We recently connected with Lisa Ann Johnson and have shared our conversation below.

Lisa Ann, appreciate you joining us today. Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?

During a difficult life transition, I published a devotional called “#Note2Self: Everyday Encouragement for Queens.” From that devotional came “The Crownselor,” (one who encourages Queens — women in leadership — because they need encouragement, too!). As I pressed through those tough times, I continued encouraging others through my writing, dance and flag ministry, God’s Word, and, more recently, greeting cards. Those entities led to the recent formation of “Everyday Encouragements, LLC.”

As I went through that extreme hardship, I didn’t realize at the time that an entire business was being established. I had relocated to another state, and things did not work out as I thought they “shoulda, coulda, or woulda.” (Wrote a book about that, too, lol). I found myself unemployed and almost homeless, something I had never experienced in my life! I had worked since I was 16 years old, and also as a single mother. I had had an amazing career and was a homeowner before I relocated, so it was traumatizing to me to be in such a position. I don’t know why the issue with employment happened, as I had been an upstanding employee with no work history issues. My job before I relocated was one in which I made sure students and their families had food, clothing, and a place to live, so to find myself needing those very things was a shock! I had loved my job and held a deep passion for it, but I came to know what it felt like for the hundreds of people I had helped. But how could I ask anyone for help when I’d been the (strong) one assisting so many others? So, imagine my surprise to step out on radical faith and trust God, sell my house, and leave everything behind to start a new, amazing life of ministry and encouraging others (as I had always done), only to hit a brick wall. Ooh, wee! That. Was. Tough.

Lisa Ann, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am Lisa Ann Johnson, a natural-born “Encouragement Specialist,” :) who finds great fulfillment in encouraging and ministering to others through Christian counseling, through my published books, ministering through worship dance and flags, and God’s Word, and creating greeting cards.

I was “The Crownselor” and didn’t know it. I was experiencing serious issues in my life, but I had to press through and show up to work and help others through their issues. It seemed as if people felt like I was so strong that I didn’t need encouragement and that my problems weren’t as serious, when actually, there were some days I didn’t know how I was going to make it through the day. Yet, God kept placing me in a position to be a confidential, safe place, and encourager to women who lead congregations, businesses, schools, and more; and today, I have fully stepped into that role of encouraging Queens through their hardships because I understand what it’s like to persevere through painful circumstances and yet still be able to pray for and encourage others.

I know what it is like to experience depression and wonder how I am going to make it. There were days I wondered if I was going to end up homeless on the street, and I will be forever grateful to those who stepped in to house me, feed me, and provide while I (the strong one) gradually began to get back on my feet. I have always been a survivor and not one to give up, but there were days that I felt as if I was holding my breath, frozen and unable to move. It was a humbling place that I was not accustomed to. But there is a saying, “But God!” And I am grateful for the strength He always provides me with to keep going, which enables me to encourage someone else through their trying moments. That season and other experiences in my life have equipped me to encourage women and others to never give up and to encourage them every day. And to be completely honest, there are still difficult days as jobs I acquired abruptly ended, or management struggled, which caused me to once again be in a place in which I felt I didn’t have much encouragement to give as a result of things I had no control over. However, I know my life’s calling is to encourage, so I can’t stop–won’t stop! I have learned how to take a moment for myself (I call those days “Lisa Day”) and take a moment to recover, then get back at it to help others. Introducing… Everyday Encouragements, LLC!

Everyday Encouragements, LLC, is home to faith-based encouragement sessions for ladies in high-profile positions; faith-based books that motivate, the beautiful, unique ministry of dance and flag worship, and encouragement through greeting cards, calendars, and other products. Everyday Encouragements not only pushes anyone who needs a little nudge (or a big one) through the rough times but also accelerates one through the good.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

As I shared previously, relocating to another state had been very challenging. As someone who had worked since I was a teenager, finding myself seeking employment (again) wasn’t anything I was used to. Finally, I gained employment that fit my background in small private schools; however, neither worked out as they both eventually closed down. They were dream jobs, so I’m sure you can imagine my great disappointment. Trying to stay positive and focused at that time was a challenge, but I was determined not to give up, even on the days I asked God, “What is going on?”

In the midst of it all, to have been able to hang in there and keep writing, encouraging, though I’m not going to lie–some days it felt as if I couldn’t move at all, I did and do! I keep going! I am extremely proud of the fact that I persevered through one of the toughest periods of my life and haven’t given in to the pain, tears, and disappointment of that situation. I am most proud of the fact that through it all, I continue to encourage others, which in turn, produced so much more out of me–Everyday Encouragements, LLC–daily encouraging others through moments that seem impossible to endure (because I have been there!).

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

We are experiencing a mental health crisis like never before. I don’t know about you, but there have been days in which I have felt like Wonder Woman, and the very next day, it’s like, “Whoa! What is going on?! Help!”

My goal is to help others keep going, utilizing the gifts I’ve been given and my life experiences. Through all the bumps along the way and the challenges that tried to make me quit, I was born to help others keep going to assist them through depression, anxiety, mental struggles, or when they feel like giving up. The mission of Everyday Encouragements is to help one be refreshed, revived, and have their spirits lifted. My educational background and life experiences have provided me with deep insight as to how to assist others by providing encouragement sessions, “Afternoons of Encouragement for Queens,” writing books that uplift, ministering to women in leadership, and creating greeting cards that all say, “I understand. I know what you are going through is extremely tough, but don’t you dare give up! You CAN, and you WILL make it!”

And I’m excited about that!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: [email protected]
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/thecrownselor
• Other: For more information, please email Lisa Ann Johnson at [email protected].

Image Credits

Personal Photo credit goes to Stephanie Strickland/Strickly Visual Photography.