What if discipline was not about restriction or perfection but about alignment, showing up for your goals, your growth, and your future self even when motivation fades?

In this episode of the Next Level U™ podcast, we continue our A to Z journey with the letter D for Discipline (Part 1) and explore how to build daily habits that truly last.

Join hosts Mayaria Johnson and Dr. Maryam Johnson as they unpack the truth about discipline, willpower, and consistency, showing how small actions can lead to life-changing transformation.

You will discover:

• Why discipline is a bridge, not a burden
• The difference between willpower and discipline and how they work together
• How instant gratification undermines long-term growth
• The difference between convenience and consistency
• How to reshape identity through small, consistent choices inspired by Atomic Habits
• How The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People® connect to everyday discipline
• How to use the N.E.X.T. Check-In to build sustainable habits
• Why systems matter more than willpower when it comes to self-regulation
• How keeping small promises builds self-trust, confidence, and peace

This episode blends behavioral psychology, productivity science, and personal reflection to help you create systems that support consistency, clarity, and inner strength.

If you have ever struggled to stay consistent or felt pulled between convenience and growth, this conversation will help you understand that discipline is not about control, it is about care.

Subscribe, share, and take your next disciplined step with us and connect for more tools and inspiration between episodes:

Instagram: @gonextlevelu

Facebook: Search for Next Level U, LLC and look for our bridge logo

LinkedIn: Search for Next Level U™ and look for our bridge logo

More ways to listen and explore our resources:

Visit our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/gonextlevelu

What if confidence was not about knowing everything but about trusting that you can learn, adapt, and grow even when everything around you is changing?

In this episode of the Next Level U™ podcast, we continue our A to Z journey with the letter C for Confidence (Part 2) and explore what it means to build confidence in times of change when technology evolves faster than we can keep up and growth requires both courage and curiosity.

Join hosts Mayaria Johnson and Dr. Maryam Johnson as they explore:

• The confidence curve and how it shifts during change
• How Knowledge and Ability from Prosci’s ADKAR® model strengthen self-efficacy
• What the Kübler-Ross Change Curve® reveals about emotional growth
• Building confidence when learning new technologies like AI
• Practicing intellectual autonomy and critical thinking for authentic confidence
• Reframing barriers like comparison, perfectionism, and fear of visibility
• Using the N.E.X.T. Check-In as a reset routine to rebuild confidence

This episode blends psychology, change management, and personal reflection to help you stay grounded, resilient, and confident as you navigate what comes next.

If you have ever felt uncertain in new spaces or questioned your ability to adapt, this conversation will remind you that confidence is not a destination but a daily practice.

Subscribe, share, and take your next bold step with us and connect for more tools and inspiration between episodes:

Instagram: @gonextlevelu

Facebook: Search for Next Level U, LLC and look for our bridge logo

LinkedIn: Search for Next Level U™ and look for our bridge logo

More ways to listen and explore our resources:

Visit our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/gonextlevelu

What if confidence wasn’t about being the loudest voice in the room, but about honoring your own voice, even when it shakes?

In this episode of the Next Level U™ podcast, we continue our A to Z journey with the letter C for Confidence (Part 1) and explore what it means to discover, protect, and practice confidence that is rooted in truth, not performance.

Join hosts Mayaria Johnson and Dr. Maryam Johnson as they explore:

• How confidence begins with self-belonging
• The challenges of navigating confidence when you are the first or the only in the room
• Transformational Learning Theory and how it reframes assumptions and strengthens confidence
• Quiet expressions of confidence, from persistence to self-advocacy
• Why confidence is less about perfection and more about practicing through action
• How to use the N.E.X.T. Check-In to notice, evaluate, experiment, and track your growth

This episode blends personal stories, research, and practical tools to help you stop shrinking, start standing in your story, and express confidence in ways that align with who you truly are.

If you have ever questioned your ability, struggled with being overlooked, or wondered how to show up fully in unfamiliar spaces, this episode is for you.

Subscribe, share, and take your next bold step with us and connect with us on social media for more tools and inspiration between episodes:

Instagram: Follow @gonextlevelu

Facebook: Search for "Next Level U, LLC" and look for our bridge logo

LinkedIn: Search for "Next Level U™" and look for our bridge logo

More ways to listen + explore our resources:

Visit our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/gonextlevelu