Celebrations & Appreciation

In case you’ve not heard of Fogg, he’s a research scientist and author of the New York Times best-selling book “Tiny Habits: The Small Changes that Change Everything,” who also coined the phrase “persuasive technology.”

“No one has perhaps been as influential on the current generation of user experience designers” is how a 2012 Forbes article described Fogg, whose former students include the founder of Instagram. And as a member of his team, Felix uses “behavior design” to help individuals or companies create what she describes as “responsible products, systems and services that enhance and improve lives for good.”

That’s all done, she notes, through a scientific system based on how humans act, and then designing simple ways to transform lives.

“Rewriting behavior is like taking one keystroke or writing one line of code. Behavior design is about tiny increments that lead to good things,” she tells me. “It’s about how we can use technology to better our humanity … how we can use it to build up, not tear down.”

In addition to being part of Fogg’s worldwide team, Felix also worked with Professor Agnis Stibe of the MIT Media Lab and was a co-presenter at the annual Persuasive Technology Conference in 2018, sharing ideas with leaders from 17 nations. Most recently, she led a virtual meeting with the Department of Labor, using behavior design to help members reach their goals while also focusing on holistic health.

What makes Felix especially intriguing is that, as committed as she is to promoting the positive power of technology, it’s faith that sustains her, and, for 17 years, has been the focus of her career as a writer, producer and host on Christian radio, going back to her college days at the University of Alabama.

In 2014, she and husband Kai, whom she met in a high school computer programming class, along with their two sons, Raphael, now 25, and Elijah Leonardo, 16 - notice the Ninja Turtle names - moved to Naperville, when she joined 90.1 FM - Moody Radio. She’s currently hosting “Middays with Juni.” And a year ago the family bought a home in Aurora, which she insists is “on track to become one of the nation’s top smart cities.”

Says Felix of what she describes as a “perfect” location, “I’ve had some wonderful conversations with innovators on the front lines of this movement.”

I’m sure she has. A discussion with Juni Felix is like talking to your pastor, professor and life coach all rolled into one affirming therapy session.

She may have grown up in dysfunction and poverty, but it has obviously always been hard to dull Felix’s light. She’s intelligent, articulate, social, intuitive and genuinely appreciative of the many people she met along the way who showed her kindness and guidance.

That included the carpool driver when she was a teen working at an insurance agency, who “one day handed me a book and said ‘this might help you understand the truth about your worth.’”

“At the time I did not think I had any worth,” Felix says, noting how “in poverty, you come to believe you are like the trash all around you.”

But she started reading that book – a Bible – “and I could not stop.”

Felix’s own best-seller – 17 days at number one on Amazon after its launch in August of 2021, she proudly tells me – digs into her tumultuous childhood. But “You are Worth the Work: Moving Forward from Trauma to Faith” also provides a practical guide for emotional healing through the “tiny habits” concept made popular by her mentor.

True transformation comes through simple steps, she insists, like waking up in the morning, putting your feet to the floor and declaring aloud “It’s going to be a great day — somehow,” then wiring that moment into your brain with a big smile and slow, deep breathing.

“It’s regulating the emotions that create the habit” rather than repetition or the number of days you do something, Felix insists, adding that she beat her sugar addiction “one less gram at a time,” then celebrating each one of those fewer grams.

Felix says she wrote her book for everyone who gets tangled up in the messages of their own trauma. Recovery has very little to do with the amount of faith you have, she writes in “You are Worth the Work.” It has everything to do with your acceptance of and commitment to a lifelong healing journey.

Well aware of the struggles children now are experiencing, she blames “overstimulation,” and yes, that includes too much time on social media apps that she maintains have become “misused and misunderstood.”

Felix introduced me to an article from one of her favorite magazines, Scientific American, that insists we are funding 2022′s mental health system for children based on the needs of adult war veterans. Kids, she believes, “need more quiet.” And we need to concentrate more on practices such as “emotional-regulation training” that teach young people how to cope with strong feelings.

“Palms up … deep intentional breathing,” Felix instructs, ignoring her fancy coffee to demonstrate an example that ended with a smile best described as joyful ... and five important words to take with me.

“Keep it simple, concrete, clean.”

Denise Crosby - Chicago Tribune |dcrosby@tribpub.com

Chicagoland Dare to Be Honoree

The concept of Dare To Be was birthed out of Natalie Grant & Charlotte Gambill’s friendship as a way to build a community of like-minded women. Our passion is to awaken the potential within every woman by daring her to be all God has called her to be. The concept of Dare To Be was birthed out of Natalie Grant & Charlotte Gambill’s friendship as a way to build a community of like-minded women. Our passion is to awaken the potential within every woman by daring her to be all God has called her to be.

“Juni is one of the sincerest and highly energetic persons I ever met. We worked together on scientific research aimed at improving our wellbeing in urban spaces. As a result, our work entitled "Transforming Persuasive Cities towards Sustainable Wellbeing" was accepted and presented at the Persuasive Technology conference. It is true pleasure working with Juni, as she is an adorable collection of true human values and high ethical standards. If you will walk with her, you will have a long and pleasant walk through life. Just try it!” - Prof. Agnis Stibe - MIT Media Lab, Founder, Transforming Wellbeing Theory

“I enjoyed Felix’s warm, personable writing voice throughout You Are Worth the Work: Moving Forward from Trauma to Faith. Her unique personality and compassion for others come through clearly in her writing, and I appreciated her many different reflections about common issues and experiences that trauma survivors struggle with.

She seamlessly interweaves Scripture with her personal reflections and ideas for Behavior Design.” - Bethany Davidson

"Juni speaks from a place of passion and authenticity. Her willingness to step into vulnerable places and speak from the foundations of her heart creates a powerful message, fueled by wisdom, enthusiasm and humor. It was immediately evident that this woman breathes the very core of God's word." - Dr. Deb Gorton, Rooted Chicago, MTS Counseling Center

If you'd like me to speak at your upcoming event, workshop, or fundraiser, I'd be honored to consider your request! Click here to contact me and please include the dates and times of the event, the name of your organization, any venue information you have and the theme.