Author: Yolanda White Johnson PhD

Have you stopped to truly enjoy a moment of gratitude? Life often moves fast, and we miss the chance to see the kindness, beauty, and help around us. The act of thanking others, or thankfulness in general, is much more than just saying “thank you.” It’s about deeply valuing life’s goodness and building strong connections. Those strong connections can change everything for the better. On a daily basis, and not just around the holidays when most people traditionally think about giving thanks and expressing gratitude. Giving thanks is a daily choice that makes life richer and brings people together. Think…

Many people show a clear purpose in what they do. For some, it’s fighting for fairness. Others find it in teaching or making art. Having a purpose is good for your health, can make you live longer, and helps with being successful. And it feels great to use your skills to help others, especially in ways that are meaningful to you. Yet, finding this purpose isn’t always easy. Kendall Bronk, a researcher, says people can find their purpose in different ways. This might happen naturally, or it might need some thought and self-examination. Going through tough times or being part of a supportive community can also help you…

Have you ever felt like success is hard to achieve, even when you work hard? Success isn’t just about putting in effort. It’s also about stopping habits that waste your energy. Do you do things that make you less productive and tired without knowing it? We’ll look at six common habits that drain your energy and slow your success. Changing these behaviors can make your life more fulfilling and productive. Multitasking In our quick-paced world, many believe multitasking boosts productivity. But, this thought is a myth, leading to less efficient work. It actually reduces focus and energy, rather than enhances…

Helping students relate new concepts to real world examples can can be difficult at times. Even at 13 and 14 years of age, my middle school students have a limited background from which they can draw information. Welcome to the ever changing world of education where the expectation is for students to learn, understand and properly apply concepts to real-life scenarios. For most students this is a tall order. This is where we discover and introduce inductive learning. This approach moves beyond just memorizing facts. It builds on reasoning at the heart of learning. Inductive learning goes outside the classroom’s…

One this Mother’s Day, I think of the many lessons the most important women in my life taught me. My grandmother, and and my mother. As I look in the mirror I can see parts of their face in my face as I age. One of the many things they left to me; a legacy of skincare. Childhood Memories I have always loved skin care. As a child, my brother and I spent a lot of time with my grandparents because my single mother, a RN at a local hospital, worked long hours and she wanted a responsible adult to…

Every weekday morning I feel stressed. No matter how earlier I get up I never seem to have enough time to get ready, have my cup of coffee, a necessity, get out of the door in enough time to not worry about traffic delays making me late. Needless to say, my cortisol levels were through the roof. But, 5 morning habits I have practiced consistently over the past 6 months have alleviated my frantic rush out of the house on those weekday mornings. It was not easy. But, it was necessary. Consistently practicing these steps helped me to arrive at…

Have you ever wondered how some people seem to effortlessly handle work stress while others crumble under the pressure? Do you believe that burnout is an inevitable consequence of a demanding career? What if I told you that there are workplace burnout solutions that can help you develop resilience at work and effectively manage stress? I teach seventh and eighth grade Social Studies. When I tell people what I do they often say things like “thank you for your service” or “bless you”. I think it’s funny, but it is also much appreciated. Many of my co-workers mention how I…

Are you a yes person? Afraid to say no for fear of hurting someone’s feelings? Learning how to say no can be a game-changer for setting boundaries, protecting your mental health, and boosting your confidence. Often, we find ourselves saying “yes” out of fear, obligation, or compulsivity, even when we want to decline . I don’t know about you, but I have found myself in this situation more times than I like to admit. However, mastering the art of saying “I can’t” allows you to prioritize your needs, values, and well-being. This comprehensive guide will explore the benefits of saying…

Do you consider yourself to be a confident person? Could you care less about what others think? We live in a world where our worth is often judged by what we achieve, and how we look. At times, it can make us doubt our own value. Standing firm in who and what you are is a form of confidence. But, what if you don’t have that unwavering belief in yourself and your abilities? It’s time to find the key to building confidence from the inside out. Understanding the Layers of Self-Doubt Self-doubt and insecurity create roadblocks in our growth and…

Habits, those small, often unconscious, actions we perform daily, wield an incredible power over our lives. Like atoms, the building blocks of matter, these seemingly insignificant routines form the foundation of our existence. Atomic habits, a term that captures the essence of minuscule but mighty actions, hold the key to breaking through barriers of personal and professional growth. By understanding and harnessing the power of these tiny behaviors, we can initiate a cascade of positive change, propelling us towards our most ambitious goals. In this article we will take a closer look at the core principles of atomic habits, and…

Introduction to Personal Development Goals Who doesn’t want to be the best version of themselves? I know I do. Starting that journey can be overwhelming because you must look deep within yourself to understand and improve yourself to enhance your life. This journey is what most refer to as personal development. Personal development involves setting goals that are specific to objectives you set to improve your skills, capabilities, and awareness. But, it also involves the use of microlearning videos. Microlearning involves taking bite-sized pieces of information and delivering it to learners at the point of need, with an emphasis on…

Are you a good listener? Do you try to understand how someone else would feel before giving advice? Emotional intelligence, or EQ, is the ability to understand, use, and manage your own emotions in positive ways [1]. You probably use it everyday without knowing it. It allows you to relieve stress, communicate effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges, and achieve goals [1]. But, more specifically, emotional intelligence involves four key attributes: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management [1]. Emotional intelligence is crucial for personal growth and self-awareness [2]. This article explores the importance of developing emotional intelligence skills like…

Perfectionism, it’s a trait that has served you well in certain situations, but it can also prevent you from achieving your full potential and living a happier life. There is no reason to settle for less than the best, but true perfectionism can be both exhausting and fruitless in the wrong context. Luckily, there are several strategies that you can use to overcome perfectionism and achieve the balance between striving for excellence and living in the present moment. In this article, we’ll discuss four effective tactics that can help you break free from the cycle of perfectionism and find more…

Have you ever found yourself trapped in a loop of negative self-talk, convincing yourself of things that, deep down, you know aren’t true? You’re not alone. Many of us wrestle with internal narratives that can hinder our growth and cloud our judgment. But what if we could identify these self-deceptions and challenge them head-on? Imagine the freedom and empowerment that comes from untangling ourselves from these mental shackles. In this journey toward self-discovery, we’ll delve into seven common lies we often tell ourselves. From doubting our worth, to believing change is out of reach, these misconceptions can be subtle yet…

Tests, tests, and more tests. Our students take them to measure their academic growth. Our teachers are evaluated on them, students are grouped based on them, and they identify schools. In the area of education, standardized tests have reigned supreme as the go-to, be-all-end-all for measuring student learning and academic growth. Countless research is emerging to challenge the validity and effectiveness of standardized tests in accurately measuring what students truly know and, just as importantly, what a student can learn in the future. State standardized tests are the standard by which we measure progress. However, these tests merely scratch the…