We recently had the chance to connect with Ms. Sheaira Madden and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Sheaira, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Jesus, being in the presence of the Lord God Almighty, my Heavenly Father! When life, school, work, and other responsibilities are so demanding getting in the presence of God makes me lose track of all sense of time. He is timeless and everlasting and will bring stillness and quiet in the midst of chaotic storms!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Sheaira Madden. I now have my B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Sociology as well as a M.A. in Clinical Psychology. I am currently a full time PhD student finishing my last year of classes before internship and expecting to graduate Spring 2027. While in school, I have trained and worked as a Mental Health Clinician/Community Mental Health Therapist and Neurodevelopment Testing Technician.
I recently started my Spiritual and Mental Wellness x Beauty in Following Christ brand which serves as a Holistic Wellness Resource Center. It is still in progress but has been growing and gaining traction on social media! I am here to connect to spiritual and the mental, to liberate people from oppression, to offer wise counsel/mentorship, and to connect people with resources in their area! I eventually plan to offer outreach programming, journals, retreats, and many other outlets of fostering community and enhancing spiritual wellness and improving mental health for those who are seeking healing and revelation! Currently I am working on creating a formal website, blog, and/or podcast!
While there are a plethora of testimonies and stories as to how I got here I’ll let my life and the work I do testify for itself!
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child I believed I was too much and not enough at the same time. As an empath I feel things deeply and at times I feel other peoples’ emotions. There was rarely a space safe enough to be in tune with those emotions so to keep the peace and to make sure everyone else was comfortable I suppressed my entire being (my voice, feelings, thoughts, etc). The moment I began to express, it was too much. I was too smart, truthful, direct, blunt, and so then I dealt with rejection. There was never enough space for me and what I carried. People often projected onto me and I began to get confused about what was mine to carry and what was not. This left me in a limbo phase for a while and then one day in undergrad I did a pageant and shared my voice thought’s feelings all in one big space/outlet. From that moment on I vowed to be my authentic self and those who are for me I will attract and they will gravitate to me and those who are not will flee and see me as a repellent.
I live by the following:
I will always trust my INNER VOICE!
I don”t care who said what in the past..
You’re too this or too that or made you feel like what you had to say wasn’t what it was. THE TRUTH. Everyone can’t handle the truth, don’t psych yourself out and internalize ignorance to the point you start to ignore yourself… your truth!!
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
As a Black woman from Douglas Homes Projects in Baltimore City MD…. I had my fair share of suffering. Whether it was in the home, in the community, or even just odds/obstacles that I had to overcome or things I may have internalized about the ways people treated me. However, ever experience was foundational and made me who I am in my faith today!
“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop faith/endurance.”
Romans 5:3 NLT
“For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment.”
1 Peter 2:19 NLT
“Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.”
1 Peter 4:13 NLT
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
They would say authenticity really matters to me. Just being yourself unapologetically. Being vulnerable when needed and just being honest and real! Reciprocation is also something that really matters to me, you cannot expect everything from someone and bring nothing of value to their lives. Embracing the duality of life is also important, two things can be true at once. Aside from those, respect, being open to correction, intentionality, quality time, being heard, seen, and appreciated matters!
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
People will most misunderstand the reason why I make the decisions I do. When you live a life of completely saying “Yes” and surrendering to God and being obedient to that yes others aren’t meant to understand what God told you to do. I barely understand why sometimes but I still go when and where He tells me because I vowed to follow BOLDLY where He leads me regardless of what that looks like to other people. To be set apart is to be misunderstood.
I will always “…work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in [our] confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, [I will] be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute [you]. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.”
Romans 12:11-14 NLT
“But these people scoff at things they do not understand. Like unthinking animals, they do whatever their instincts tell them, and so they bring about their own destruction.”
Jude 1:10 NLT
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/smwxessentials?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=c80e7e51-cc7a-4af1-a4df-15b7734003b8
- Instagram: @smwxbeautyff.christ
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sheaira.madden.5?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@beautyinfollowingchristjesus?si=Jd-bKIJ_zrw6csWX
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/shemadeher.pretty?mibextid=wwXIfr
