Today we’d like to introduce you to Sharnell James.
Hi Sharnell, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Hello Readers! My name is Sharnell James, and I am the creator of Dear Self Care. I created Dear Self Care in 2017 as a blog to shed light on the importance of mental health and self-care within the Black community. The passion that I grew for this topic stems from my own experiences with depression and anxiety while pursuing my bachelor’s degree at Grand Valley State University. Although I did not know much about mental health, as it is a taboo subject, I did know that my lack of self-care is what led me to this dark place. I didn’t know who to talk to because I was scared of being considered weak or crazy, so I hid it from everyone. That’s when I knew I needed to create a safe space for me to share my experiences as well as be a testimony to others; it is okay to not be okay!
Since 2017, Dear Self Care has grown so much as I have now turned it into a business. I have now created my own line of self-care items that helped me throughout my journey with mental health and self-care, such as journals, self-care challenges, and much more. It is my intention to both eradicate the stigma around mental health as well as provide my community with the tools to care for themselves. Self-Care is not selfish!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road! The struggles I endured to get me where I am today were all from me. There were times I did not feel like I could do it! I had the dream and vision to turn Dear Self Care into a business and create self-care items, but I self-sabotaged a lot which led me to stall on putting out products. It took therapy to help me realize that despite my anxiety disorder I am capable of doing this work as it is my purpose.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in helping millennials overcome their mental health struggles by providing self-care strategies, tips, and a safe space. I like to believe that I am different than most business owners because I have a story behind it. I went through a tough time and created something great for myself as well as those around me. I am so proud of how far I have come with Dear Self Care. I had times when I doubted myself, but I look back on all the things that I have done thus far and just smile because I really did it! I want readers to know that I am here to talk about mental health and self-care. If you’d like for me to speak at an event, I do have a website for you to book as well as purchase my journal or a self-care challenge.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Be patient and gentle with yourself. Becoming a business owner with little to no support, especially financially, is hard, but there are people out there waiting for you to show up for yourself!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dearselfcare.net/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearselfcare/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3451843931555355
Image Credits
Derick Motley-Vth.Visuals
