creative notebook were released as resources to give others the place to positively journey the known and unknown in their lives. Furthermore, those books were created with the hopes that they’d encourage, equip, and empower individuals to begin or continue to live every day for everyday purpose. While for some I believe creativity is something one is born with, i believe it’s something you can cultivate as well by striving to be creative in everything. Making a traditional dish? Try a new seasoning you like. Driving to work? Make an unexpected turn and explore your surroundings. Facing a challenge at work? View the problem from a different perspective and explore solutions from that position. Transform the traditional by trying something new in everything.

Learning and creativity wouldn’t be possible without hopefulness—a belief that something positive can happen in the known and unknown, the new and the old. A belief that something positive can come from striving to learn more about something and growing your understanding. That hopefulness truly informs the dreams I dream and the plans I plan. Most recently, as I worked through the biggest research project where I functioned as the primary investigator…I clinged to hope. Hope…not that I’ll finish the research, but hope that what I’m doing may have a meaningful impact. Sometimes you honestly won’t know if what you hope for will materialize, but to grow hopefulness is to incrementally do things that’ll increase your chances of impact. For instance, there were times when I would question the purpose or impact so bad to the point it would paralyze action, but I realized that without acting there would be no impacting. Hold on to hope, and don’t stop.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

I focus on my breathing. This focus and practice has become a go-to technique when I feel overwhelmed. I may take one large deep breath or a few, but taking “control” of my breathing helps me take “control” of my perspective in a stressful situation. Comically, if I take too many deep breaths, I’ll be ready to nap…so just enough to recalibrate my mind…otherwise I’d rest my body with sleep. Don’t get me wrong, a nap can reduce some of the stress, but we can’t always nap…so breathing helps me. Nonetheless, I believe the reason breathing works for me is because it helps reorient my thinking around the fact that “all things are going to work together for my good”

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