The Guardians of Peace was created by Debbie Petry Artt, after reflecting on the dark forces that confront children in their daily lives. Wanting to speak to them about their inner energy and show them how to calm their minds with fun and interesting meditation, Debbie realized that the global platform of a video game would be the best way to reach them and teach them about love and kindness.
Debbie hopes that parents interacting with their children through playing the game will lead to discussions about purpose, gratitude, love, meditation, energy and kindness. She introduces the importance of Qigong, a millennia-old system of body-posture and movement, breathing and meditation that leads to improved mental and physical health. It is practiced as a beautiful art by people around the world.
Hi, I am Debbie Artt, CEO and creator of The Guardians of Peace video game. I am also a wife, mother and grandmother.
Before I start my work day I make sure to do the things that keep me healthy. I start each morning with qigong and meditation. Qigong is a thousand-year-old study of body posture and movement that integrates aspects of breathing and meditation as a comprehensive way to focus on and improve mental and physical health. I actually chose this as the meditation in my game.
I also focus on sending positive energy out into the world. Another lesson I have in the game is that we are all connected energetically. If we all collectively did this, we would make such an impact on each other’s lives.
Next my husband juices for both of us. After this, it’s off to the gym or I play tennis. It is so important for me to keep my body and mind both healthy and balanced! I find that you have to take care of yourself before you can take care of everyone else. Then the workday starts. I am very fortunate to have my daughters, Amanda and Jenna work with me. Amanda designs product and Jenna is a meditation teacher and qigong healer who consistently inspires me. She also is in charge of marketing.
The Guardians of Peace is highly entertaining without the typical violent actions of most games. I feel this is a very important message that the world needs right now. That is why I released it for free. I want children around the world to be able to benefit from it without having to worry about purchasing anything. The inspiration came from wanting to make a difference in the world. After seeing shootings and violence with children I thought enough is enough.
How do you look to have a positive impact on people and planet?
My ultimate goal is to make an impact on young children so they grow into adults that are in touch with their emotions. I believe when children are unable to calm their minds their emotions become out of control. If they never learn techniques to help them, these patterns and behaviors continue into adulthood.
I strive to create an environment where children can calmly express themselves before resorting to violence. I also think it will help with our drug epidemic. If you find your purpose you don’t have to numb your feelings.
What is your ultimate dream for the business?
My ultimate dream is to open up healing centers where children can go to learn Qigong (Meditation). I also want a place where adults can also go to learn Qigong and go back and be teachers in their home locations. I am going to work hard to get meditations into schools.
What are your strengths?
I don’t live in fear. I will do what it takes to fulfill my purpose. I am also very good at multitasking, a technique I mastered as a wife, business woman and mother!
What is the best advice you have ever received?
You have to change the way you think in order to change the way you feel.
What’s your favorite social network – Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter? Why?
I actually like them all. I feel that they each separately hit a certain demographic. I don’t use twitter but I love TikTok. It has been very helpful in marketing.
What are your future goals?
This is more than a business. This is a movement. Everything I do is to spread the word of healing and love. We are designing clothing, sneakers and jewelry. I am speaking to people about making the game a TV series. We produced a very cool professional song for the TV series. The end goal is to have healing centers around the world.
What has been your greatest accomplishment so far?
My greatest accomplishments by far are my children. They make me want to be a better person every day. They have taught me how to love unconditionally, always and forever. After having them I know how to be the best cheerleader, teacher, protector, confidant and friend. I want to be an example to them that they can achieve anything they want to in this life and they can do it with kindness and love.
Tell me about what you’re working on now?
The game is centered around 9 words. Love, Kind, Meditation, Qigong, Blessing, Purpose, Energy, Soul, Gratitude. I’m working on products. Sneakers, T Shirts, Jewelry etc. I want to be these words on product because I want to open up the conversations between children and parents/teachers. If a child sees the word “blessing” he/she might be inclined to ask what it means.
Share two pieces of advice for female entrepreneurs.
1) Ambition alone does not yield success. If the purpose is to make this a better world to live in for everyone, or to increase the safety, joy and beauty of life, everyone can subscribe to that.
2) If you TRULY come from the heart, you don’t have to worry about success. The world will love you, be loyal to you, support you and forgive you for all kinds of mistakes.
What have been some of your failures, and what have you learned from them?
Marketing is expensive and A LOT harder than it looks! Do research. People will promise things for quite a bit of money and not be able to deliver.