Hi, I’m Stephanie Perry ONeal, aka the Workbook Woman.
Here is the story of my journey to Instructional Design.

My professional discipline is Health Education, and specifically, my interest is in behavioral change, which influences my approach to facilitating learning.

In my first health education field, Nutrition and Dietetics, I observed my peers and teachers taking a “hand-slapping” approach to health education. I felt immersed in a world where the educators had the knowledge and power and looked down disapprovingly on the non-compliance of their students and clients. I loved the science of nutrition but intensely disliked the working environment. I left it for more creative and joyful positions, teaching preschool and working as an interior designer for a few years. But as enjoyable as these pursuits were, they did not feel completely fulfilling. They only slightly used my core values: kindness and compassion. During my hiatus from the health professions, it began to evolve, and I observed the changes through reading.

My lifelong learning shows up through my reading. I only read non-fiction, and I am constantly buying books. My rule is I can buy books if I read them, so I do. My bookshelves are half-filled with beautiful books about houses, gardening, crafts, interior design, graphic design, and art and half-filled with science and self-help books such as positive psychology, behavior change, and neuroscience. Include a few books on history and business, and you have a clear glimpse into my heart and brain. The books I read influence my thoughts and behaviors. When I read Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s Flow, the Psychology of Optimal Experience, it encouraged me to identify my genuinely satisfying experiences. That influenced my return to the health field in the role of a Health Coach.  

My ten years as a health coach crafted honed my beliefs and practices as a facilitator of learning. Over the years, I developed a set of guidelines:

1. It is more helpful to listen than talk. I start the topic, provide information, then spend most of the time listening, asking questions to deepen the conversation. I summarize and give feedback at the end of the session. 
2. People already have their best answers, although they might not know them yet. I can assist by providing a safe space for self-discovery, and I can reflect-back information.
3. Change must be positive. I get to be a kind and compassionate source of encouragement.

These personal practices still hold in my new position as a Health Education Specialist. I returned to school and got my Master of Public Health, and currently, I help health professionals translate their material into engaging course curriculums. I still apply my best practices of active listening, providing space for self-discovery, and creating positive environments. When writing the workbooks, I also use my best practices. I give more space for questions than information on the topic, I allow them to discover their own path, and I craft it as a positive experience.

I believe these personal best practices will be with me my entire life. They show up in my parenting, marriage, and friendships. They even show up in my life-long learning. I continue to read and ponder information, use discoveries to enlighten and direct my journey, and remind myself often to view my growth with kindness and compassion as I continue to craft my path toward greater health and happiness.