Living a More Awe-Inspired Life: Author Interview with Allen Klein

Why do you think it’s so hard to keep New Year’s resolutions? 
I think that most people make resolutions that are too big. Smaller increments work better. Writing a book for example, is a daunting task. Writing a page a day, however, is manageable.  

Do you set New Year’s resolutions or are you more oriented to set incremental goals?
Keeping a final outcome in mind but taking small steps at a time have worked for me.

What are the most positive events you saw in your life in 2020? 
The biggest and most joyful one was in relationship to my daughter. We both live in the same city but before Covid only saw each other a few times a month because of our busy schedules. Since the beginning of the Pandemic, we speak to each other via phone every single day. Our chats have been filled with heart-felt feelings, information about family history, daily doings, and much laughter. Looking forward to hearing her voice at 5pm each day has helped me get through anxious times this year.
 
How have you been able to pull yourself up from the doldrums? 
Gratitude has also been one of my guiding lights. In fact, I have found that the more I am grateful for the things in my life, the more things come into my life for which to be grateful. In addition, I have also found it important to be grateful for the not-so-great-things. For they can be my greatest teacher.
 

You’ve recently released a new book that points out the need to refresh your attitude to have a better life entitled The Awe Factor. How did this book come about?
As I’m getting up in years, I looked back at my life and realized how many magical moments have occurred during my time on earth…from finding the perfect publisher, to acquiring a no-cost yearly New York City vacation apartment, and even getting to march in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
 
I wanted to share the importance of recognizing the awe and wonder in our life, inspire others to recognize that in their own life, and show them ways to accomplish it.
 
What should people expect to learn from reading The Awe Factor? 
I want readers to realize that they don’t have to go to the Grand Canyon or Niagara Falls to find awe and wonder. It is all around them. All they need to do to find it is put down their cell-phones, get away from their computers, and start recognizing it. Moreover, I want readers to know that, according to recent research, awe-inspiring moments can help them be healthier and happier.
 
What type of research did you do in putting together the book?
First of all, I wanted to inspire readers with awe-inspiring stories, not only from my life but from others as well. Therefore. I interviewed a lot of people who shared all kinds of awe-related stories. And second, I wanted to document why getting more awe in our life is important. So I looked into the scientific research being done about awe.
 

What insights did you learn that amazed you in the process?
One was that awe was hard to define…that awe was in the eyes of the beholder. The other is results of some of the scientific research…like a mere 15-minute awe-focused walk a week can help relieve depression and anxiety, or just viewing a picture of a nature scene can induce the same benefits as actually being in nature itself.
 
What insights do you hope people will learn from reading this book?
That finding awe in their life is important and that it doesn’t have to be a big deal.  All they have to do is stop, look and listen to find it.
 
Ready to find more awe in your life? Or you might want to hear from others on the topic? Here are some links to learn more about Allen’s books.
 
The AWE Factor: https://tinyurl.com/y347g6r5
Website: https://allenklein.com/books.htm 

TEDx talk: https://tinyurl.com/z4hfsx5

Growing Through Pain: Author Interview with D.N. Grace

My author interview today is with D.N. Grace, who was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in 2016 when she was 28 years old. At the point of enrolling in her dream school for a master's degree in counseling. she found life taking her down a twisted and ugly path full of pain and frustration. And through it all, she achieved amazing growth beyond description. Her story shows how to hold onto faith during the darkest of times, how to search for hope, and how to understand the purpose of pain. 

Now let’s learn about her journey. 

What made you decide to share my cancer journey with the public?

During my journey with cancer pain, I was always looking for support. I was looking for someone I could relate to, someone who faced the same pain and the same challenges at my age. But, most of the stories and the books I found were mainly about being encouraged all the time. I needed someone who was telling the moments of despair and defeat alongside with encouragement. I felt the need to reflect the inner struggles cancer patients and their caregivers go through.

I needed to write something genuine to cancer survivors. I wanted my book to reflect the emotional roller coaster, the ups and the downs, the moments of courage and the moments of depression. I wanted the readers know they are not alone in having these feelings and it’s not unusual to have moments of weakness.

While I was sick, I heard a lot of comments about the concept of pain and why God is letting this happen to me. I was surprised with how much these comments contained a distorted understanding about God.

Had you written stories or books prior to this life-changing event?

No, I was just writing my diaries and some small articles. But I returned to my diary a lot during my book writing process.

What is the main focus of your book?

Your pain is not a waste. Not a wasted time of your life. Nor a wasted experience.

Before cancer, I had dreams and goals for my life. But cancer halted my plans. I used to consider my illness time a waste. But God used my pain to reshape me and to answer a lot of questions I had about Him. In God’s eyes, your life is more important and valuable than you think.

Who encouraged you to write your story?

 Almost all my family and friends encouraged me.  What really made me eager to start writing was a group of teenagers. I met them in a seminar when I did a speech about “ why did I have to go through pain.”

After the seminar I received more questions. They kept asking me if I wrote a book about my experience with pain to share it with their family members and friends who are facing pain and needed support.

What were your sources for support and guidance?

My most essential supporter and great guidance was the book of Job. Job is so real and authentic in his feelings, principles, and his way of thinking about God. I remember a time when my pain was indescribable, and I decided to read. Job was literally describing my pain and feelings. By frequently reading the book of Job I developed a different type of comfort no one else could give. This was a huge relief for me to know that someone had gone through what I felt.

Talking to my family and friends was also a great support, especially my brother he always knows how to encourage me when I feel down.

What do I want readers to take away from reading your book?

When I felt that losing my battle was not far from me, I started asking myself important questions about the purpose of life, my existence and my faith. I started searching with all my heart for honest answers.

My book comes from the prospective of a patient -- the one who is enduring the pain. It also shows the prospective of the caregivers, which was written by my husband my sister and my best friend. If you are enduring any kind of pain, either as a caregiver or someone who is facing hard times or tough circumstances, I encourage you to walk with me through this journey. You will be encouraged to re-direct your way of thinking and how you perceive life. And it will give you a reason to keep fighting your battle.

What was your writing process?

I already had some small articles and my diary which covered my raw feelings throughout this time. From there, I began to write my story in short chapters and added in what the caregivers wrote.

What do I know about writing and publishing now that I wished I had known sooner?

Writing is the easiest part in this process. Reaching your audience sometimes is much more important and more difficult than writing.

I wish that I had started marketing and pre-orders at least 3 months before publication. By starting early, you give yourself time to create awareness and excitement about your book.

Where are you now in your cancer journey?

I am in remission ☺️, I have been cancer free since March 2018.

Congratulations! Are there any additional thoughts you’d like to add?

Your feelings are not your reality. If you feel down, depressed, or on the verge of giving up, that doesn’t define who you really are. You are stronger than you think. In one way or another, we all suffer in this life. What makes the difference is your attitude. I encourage you to seek help and connect with people who can give you the support you need.

It took me 3 years in this journey of pain, hope, despair, and faith to come to know who I am and what my true value. I learned how everything worked for my own good.

Every time I was about to give up after receiving bad news, I managed not to surrender to this feeling. I searched for something or someone to inspire and help me fight every day. Every little thing that I encountered during my journey added a little piece to the big puzzle.

If this story reaches out to your heart for yourself or a loved one, I encourage you to buy the book. Here's how you can get more details.  

Website: DNGrace.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/d.n.grace

Facebook: https://facebook.com/YourPainIsNotAWaste/

Amazon: https://geni.us/YPINAWPaperback

Make 'Em Laugh - Keeping Positive in Writing: Author Interview with Allen Klein

I did a quick search on Amazon and found they list approximately 175,000 titles for self-help books. Are we all lost that we need that much help?
I'm not sure we all need help but we certainly all can use an encouraging word or support now and then. And certainly when we read a self-help book about how someone else has overcome some adversity in their life, we realize that if they can do it, we can do it too.

In your bio it says that you are a CSP. Could you explain the meaning of those initials?
CSP stands for Certified Speaking Professional. It is an earned designation given out by the National Speakers Association. It signifies that the recipient has presented a certain number of presentations to a certain number of organizations over a certain number of years. It is the speaking profession's measure of professional platform skill. Less than 7% of the NSA members hold this designation.

It also shows that you are known as "Mr. Jollytologist." How did you get that moniker?
I made it up. "Gelos" is a Greek word meaning "laughter." So since I studied therapeutic humor/laughter to get my Master's of Human Development degree, technically I'm a "gelotologist." But since most people don't know what that is, I changed it to "Jollytologist," which is a little more self-explanatory.

I understand you’ve authored many books using humor to motivate and inspire. When you wrote your first book, did you think it would continue to a multitude of books?
My first book, The Healing Power of Humor, was published in 1989. It is still going strong with 39 printings and nine foreign language translations. The book took several years to write. And, after nine-months of writing, it had to be re-written when I was assigned a new editor who wanted some major changes.

I knew it would be a powerful book because of the reaction I was getting from people in my presentations who had heard about how Norman Cousins healed himself by finding humor in his ill health. I had no idea it would lead to some many other books.

You have several books on quotations. How did you go about choosing a specific quote?
My first motivational quotation book happened because I had so many quotations left over from collecting them for The Healing Power of Humor. The first quotation book became popular after a division of Random House republished the it as a gift book. They then wanted more.

I come up with a theme, for example... things that might lift your spirits… like nature, children, pets, etc. Then I go about finding quotes about those subjects. I only include quotations that fit the theme and add to the flow of the book where perhaps one thought follows another. For every book, I have probably only kept half the quotes I collected because they also have to resonate with me.
You’ve been with several different publishing sources. What made you move from one publisher to another? Circumstance often dictated the publisher. Sometimes one publisher was bought out by another, so that changed who my publisher was. Sometimes the publisher closed the division that published my book, so I'd seek out another. And sometimes the publisher wasn't right for my book, i.e., they didn't publish gift-type books.

 

 

What is the best advice you’ve learned over the years about dealing with editors?
The best advice I can give about dealing with an editor is to trust your gut. If you feel that the editor doesn't see your vision, or you feel is wrong on an issue, then stand your ground.

Since you write positive thinking books, have you always been a “half full glass” guy? I think I have always been a "half-full glass" guy because my Dad was the opposite. He was always a "half-empty glass" guy. Since I always did the opposite of what he did, I became very positive in life. I also learned that from my Mom, who was frequently upbeat. (Interestingly, I heard a speaker this past weekend who said the glass in never half empty, it is always totally full since it has both water and air in it…which are both elements we need to exist.)

 

Why do you think so many people have a problem with staying positive attitude ?

I think a lot of people don't have a positive attitude because of what and who they surround themselves with. For example, the news is constantly telling us how bad things are in the world. Yes, not-so-great stuff happens but focusing on that only brings you down. More than ever, we need to focus on what will lift us up. I think it is why my motivation and inspirational quotations books are so popular and why stand-up comedians are some of the highest paid entertainers. We somehow know instinctively that we need to be reminded that the world is not all doom and gloom.

 

What keeps you motivated?
I stay motivated by surrounding myself with positive affirmations, positive people/friends/family and a positive faith through Unity's teaching. And being grateful for what I have instead of bemoaning what I don't have.

How long have you been doing public speaking at conferences?  How do you pump yourself up to do a conference?

I've been a professional speaker for over twenty years. I keep fresh because I do a lot of interaction with the audience, so I never know what is going to happen or what they will say. Before I go on, I do some breathing exercises, mediation, and know that it is a higher power that has lead me to do this work. 

 

What next books are in the works?

My 20th book will be published in November- Always Look on the Bright Side, and number 21 will be published next year- Having the Time of Your Life.

 

That's all for today's interview. If you'd like to know more about Allen's books or booking him as a speaker, here's two options.   http://www.allenklein.com/books.htm and www.allenklein.com