Ashley Nichols
What makes you feel proud?
Proud parent moment: I absolutely love watching our daughter, Ellie, explore and learn about the world. Her curiosity, intelligence, and joy are such a gift to witness. As a leader, I find great fulfillment in helping my team grow, not only in job-related skills but also in areas like self-awareness, communication, and emotional intelligence. Lastly, I recently hosted a linocut printing workshop – something that’s been on my creative bucket list for several years. There’s something truly special about seeing a long-held dream or goal come to life.
What’s been the biggest obstacle in your life so far?
Several recurring themes shape the challenges in my life: self-doubt, the pursuit of perfection, and the fear of what others think. These express themselves in different ways depending on the season I’m in, the job I have, and the dreams I hold. As an Enneagram 1, I’m hard-wired to hone in on what can be improved – in a project, in myself, and in others. These tendencies contribute to the woman and leader I am today, yet they come with a shadow side. When my natural drive for improvement becomes overworked or distorted, it can inhibit goodness from flowing in and through me.
One year from today, how do you hope you’re different?
This year has held a lot of inner work for me. As a gardener (albeit a very amateur one), I resonate with comparing this process to tending my garden beds. Each season requires its own labor – work that is gritty, beautiful, and sacred. Recently, I pulled up some summer plants that had gone to seed or didn’t produce well to make space for fall crops. In a few months, I’ll prepare my beds for winter rest, and when spring arrives, I’ll bring in new soil and prepare seedlings, joyfully anticipating fresh blooms. In much the same way, I’ve been tending to my heart – perhaps more intentionally and with new methods than before. A year from now, I hope to see the fruits of this inner work in my life, leading to less inhibition, more joy, and more love flowing through me to others.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
“Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery it is. In the boredom and pain of it, no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it, because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace.” - Frederick Buechner
