Moksha – Liberation on the App Store (apple.com)
My App Journey
By Johanna GB Jackson
For the past two years, I have been developing a mobile app with the intention to inspire
and remind people of their own magnificence. Well-being is our birthright and for most
of us we have forgotten that so now it is just a matter of remembering. The app is
called “Moksha” – which is Sanskrit for “liberation”. Why did I choose that word?
Because we all want freedom from suffering. We want freedom from beliefs and
thoughts that no longer serves us.
This app is for those who are receptive to the messages and signs of the universe. We
receive them all the time if we stop and listen to the whispers.
Moksha is here to inspire and remind you that you are an amazing child of the universe.
Moksha can help you change your old programming. Ultimately, change is
accomplished by what you surround yourself with. Being immersed with positive
influences is essential to lasting success. Functionality of Moksha includes a library of
inspirational quotes, daily contemplations & fun features like push notifications at
symbolic time 11:11AM Est. You can also add your own words of wisdom by adding
your own personalized quotes and share them with the Moksha community if you
choose to do so.
The app was released in the App Store for iPhone (Android version to come) on my
birthday, March 27th! I’ll never forget that day. My 10-year-old daughter, Grace, had her
little hand on my hand the moment we hit the button to release it. She also wrote my
first review! She’s even a quote contributor! It’s important to me as a single mom to
show my daughter that we can follow our heart’s calling and go after our dreams. It’s
taken me a long time to come to this realization myself.
So, I guess I’ll start at the beginning of my journey which lead to me where I am today.
I’m a first Generation American. My family came here from Chile. My parents left Chile
because at the time there was a lot of political upheaval and they wanted to give me
and my sisters a better life. I wish I could say it was easy when we got here, but it was
not. I came from a household that was full of limiting beliefs and programming like fear
and a scarcity mindset. I didn’t have good examples of healthy relationships or even
healthy mindsets. But there was always a little voice inside me that just watched the
chaos around me that said, things don’t have to be this hard. When you are in this type
of environment you basically grow up very fast. So, the moment I graduated high school
I was out on my own. Life was hardly peaches and cream once I moved out. Because
now I had all that programming that I had to deal with. I moved through life seeing that
unhealthy programming unfold in front of my eyes. But I didn’t really know how to
change the direction of my path so that I didn’t make the same mistakes my parents did.
It wasn’t until I got married and went into couples counseling that I was shown healthy
ways of thinking and being. But the real catalyst for my change was the birth of my
beautiful daughter, Grace. I knew that parenting was a tremendous privilege after tying
so many years with medical intervention. I didn’t want to mess this up. I knew that she
was watching and learning from everything that I was doing and saying. So it was at
that point that I wanted more for her and me out of life. And just as they say that when
the student is ready the teacher will come. That is when I started learning from various
therapists, mentors, authors, and teachers along the way. I was learning new ways of
thinking. I started to see how this world is full of unlimited possibilities. I’m truly grateful
for the wisdom they all shared with me. I would definitely say I’m a seeker. A seeker of
universal truths. I get very inspired and motivated by other people ‘s wisdom and now
my own internal guidance system. I have post-its all over my computer with inspirational
quotes and sayings. I will pull cards often from various stacks of inspirational decks. I
just love to surround myself with these things because they remind me of what I
deserve and what I am capable of. So fast forward to the last few years. I will have to
say that I am not a very techy person. But I do appreciate it. I for one love my phone. I
use my phone for so many things. I use it to change the heat setting on my house. I use
it to set up my security system. I use it to keep track of my grocery list. I use it for so
many things that enhance my life. I started looking for an app that would also enhance
my emotional and mental wellbeing by sending me push notifications of inspiring
quotes, messages and thoughts to contemplate. I personally think that we get
messages all the time from the universe if we are open and receptive to them. So, I
wanted a random message to come through my phone. But I wasn’t really finding what I
was searching for. There was a saying that kept popping into my head by a first century
Jewish Scholar named Hillel the Elder. He said, “If not you, then who? If not now, then
when?” So, I decided to create it.
One of the things that I have learned in life is that this universe is working for me and
not against me. So, I come from a belief that everything I need flows to me and comes
to me at the very perfect time. So, the people, places, things will come to you in the right
time and in the right order. And that has been my experience on this app journey and
continues to be. That is how I met my amazing talented App Developer, Jagnaudh
Bhatia. He has been an integral part to this amazing journey and I couldn’t be happier
with our collaboration.
Now I feel it’s important to mention that some people were not the most supportive of
my idea and quest. This didn’t surprise me. Because even though some people have
the best intentions, they can sometimes project their own fears and doubts unto you.
But I believe it’s not my place to convince anyone of anything. My efforts should go
towards my goal. And that is what I did. I focused on my app and just took it one step at
a time.
I truly love being a part of creating something new. I’ve done this on the animal welfare
front as a cofounder of a successful shelter in my state and as a leader in mindfulness
in a Fortune 500 company. It’s exciting to be a part of something bigger than yourself
and work with likeminded people towards the same goals. Then to see things manifest
and unfold is also the best part. I just love it.
I’ll never forget when this idea was finally becoming a reality. I got the approval email
from Apple it said now you have the opportunity to reach a global audience. Wow I
thought! That sentence made such an impression on me. Because I always want
anyone that interacts with me to benefit from our interaction and my desire is that they
will be elevated from our interaction but that no one will ever be diminished because of
this interaction with me. And now I have an opportunity to interact with people around
the globe! This was really exciting. Now I can spread positivity to inspire and motivate
others around the world through their devices! How cool is that?!
I’m very excited about this app. Because not only do I get to share inspiration and
positivity from the collective wisdom that is all around us but it is also giving people an
opportunity to share their wisdom with others too if they want. If there was ever a time
to spread positivity, it’s now! And Moksha is here to help with that!
To download the app click on the link below.
Moksha – Liberation on the App Store (apple.com)
Johanna GB Jackson, Owner
WWW.JOHANNAGBJACKSON.COM
Jagnaudh Bhatia, App Developer
Bhatia.jagnaudh@yahoo.com