Black Girl Magic: Why I’m Creating My Own Personal Development Curriculum This Fall
Sometimes the most important classroom you’ll ever step into is the one you create for yourself.
As an educator, I spend my days designing lessons that help students grow academically, socially, and emotionally. But this year, I realized something: while I pour into others, I also need to be intentional about pouring into myself. After having finished my own coaching program I realized that I require daily motivation when my systems seem to only run on discipline and not my passions. This doesn’t align with my Sagittarius brain.
So instead of simply making another reading list, I’m creating something much deeper.
From August through December, I’m embarking on a personal development journey that I’ve titled Black Girl Magic—a self-designed curriculum focused on becoming the woman I want to be as a Black woman, wife, mother, educator, and leader.
This isn’t about checking books off a list.
It’s about transformation.
Why the name “Black Girl Magic”?
For me, Black Girl Magic isn’t just about celebrating accomplishments. It’s about honoring the resilience, wisdom, creativity, faith, and strength that have always existed within Black women. What ultimately led to this direction is this self found renewal as I am at the tail end of my postpartum and I feel like I’ve gotten “myself back”. My youngest is turning 2 in September and I feel like the me, I remember. So that return to self, getting back my “spark” and wanting to do something just for me is what led me to this.
But in my true teacher fashion, I simply can’t just do it. I have to tell someone about it. And in my turn Sag, energy, if someone isn’t there to remind me on things of pleasure than its bound to get lost in all I have “to do”.
It’s choosing healing over survival.
It’s learning to regulate when a reaction is sitting on my tongue.
It’s remembering who I am when the world encourages me to forget.
It’s creating a legacy that extends beyond myself and into my family, my community, and future generations. I am the matriarch after all.
This journey is my commitment to becoming that woman—intentionally.
My Curriculum
Every meaningful curriculum has a framework, guiding texts, and opportunities for reflection. This one is no different.
Throughout the journey, one resource will remain constant.
Daily Practice: Reflection Before Reaction
Every day, I’ll continue using The Complete Social-Emotional Learning Journal that I created as my beacon. I am on the way to crafting one for adult women after having made one for my students but I will use this as my guide.
While the books I read will change throughout the months, the journal will serve as the thread connecting everything together.
Each day I’ll intentionally ask myself:
- What am I feeling?
- What triggered me today?
- How did I respond?
- What do I need?
- What am I learning about myself?
Growth doesn’t happen in grand moments.
It happens in consistent ones.
August & September
Remember Your Magic
Reading: Children of Blood and Bone
I’m beginning this journey with a story centered on power, identity, courage, and purpose.
Fantasy often allows us to see ourselves more clearly.
As I read, I won’t simply follow the characters’ adventures. I’ll ask what their journey reveals about my own.
These months are about reclaiming my voice.
Questions I’ll be reflecting on include:
- Who am I becoming?
- Where have I been shrinking?
- What strengths have I overlooked?
- How do I lead with courage in my home and my work?
- What gifts has God already placed within me?
My goal isn’t to become someone else. It’s to remember who I’ve always been and to let her shine through.
October
Regulate Before You Respond
Reading: Regulate First
As someone who teaches emotional regulation, this book feels like a natural next step—not only for my work but for my life. Being regulated doesn’t mean never feeling overwhelmed.
It means developing the awareness and tools to respond intentionally instead of react impulsively.
This month, I’ll focus on building rhythms that support peace in my home and in myself.
I’ll be asking:
- What situations consistently dysregulate me?
- What routines help me feel grounded?
- How can I lead my family from peace instead of pressure?
- What boundaries protect my capacity?
Because regulation isn’t just about me. The way I regulate impacts my marriage, my parenting, and the atmosphere of my home and my work place.
November & December
Heal the Woman Within
Reading: Sacred Woman
Healing is rarely fast.
That’s why I’m giving myself two months with this book.
I want space to reflect instead of rushing through the pages.
These months will focus on caring for every part of myself.
Mind.
Body.
Spirit.
Relationships.
Purpose.
I’ll spend time reflecting on questions like:
- What does it mean to truly honor myself?
- What traditions do I want to create for my family?
- What patterns end with me?
- What legacy do I hope to leave for my children?
Healing isn’t selfish.
It’s an investment in everyone connected to us.
What I Hope This Journey Produces
By December, I don’t expect to have everything figured out.
I do hope to have something even more valuable.
A deeper understanding of myself and more importantly reclaim and live out my self-trust.
Healthier rhythms that help keep everything aligned. Greater emotional awareness across environments. I have been compartmentalizing like no ones business, I am aiming to be more present.
More intentional parenting.
A stronger marriage.
More peace.
And a clearer sense of purpose.
I also believe this journey will shape the work I do with the women and families I serve. As I learn, reflect, and grow, I’ll be able to teach from lived experience rather than theory alone.
An Invitation
You don’t have to call your journey “Black Girl Magic.”
You don’t have to read the same books I’m reading.
But I hope this inspires you to create your own curriculum for becoming.
Choose books that challenge you.
Build rhythms that sustain you.
Make time to reflect.
Invest in the person you’re becoming with the same intention you invest in your career, your family, or your goals.
Growth doesn’t happen by accident. If anything it happens through small, consistent choices made over time. This fall, I’m choosing to become more intentional and more regulated.
I’d love for you to follow along on this journey. And if you’re creating your own personal development curriculum, I’d love to hear what books, practices, or questions are shaping your season of growth.