I’ve spent most of my life believing that control equals safety. The Army taught me that structure keeps everything running, and for years, I carried that same mindset into my creative life. Every project, every book launch, every to-do list—I ran it like a mission.
But lately, I’ve been learning that control isn’t the same as clarity. It’s fear disguised as discipline.
In this episode of Have a Cup of Johanny, I open up about how my need to control everything—from preorder campaigns and tech glitches to printing delays—nearly stole the joy out of creating The Ordinary Bruja. You’ll hear how a weekend of website chaos, Canva crashes, and printer meltdowns forced me to loosen my grip, surrender the outcome, and remember that sometimes the detour is the divine plan.
Lessons you’ll take from this episode:
Because when you loosen your grip, you make space for magic—and that’s when everything begins to flow.
The Ordinary Bruja is officially out now! Dive into Marisol’s story of identity, power, and self-trust here:
If today’s episode hit you in the chest the way it hit me, don’t just walk away—walk toward something that reflects you.
Subscribe to the podcast, hit that YouTube channel for the behind-the-scenes, and if you’re ready to read a story about what it really means to come home to yourself—
👉🏽 Preorder The Ordinary Bruja.
https://haveacupofjohanny.com/product/the-ordinary-bruja-book-one-of-las-cerradoras-series-j-e-ortega/
It’s about a Dominican-American bruja who’s been running from herself her whole life until ancestral magic, generational wounds, and a haunted-ass hill force her to face the truth.
If you’ve ever felt “too much,” “not enough,” or like you don’t fit anywhere, you’re exactly who this story was written for.
🎙️ Subscribe.
📺 Follow on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2SRDePbyy8M85Wbf25VUCg
📚 Preorder The Ordinary Bruja. https://haveacupofjohanny.com/product/the-ordinary-bruja-book-one-of-las-cerradoras-series-j-e-ortega/
Because becoming who you are is the bravest kind of magic.
