We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Charity Elaine Lacy a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Charity Elaine, appreciate you joining us today. Parents play a huge role in our development as youngsters and sometimes that impact follows us into adulthood and into our lives and careers. Looking back, what’s something you think you parents did right?
The best thing my parents could’ve done is raise my siblings and I in church. While I have separated from religion, it’s because of my upbringing that I ever dug deeper into God….the mind of God, the demeanor of God, the authenticity of God. It was my upbringing that taught me how to respect my elders and “couth”.
Charity Elaine, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
It was my upbringing that provoked me to explore spirituality. I was raised in a traditional Christian home where my Dad was a Bishop and my Mom an ordained member of clergy. We literally went to church 7 days a week. Something always seemed disconnected from the God I heard being preached vs the version of God I saw outside of church. I visited hundreds of churches as a child and throughout adulthood. I was never accepted especially after my Dad passed away. It was those moments of rejection that pushed me towards getting to know God outside of a religious establishment—-my own unique relationship with God.
As a Spiritual Life Coach, my mission is to bring exposure to the multifaceted-ness of God. There are so many people who live in a mental box or limits simply because religion taught them that there is only “one way”. Truth is, God is as personal and unique as you are. Your spiritual journey was designed solely for you. We were created to display God as we are. Being a Spiritual Life Coach, I’ve discovered the secret to living a fulfilled Spiritual life free from expectations, obligation, and condemnation that I want to share with those who are on a journey to spiritual awakening and beyond. My emphasis is Prophecy & Dream Interpretation. The ability to bridge the gap between Earth and those who are no longer on Earth is ever present.
In my latest published book, “Master Me: The Art of Self Mastery”, I provide 9 Keys to getting back to the place of spiritual freedom we were created to be. My message is clear, “Let your feet speak”. What does this manifested version of you translate about how you’ve thought of yourself?! What we see outside of us is a mirror of what’s inside of us.
As a photographer, I was inspired by my parents, the late Bishop Albert Lee Lacy Sr. & Pamela Elaine Lacy-Veasey. Growing up, my Mom was the videographer for our home church and my Dad believed in capturing memories every chance he got via photography. So for me, photography came natural. Neither one of my parents did it professionally ; only as a hobby. With over a decade in experience, I was formally trained in Newborn Photography. My specialty is Portrait Photography.
Do you have any stories of times when you almost missed payroll or any other near death experiences for your business?
Around 4 years ago, I made the decision to end my photography career. I had reach a point where I felt the sacrifices I made was no longer propelling me forward in the photography industry.. Photography is one of those skills that have low and high moments. Transparently, I was beginning to get discouraged as my heart was to do what I love while gaining enough funds to sustain me in life. Three days after I decided to announce that I was “stepping away from photography”, I was offered a volunteer opportunity that I couldn’t resist. It was my excitement in that moment of being offered that opportunity that I realized photography, to me, was bigger than money ; it was my purpose! My advice to anyone is if quick, consistent money is what you’re searching for, photography is not the field for you—-especially not early on in your career without established clientele. You’ll always know the difference between someone who is passionately in purpose vs someone who is looking to get paid. The latter never survives. Choose purpose—- I did!
How’d you think through whether to sell directly on your own site or through a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc.
I sell on my site as well as via Instagram/FB Market and Amazon. One of the main pros of selling online is the number of people you have access to outside of your circle. Within a month, just from Instagram, I’ve reached 20K accounts. The biggest con is the percentage you receive per sale. For example : my books on Amazon may have a price tag of $20 however $2 is what I’ll receive vs if I sell books locally outside of via the web, I receive the entire $20. Being an author is another career path that is fueled by passion ; not finances.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.charityelaine.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/ohshesalacy
- Twitter: twitter.com/ohshesalacy
Image Credits
Love Lftd Studios