5 Questions with Shanique Davis

Growth looks good on people - If you don't believe it, take a look at Shanique Davis' bright smile and animated personality. She is quite the example for those who think they are stuck in a cycle. Shanique is zealous about the Lord. She believes that obedience to God is an integral aspect of life. She honours God's will, continues to live a fruitful and fulfilling life, and is working towards spreading that light and message to others.

She is currently a talk show host, content creator, and author. Shanique's first book, BREAKING YOUR BARRIERS: Change Unhealthy Life Cycles & Unravel the True You, is her lead manual. Her goal is to successfully break barriers wherever she goes. At the same time, she hopes her book and footsteps will inspire others to also break barriers. Her ministry is TalkTruth Series, a platform for equipping her fellow authors in building their brand while bringing awareness to their message.

Shanique started breaking barriers, are you ready to do the same? If so, the Education Jamaica Magazine is pleased to share Shanique's answers to five questions we were privileged to ask. We hope it will give you the courage to start kicking down the walls in your way. Enjoy!

1. Tell us a little about your professional journey.

The last school I attended was Excelsior Community College, School of Hospitality & Tourism. I remember having this goal to travel the world and just be me and connect with people. The next thing I know, God has me writing books, and that’s the complete opposite of what I intended. So it puts me in a place where I have to seek God fully, even with my plans. He may not have intended for me to travel physically (maybe not now). Still, my writing creates an impact I never imagined- it’s beyond surreal. If I had gone with my initial goals for travelling, maybe I would not have had the opportunity to meet Connie Walcott and Education Jamaica. I am more confident and assertive because God turned my obedience into a blessing.

My professional journey started approximately 2 years ago when I published my first book. I had to overcome my tendency to be shy in front of cameras and other people and speak more about breaking free from all the things that held me bound over the years. Being an author of self-help books Is not an easy road. It takes a lot of grit to keep pushing for what I believe in and remain accountable during the times when I’m tempted to say and do as other people who have not yet broken their barriers.

2. What is your primary source of motivation?

I have quite a few, one of which is the God I serve. I believe He will continue to preserve me and guide me in all I do so that I may affect Godly impact on the people I meet. Another major source of inspiration is my husband. He supports me in everything I do. Lastly, I am also my source of inspiration. Whenever I look back on where I’m coming from and who I am today, it amazes me how much I’ve grown, and I wouldn’t want my life to be any other way. If I ever regret the battles I fought, then I’d have to regret the victories they wrought.

3. What inspired you to become an Author?

Unlike most people, I never realized I held a gift for writing until I wrote and published my first book, Breaking Your Barriers. Growing up, I was very timid, and speaking openly was frowned upon by my mom (who raised me). When I met my now-husband, he realized that how my mom raised me was unhealthy, and it affected my communication skills. He introduced me to writing as a way of expressing myself, and that’s when I also discovered my personality surfaced more.

4. Tell us about your book “BREAKING YOUR BARRIERS: Change Unhealthy Life Cycles & Unravel the True You” and how interested people can access it.

In the hype of the New Year, we’d all make never-ending lists about resolutions for self-improvement, entrepreneurship, marriage, etc. But midway into the new year, we’d stop. We either become fearful or doubtful; we start comparing ourselves to others, so feelings of unworthiness set in, and we give it all up. Whatever the reason, the start and stop tradition occurs every year until it becomes a cycle. Before any of it becomes a cycle, it first becomes a BARRIER- that’s anything that we allow to keep us from moving forward.

I’ve struggled for many years with creating resolutions that I gave up for several reasons. When I realized that my life was going nowhere, I thought about the other people who faced the same tragedies. I decided to be more intentional about my life and about bringing awareness so that other women could overcome the way I did.

BREAKING YOUR BARRIERS is currently available for purchase at York Pharmacy, Bryan’s Bookstore Ltd, and Sangster’s Book Stores Ltd (all locations) for $2,500.00 (JMD). Also, it can be purchased via Amazon here.

5. Leave one piece of advice with others who desire to become authors.

Faith and purpose solely depend on the One who called you. The bible tells us that faith equates to things we hope for and evidence of things we can’t see (yet). You know that there’s this tug on your heart to go, be, and do. Everything in your life may start disappointing you if you fail to see God’s hand leading you. But what’s happening is, things are slowly lining up the way they should. Oftentimes, it’s not the way you planned it, but God is sovereign, and His ways are much higher than yours. Your trust in God (the Creator) puts you in a position to find who you are (in Him) and what you’re born to do. How do you balance that? Be obedient.

There’s a story of a young boy named Gideon, who never believed his life had any worth. He came from a poor family and believed God would never call him to deliver Israel (his fellow countrymen) from the Midianites (their enemies). Of course, like the human he is, Gideon complained and made several excuses why he couldn’t do what God called him to do. Too many of us find ourselves in these types of positions. You may grumble and complain when purpose comes knocking, but the key is to allow your faith to outweigh your agenda. The Angel of God had to remind Gideon that he was worth far more than he felt he did. Gideon’s purpose was to save Israel from the prolonged oppression from their enemies, and Gideon fulfilled his purpose when he trusted God fully.

Trust God fully. Let your faith in God lead the way to who you are supposed to be. Seek, first, the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all other things will fall into place.

Connect with Shanique here!