Dr. Sherida Lovelace shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Sherida, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Believe it or not, physical activity, to include taking walks, working out, and brushing up on dance skills, which happens to be one of my favorite and joyous spaces. Dance brings me relief from stress, it takes me into another dimension of the day that causes me to forget time and unwanted energy. It refreshes my soul. The beautiful part of it all? Now that I am getting older, I desire to move more, versus slowing down, not just for my health, but my happiness. If where I am is where God wants me to be, may it be the BEST working version of me!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I believe that I have a heart for service and a passion for impact; I wear many hats—each one rooted in a deep desire to inspire, uplift, and lead. I am a Radio/TV Media Personality, with a goal to bring both spiritual insight and authenticity to technology and airwaves. I love connecting with diverse audiences through powerful conversations and faith-centered content.
I am a Licensed Realtor with a keen eye for opportunity and community development. My goal is to help families and individuals find more than just homes—but offer guidance with integrity and care.
I also serve as the Founder and Director of a Faith-Based Leadership Training Hub, helping emerging leaders, equipping them with biblical principles and practical tools to serve effectively in ministry and the marketplace. Along with Training in the word, I am a Gospel Dancer and Choreographer, but I continue to exercise my calling to teach and preach as another sacred avenue God has entrusted me with to share the truth and love of Jesus Christ.
Finally, I am a published author of two books. I want to continue to reach hearts through the written word—each page echoing purpose, hope, and faith.
I am 100 percent driven by divine assignment and I believe I work hard to remain grounded in humility and works of excellence. I am a vessel committed to making God known in every sphere of influence.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I don’t believe the world has told me who I had to be or who I am, even before I understood my life journey. I believe that my early years of life experiences, being a young girl growing up in the church, and having parents that exposed me to so much of the Arts, athletics, music, community events and schools that encompassed more than just the classroom, is what helped shape, pull forth, and define my foundation and direction for who I am today. I believe in the scripture that says that “I am in the world but not of it,” meaning I was placed here with purpose, defined by ‘whose’ I am, since the beginning of time. I feel blessed to have had a village to guide my steps, even when I had times of rebellion and years where I know I was being tested in my Faith. Sometimes guidance is unseen, unheard, but felt. I hope that reminds someone to search within themselves, stay positive and focused, find your village, and be comfortable with who you are called to be; at the end you will still Win!
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Plenty of times! I have almost given up on the very thing that was my safe place -Dance! Going from dancing for the world, to committing to dance and be used in dance for the Glory of God, it comes with a price. The price can include, but not limited to, loss of friendships, isolated seasons, change of lifestyle, persecution because of your beliefs or the gift itself, jealousy that turns to envy and eventually bitterness from others, career adjustments, health concerns, you name it! This desire that comes over you to give up can only be fought by how you prepared for your life journey and what has been placed in you to sustain you through good and challenging seasons. I look back and laugh at those uncomfortable experiences because everything that has happened, God allowed it. It makes us stronger and blesses our lives beyond measure. During those seasons where we have felt defeated, it can become exhausting if we have nothing to pull from our soul, such as affirmations, words of encouragement, inspirational messages, trustworthy friends, and most of all, our prayer life. An empty soul is a dangerous place to be in. But when we are at our weakest moments and our labor has not been in vain, somehow a second wind shows up, the light comes back on, we pull from the ‘well’ of our soul, and it is there where we find the strength to keep on going.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would say that what matters to me the most is ‘not compromising my faith journey.’ I am grateful for the spirit of discernment, because it helps me to determine when I am being led, even subtly, to compromise in certain areas of my life. But true friendship embraces loyalty, non-judgmental behaviors, protective when necessary (lol), loving, not competitive, but wonderfully supportive. It allows me the freedom to continue to thrive and develop in life and allows me the privilege of reciprocating that same source of love and loyalty towards their endeavors as well. The best part of it all, when they sense I may be thinking in ways not conducive to my normal conduct, they step right in with no hesitation to remind me of what really matters the most.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Absolutely! I can recall winning pageants for several years in a row, ending my pageant streak with competing for Miss Black USA. I was so used to winning, but this time it was a loss, even though I was a top finalist. As a woman of Faith I have always been taught to ‘do everything as if unto the Lord,’ so that applies in all that I do, and that means giving my best. From that experience, I wrote my first book, “Sleeping Beauty, Dream Again.” I wasn’t looking for the hype of winning or losing the pageant, but more so staying true to my platform, which was promoting Sickle Cell Anemia Awareness. I used that final pageant experience as a source to serve, share and give back to other women who struggled with the loss, not just that night, but feelings of hopelessness in life. Yes, we all love to receive love and adoration and praise for accomplishments, but what can you do that praise cannot? For me, it was turning my experiences into legacy, to giving back, to creating purpose. Praise was for the moment, purpose is long-lasting. I found it important to develop a mindset and be committed to finding joy and peace to what I am assigned to do ‘now.’ I have experienced, and in some spaces still do, rejection, lack of support, or even lack of acknowledgments for major work in the marketplace, community and in ministry, but I haven’t ceased my efforts to do and be the best that I can be. It’s the COST for the CALL and I will continue to pay it forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sheridalovelace.com
- Instagram: @sheridalovelaceralestate; @sheridalovelace
- Facebook: DrSherida Lovelace & Sherida Lovelace Ministries
- Youtube: SLOVELACETV – Home of the Triumphant Show
Image Credits
Blue Franswa
Corey Reese
