We had the good fortune of connecting with Justin Vonderach and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Justin, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?

Hi VoyageLA, I’d love to!

My favorite quote is actually one of the pillars of my small business, OvrMattr, “Happiness is not a goal, it’s a by-product.” That’s a quote from the late, great, Eleanor Roosevelt.

What that quote means to me, is that true, sustainable happiness is not something that can be purchased. It’s not instant gratification. It’s not based on how many likes or followers you have or how much money you have in the bank. True happiness comes from creating a life that you’re proud of. A life that has balance and harmony. A life that isn’t dependent on other people’s love or approval. A life where you feel excited about waking up in the morning and what the day holds no mattr the circumstances. It’s about feeling comfortable in your own skin. Feeling good about the relationships you have. It’s about feeling proud of who you see when you look in the mirror.

Speaking of mirrors. When I was in one of the darker points in my life during the pandemic, I came across that Eleanor Roosevelt quote. It was perfect timing because something clicked. It resonated with me on many different levels. I quickly grabbed a pen and a post-it note and wrote it down. Then I stuck that post-it note on my bathroom mirror. That way every morning when I started my day, it would be one of the first things I saw. And every night as I was winding down, it would be one of the last things I saw. A few months later as the seeds of what would become OvrMattr were starting to bloom, that quote was at the core of what I wanted to help others find within themselves. Because after all, happiness is not a goal, it’s a byproduct.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

I’d be happy to! My business, OvrMattr, is focused on making modern-day mindfulness more tangible.

The past few years on social media, countless people talked about being more mindful or practicing mindfulness. It was a buzzword that sounds good, yet no one ever took the time to define it. How can we be mindful? How can we easily incorporate mindfulness into our day-to-day lives?

One of the main goals of OvrMattr is to make mindfulness more accessible. I have a dream of easily helping people incorporate mindfulness into their daily lives. I’m on a mission to make mindfulness more tangible, offering things that can be done every day to help people focus on their mental well-being in sustainable ways.

One way that we do this is through our flagship product, The Daily Mindful Method Journal, which is different from your average journal.

For one, each journal comes with a QR code printed inside on the second page. This code unlocks a tutorial video that takes the user, or mindful explorer, through our proprietary method of journaling — The Daily Mindful Method. Our tutorial video walks through our tips for establishing a more present mind to help in building a keystone habit of daily journaling.

The Daily Mindful Method Journal also features highly curated and beautifully designed spaces with simple prompts that focus on gratitude, goals, and intentions — to name a few. The focus is to help rewire our brains from the damage inflicted by social media and the 24-hour news cycle. Instead of focusing on what we don’t have or comparing ourselves to what other people are doing or achieving, we’re focusing on the user.

I wanted to be asking more productive questions like, “What good things are happening in life?” or “How can you accomplish your goals?” and, of course, “How are you really feeling?” A question that might conjure up images of a dense therapist who doesn’t know how to “therapy”, but actually so underrated in this day and age of double-taps and automated messages.

The method is very simple yet powerful because it’s a no-pressure way to get “easy wins” each day. Simply taking 10 minutes to prioritize your mental health and well-being by checking in with yourself can ensure you have a more present and authentic day.

We also have beautiful quotes at the bottom of each journal prompt featuring words from inspirational figures from all backgrounds and walks of life. They provide food for thought for the day while also paying homage to our values of inclusivity and representation.

Recently, I’ve taken our mindful methods and insights to the digital airwaves with our podcast, Mindful Explorers Club. The focus of the podcast is to help fellow mindful explorers better understand what mindfulness is and how to apply it to their daily lives in the modern world in accessible ways.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

That’s a tough question. My favorite spot in Los Angeles is the incomparable Pizzeria Mozza in Hollywood. Hands down. It is the most delicious, consistent, feel good food experience that I’ve found in 12 years of living here. Whenever we have friends or family visiting, it’s the one place we have to go.

When my sweet tooth gets going, you can’t beat the Donut-Hut in Burbank. It’s a 24 hour factory of tasty treats. And Portos in Burbank is always a good time if you enjoy pastries and carbs. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it.

Recently, I’ve been spending more time in WeHo. We love going to Largo for a fun night of stand-up comedy. And we’ve also really enjoyed Woody Harrelson’s new spot The Woods to unwind from the pace of the city.

Lastly, you can never go wrong with a show at The Hollywood Bowl. There’s something truly magical about that place.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

My story is my story because of my wondrous wife, best friend, business partner and voice of reason, Shannon. Without Shannon’s love, encouragement, belief and patience, I wouldn’t be where I am today. OvrMattr and The Daily Mindful Method Journal wouldn’t exist without her.

As a successful small business owner of 14 years herself, Shannon has been an amazing resource throughout the process of taking the concept of OvrMattr and turning it into a reality. She makes the world a much better place. I love her more than anything.

Website: https://www.ovrmattr.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ovrmattr/

Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/mindful-explorers-club/id1662229404

Image Credits
Some images by The Vondys and some images by Billye Donya Photography

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