Story & Lesson Highlights with Yolanda Easton

We recently had the chance to connect with Yolanda Easton and have shared our conversation below.

Yolanda, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
Since I have an empty nest, I prioritize my first 90 minutes to activities that fill me. I think it’s important for me to pour from an overflowing cup than an empty one. So my day first starts with thanking God for allowing me to see another day and then I go to my private space to pray and read. Once, I do that I then get in a workout. That will either be a brisk walk outside if the Texas heat allows it or an indoor workout. I try to get this in a bare minimum of 4 days a week. This gets my day off to a great start and I also feel good that I knock out my workout early.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Yolanda Easton and the CEO of The Military Family Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to helping military families not just survive, but truly thrive. We do this by providing access to personal and professional development tools tailored to the unique challenges of military life. As a 10-year Air Force veteran and a military spouse of 22 years, I know firsthand how often military families are the backbone of the mission—yet not always prioritized when it comes to being developed. My passion is equipping them with the tools they need to build resilience, lead confidently in their homes and communities, and stay mission-ready—no matter what comes their way.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Looking back, it was Gloria who saw me clearly before I could see myself. She was my civilian supervisor while I was stationed in Oklahoma—and a Chief in the Air National Guard. I deeply admired her achievements and the way she carried herself. At the time, I was a young Airman still finding my footing—unsure, hesitant to speak up, and struggling to see my own potential. But Gloria saw something different. She saw a young woman capable of creating real change. She spoke vision into me, modeled what was possible, and helped me see beyond my current reality. Because of her belief in me, I began to walk with confidence and step into my own power. She truly inspired me to aim higher—and to never look back.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one kind thing to my younger self, it would be this: Breathe. Life will bring challenges that feel overwhelming—moments that might make you want to quit, or convince you things won’t work out. But they will. Just take a breath. Give yourself the space and grace to pause and process. Talk to someone you trust to get another perspective. Then take the next step forward. What I’ve learned over time is that most things weren’t as bad as they seemed in the moment—and somehow, they always worked out in the end.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
One belief I used to hold tightly was the “fake it till you make it” mindset. In my younger years, it helped me push through and make things happen—but over time, I realized it was feeding my imposter syndrome. As someone whose leadership voice naturally leans in that direction, pretending my way through moments of doubt only deepened the disconnect between how I appeared and how I felt.
Now, I see things differently. I don’t fake it—I prepare for it. I equip myself for the opportunities I want to walk into. I seek out mentors who are where I want to be, and I invest in my growth with intention. I no longer want to feel like I stumbled into success. I want to know how I got there—so I can walk others through the same journey with confidence and clarity.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
This happened about three years ago when my husband retired from the military. We had just built our forever home, settled into our final move, became empty nesters, and were thriving in a community we loved. On paper, everything was perfect. Life was good.
But something felt…off. I couldn’t quite name it, and that unsettled me. I wasn’t fully happy—and I didn’t understand why.
So, I turned to a tool I often teach my clients: the Peace Index. I decided to walk myself through it. What I discovered was eye-opening—my sense of purpose was missing. For over two decades, I had been immersed in serving the military community. And when that connection quietly ended with retirement, I didn’t realize how deeply I would feel its absence.
Now, three years later, I’ve found my way back. Leading a nonprofit that supports military families has reconnected me with the purpose I had been missing. And this time, the satisfaction runs deep—because it’s anchored in who I am and what I’m here to do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://militaryfamilyinstitute.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/militaryfamilyinstitute/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yolandaeaston
• Other: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/test-180
  Donation page

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