We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Natassia Johnson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Natassia, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
Visualization is key for me. I often mull over possible future plans and ideas, including visualizing myself doing the behaviors that will be required of me, before I put in work to implement them. This includes thinking about the practical steps I need to take to reach my goal, how other areas in my life will be affected by this pursuit, how I may need to enlist family members/friends to help me, etc. All of this requires the ability to be patient, vulnerable, motivated, focused, and organized.

Please tell us more about your career. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
What makes me the most proud, career-wise, is that I’m a Black woman with a Ph.D. I’ve achieved the highest degree possible in the profession that I love so much. Along the way, I had to have a kind of tunnel vision to accomplish all that I have. This included deferring other personal goals of mine to get where I am, powering on in the face of negative self talk, and making many financial sacrifices.

Through it all, I’ve learned that every choice has both positive and negative consequences. I’ve also learned that it’s okay to not get everything you want because sometimes, what you get instead is just as amazing or even more amazing. In addition, not dwelling over my mistakes and continuing to take chances, especially ones that require emotional vulnerability, will always keep me moving forward.

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.
To have the best time in Houston (aka hometown of Beyonce!), you start your day by hitting up one of the many nice breakfast spots. The Breakfast Klub has some amazing food! Typically, there’s a long wait but nobody cares because the food is SO good!

Discovery Green is a fun place to visit. There are beautiful art installations to view in the park and you can have a picnic on the lawn! At night, they sometimes show family movies in the park! There is a great restaurant in the park to hit up for lunch and/or dinner called The Grove.

The Houston Museum of Natural Science always has nice exhibits! It’s just down the road from the Houston Zoo which is a great place to check out as well.

Going to a Houston Astros game during the day is fun! A trip to visit NASA would take a day and a trip to Kemah Boardwalk would be another day of activities, such as amusement rides and games.

Miller Outdoor Theatre usually has a great play or another type of performance going on. It’s nice to sit out on the lawn with a blanket and you can bring your own food and drinks with you.

Some other great places to eat in Houston include Lucille’s, Ra Sushi, Yardhouse, McCormick & Schmick’s, Maggiano’s, Pappas Seafood House, Goode Company BBQ, Grace’s, Cyclone Anaya’s, The Capital Grille, Truluck’s Ocean’s Finest Seafood and Crab, Backstreet Cafe, Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, etc.

For great shopping, you can hit up the Galleria, Shops at Arrive River Oaks, Uptown Park, and Town & Country.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My parents, Greg and Olga Johnson, have and continue to be people that will do anything to help me reach my goals. Sometimes, I can be a little bit too eager to make things happen and my dad slows me down and helps me think more practically and reasonably so that I’m utilizing my time wisely and not just spinning my wheels. My mom shares motivating words that make me feel so smart and capable, especially at times when I think I have too much on my plate and am in way over my head. Overall, they have been extremely instrumental in my success.

Website: www.dnjpsychology.com

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/natassiajohnson

Image Credits
Douglas Marquez Photography

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