By Naomi K. Bonman | Westside Story News Editor
When Dr. La Shawn Denise Witt decided to pen her debut memoir, The D.I.V.A. Herself: I Survived My Mess, she didn’t just write a book—she answered a divine call. Known as The Global Strategist™, Dr. Witt has long been a voice of empowerment for women, but this time, she’s using her own voice to show what it truly means to rise from the ashes.
In a candid conversation, Dr. Witt opened up about what led her to release such a vulnerable body of work and how she hopes it empowers other women navigating trauma, grief, and the heavy silence that often follows pain.
“The defining moment came when I realized that I was bleeding silently while helping others heal,” she shared. “God whispered, ‘Your mess is your ministry.’ That broke me—but it also freed me.”
Dr. Witt’s transparency is what makes The D.I.V.A. Herself stand apart. Reclaiming a word often associated with glamor and ego, she redefines D.I.V.A. as Divinely Inspired, Victoriously Anointed—a powerful mantra for women who have survived the fire without allowing it to consume them.
Throughout the book, she confronts universal yet deeply personal battles: feelings of unworthiness, seeking validation in toxic spaces, and the long road to mental and emotional healing. She admits that these struggles deeply shaped her relationships and identity—until she decided to rewrite the narrative.
“I found myself shrinking in relationships, over-giving, and compromising my boundaries just to feel seen,” Dr. Witt recalled. “It wasn’t until I confronted those patterns that I began reclaiming my voice.”
Now, she stands as an advocate for what she calls “holy healing,” encouraging women—especially women of color—to embrace therapy, faith, and truth-telling as essential tools for survival.
“Your silence doesn’t make you strong—your truth does. There is no shame in your story. You are still worthy—even while you’re in pieces.”
A mother, educator, and serial entrepreneur, Dr. Witt wears many hats—but each role, she says, has been a different mirror of growth. Her daughter Morgan has been a central anchor in her healing, serving both as inspiration and legacy.
“Being her mother made me want to become whole—not just for me, but for the legacy I’m leaving through her,” she said.
Faith, too, has been a cornerstone of Dr. Witt’s resilience. In one of her darkest nights, she recalls a divine moment of clarity that reframed her pain: “God said, ‘You’re not in a mess. You’re in a metamorphosis.’ That changed everything.”
Through this memoir, she hopes readers walk away with three key truths:
- You can survive your mess and still rise in purpose.
- You are not alone—your story matters and your voice is needed.
- Healing isn’t a one-time event—it’s a courageous, ongoing decision to choose yourself daily.
As for what’s next? Dr. Witt is just getting started. She’s currently on a national book tour (both virtual and in-person), hosting workshops, and developing a companion journal and coaching series for women ready to start their own healing journey.
“The conversation isn’t over—it’s just beginning.”
You can purchase The D.I.V.A. Herself: I Survived My Mess on Amazon, Apple Books, or directly from her website at www.drlashawndenisewitt.com.
