Meet Jameelah Shamsiddeen

We were lucky to catch up with Jameelah Shamsiddeen recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jameelah, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

Owner Jameelah Shamsiddeen is a native of the Bronx, New York, and a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. Jameelah is the mother of three amazing young men. Also works a regular 9-5 at Con Edison. Additionally, I am a two-time breast cancer survivor who realized I would need to take control of what my family and I put on and in our bodies. It feels as though God divinely orchestrated my purpose. After deciding on the career path towards becoming an interior designer, I wanted to make spaces and decor beautiful, in order to enhance our mental and emotional senses as we go about our daily lives. Growing up, I always dreamed of becoming an interior designer. Don’t get me wrong, attending F.I.T was part of my purpose, because I used every skill I acquired to create Enhance by nature. I still help create beauty, but with the canvas of people, helping them improve what they already have. By being natural, of course. Did I forget to mention that in my business class, we were required to create a business plan and a business model? Guess what? It was a skincare company called Everything Natural. As we continue on the yellow brick road leading to my purpose, when I was graduating with my bachelor degree I gifted my product to a professor who I adored and she loved it and asked me where I brought it from. After I told her I made it, she said that I could sell it, it smells amazing and feels great on my skin.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

How I found my purpose is when I went through breast cancer. As a two-time breast cancer survivor, it became necessary to make a change. My journey with breast cancer allowed me to learn how to take care of myself emotionally, physically and spiritually. It became important to take control of the products that I and my family put in and on our bodies. I began researching herbs and making my own organic personal care products for everyone in the family, even my family dog. And to focus on practicing better self-care habits. This journey then led me to wanting to be a support to others with breast cancer and to share the things that helped me and my body get through the treatments I was given. This is how I became the founder of Enhance By Nature. Enhance By Nature creates safe, high quality products using organic ingredients and sustainable practices. Enhance By Nature puts wellness and self-care first by using only natural ingredients. Enhance By Nature products are not only healthy and safe for our bodies, but we also consider the impact of our production on the environment. We are committed to sustainable practices. My business statement and belief is “Being natural is not just a statement, it is the closest thing to being you”. I take pride in making a positive contribution to the wellness, beauty and self-care of my customers, while encouraging self-love.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

The three qualities that have significantly impacted my life are determination, a positive mindset, and compassion. My determination to truly live—by pursuing my passion for helping others and creating beauty in a healthy, natural way—has been a driving force in my journey. I believe that a positive mindset allows me to embrace my true self, pushing past the introverted tendencies I sometimes feel. Fear can often hold us back, creating doubt and anxiety that manifest as dis-ease within our bodies. I find that I need to continuously refocus and engage in positive self-talk to combat these feelings. I’ve learned that you don’t need the entire world to believe in you; what’s essential is believing in yourself and surrounding yourself with your soul tribe. The compassion and empathy I offer come from my own experiences, especially during my battle with breast cancer. When I underwent genetic testing for the BRCA gene, it sparked my curiosity and motivated me to delve deeper into understanding the toxicities in the products we use daily. Sharing my journey has been imperative; I want others to know they are not alone. When I was diagnosed at just 26, I often heard people tell me I was too young for this—a statement I’ve come to realize is simply untrue. Now, at 48, I encourage others to listen to their bodies and trust their instincts. By speaking out about my experiences, I aim to give back the support I received and extend even more compassion and understanding to those on similar journeys.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

My number one challenge is helping my clients use skin and hair care products made from natural ingredients. I want to help them practice better self-care and self-love. I also have to remind myself to keep refocusing on my own self-care and self-love routines. I have to give myself grace and set some time for myself. So I’m not teaching practices that I can’t commit to myself. I want to continue to be an true example and inspiration.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.naturallyeverythingforlife.com
• Instagram: enhancebynature_
• Facebook: naturallyeverything
• Other: Tik Tok @enhancebynature

Image Credits

Jameelah Shamsiddeen, Terrell Rose