Embracing and Accepting Ourselves Wholly with Faith and Tenacity - Dr. Sabrina Greenlee
- Lakshmi Iyer
- Jul 10
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 10
When you talk with Dr. Sabrina Greenlee, there is no mistaking her indomitable strength and the hope and encouragement she brings to women everywhere. Dr. Greenlee is the Founder and President of S.M.O.O.O.T.H., Inc., (Speaking, Mentally, Outwardly, Opening, Opportunities, Towards, Healing), a nonprofit organization that leads the way in empowering women affected by the perils of domestic violence. She is an inspirational speaker and a nationally celebrated community activist. Her memoir, Grant Me Vision, was released in July 2024, highlighting her resilient journey and her profound reclamation of her power.
A woman of dignity, pride, and faith, Her Nexx Chapter is excited to have Dr. Greenlee as one of the two keynote speakers at the upcoming inaugural Inspire Her Nexx Chapter Conference to be held at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas. VIP guests have the opportunity to have lunch with Dr. Greenlee on Day 2 of the Conference. Join Dr. Greenlee and other powerful speakers for a transformative 3-day women’s conference. At Inspire Her Nexx Chapter Conference, we intend to speak to women’s spirits, cultivate their souls and pamper their hearts in a space where diversity and differences are seen as strengths and where women can actively participate.
In her keynote address at the Conference, she will talk about how to show up unapologetically, overcome life’s adversities that parallel showing up daily, and how we can embrace our brokenness, among other aspects of faith, redemption, and tenacity.
She believes that God gives us beauty for ashes, turning horrible and horrendous things into good, drawing parallels with her life. Dr. Greenlee was assaulted in 2002, suffering 70% burns on her body and eyes, and eventually losing her vision completely. From struggling to take care of her 4 children, she willed herself to hold faith and be resilient in the face of the enemy’s plan for her life. Today, she works to help other women understand what it looks like when you put in the hard work and take back control of your life.
Read on for my conversation with Dr. Greenlee.
How does one keep faith when everything around them is/appears to be falling apart?
First, look within. Realize you’re still here. It’s not a coincidence that you’re here. Surround yourself with like-minded and positive people. The enemy comes to kill, destroy, and torment your mind. Have someone pour positive things into you daily. Be open to change. I had to allow myself to be open to change and not be hard on myself. That’s when the transformation happened.
You have to find the strength and inspiration within yourself. Have a vision of how you want to show up in the world. Among the people supporting me, I was inspired by one woman of faith. I wanted to know more about her positive light and energy. I asked her how to pray and find my faith. That motivated me to search within.
In your conversations with other women, what is the common obstacle that blocks them from moving forward?
Shame is the most common obstacle. When you’ve been stripped of your dignity and pride, it is hard to show up with dignity. Everybody is looking at you differently. It could be due to the bad choices you made or other reasons. Shame hinders you from showing up healthy and whole.
Can you please talk about this reminder: Love is not one thing, nor does it come from one place?
We tend to equate love with a relationship. We cannot allow one person to validate what love looks like. We put so much emphasis on it without understanding it. Love can come from an animal, scripture, a poem, a hug, or even a message on the radio. It is important to understand and be open to love. God will allow love to flow from different sources and people.
If you were to share just one message with women, what would it be?
The storm won’t last forever. Trust God wholly. Get up and take one day at a time. When you wake up and take one step, He will take two. As a child of God, you’re uniquely designed. You’re who you are. You’re enough. Just because life has torn you down and people said you won’t amount to anything, doesn’t make it true. You’re present, and that’s enough. It has to be enough for you.
If you dive into it, you will see that there are people you have to let go of, things to change within yourself, and places you don’t need to go. You have to work on being enough. God will make the provision to make the change.
The Future of Connection for Women
I am creative and I thrive on the energy I get from making words and images speak a cohesive message. I love building new and meaningful relationships while going the extra mile to maintain old and precious ones. Every new person I meet, I look for something to learn and imbibe into my life. A postgraduate in Public Relations (PR), I have worked in PR agencies, in a marketing communications role with a mid-sized Indian company, and as an internal communications and change management consultant in a multinational organization. A mother to a caring and amiable girl, I love baking, alone time during the day, writing, and admiring nature’s beauty.
