On a recent segment of the Wake Up With Dee Morning Show, host Dee sat down in-studio with social justice warrior, public health advocate, author, and executive strategist Anana Johari Harris Parris for an empowering conversation on sustainable wellness and personal alignment.
As the founder and CEO of the Self Care Agency, LLC / Wellness & Justice Group and chief architect of Life AlignmentOS™, Anana has spent decades bridging the gap between operational organizational strategy and human well-being. During the interview, she shared how her personal experience during a challenging childbirth experience served as her wake-up call to apply strategic planning skills to her own wellness.
"I realized that there was something really bad that was going to happen because I was not strategic about addressing my needs," Anana explained. "I could lead a march, organize a community, or write a business plan, but I was never strategic in transferring those skills over to my own wellness and self-care."
Self-Care as a Form of Social Justice
In 2016, Anana published her landmark book, Self Care Matters: A Revolutionary's Approach, treating self-care not as a luxury, but as a critical tool for social justice and long-term movement sustainability.
Her work focuses heavily on high-exposure, trauma-based environments—including law firm executives, human trafficking and domestic violence advocates, and public defenders. Currently, she serves as a strategic planning consultant for the National Association for Public Defense (NAPD), helping public defender offices across the country restructure their systems to better support the attorneys, social workers, and staff on the frontlines.
The Blind Spot Challenge & Getting a "PhD in Yourself"
During the show, Anana highlighted the Blind Spot Challenge, a program designed around her proprietary assessment instrument at YourAlignmentOS.com. The challenge helps individuals identify the gap between what they truly need to be well personally and professionally versus what they are actually doing.
"Thinking you can do it all on your own is one of the most challenging belief systems when working with activists and leaders," Anana noted. "It's so important to get a PhD in yourself... Don't be selective with your courage. Decide that you deserve your own courage just as much as the community or your children."
Whether through structured strategic planning, yoga, or movement like salsa dancing, Anana encourages leaders and organizations to step off autopilot, address internal blind spots, and build wellness infrastructure that sustains them for the long haul.
Connect & Learn More
To take the assessment, learn about corporate or organizational trainings, or follow her work:
- Website: selfcareagency.com or youralignmentos.com
- Instagram: @ananajohariharrisparris
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The author, public health advocate, and executive strategist joins the Wake Up With Dee Morning Show to discuss organizational alignment, systemic trauma, and getting a "PhD in yourself."
The author, public health advocate, and executive strategist joins the Wake Up With Dee Morning Show to discuss organizational alignment, systemic trauma, and getting a "PhD in yourself."
