The Dance Of Growth - Expanding & Contracting

2020 has made me acutely aware of so many things. But, one of the more interesting ones (if I stand way back and use a more detached view of myself so that I can comfortably use the word interesting) is noticing where and when I contract and where and when I expand.

To be honest, my first instinct when I am stressed or scared or uncertain is to contract. Make myself small. Make myself safe. And, that is a normal, perfectly acceptable way to handle the incredible amount of stress and pressure that almost all of us face on a daily basis in 2020.

But, I noticed over the course of the year that there are people who are facing this reality and choosing to expand.  Given that I am on a mission to express myself fully and create space for others to express themselves fully, I have been quietly taking every chance I can to learn, watch, listen, and talk to people who when faced with challenges - expand.

ASHLEY//NICHOLE - One of the most determined, positive people I have had the pleasure of meeting. She LIVES her why boldly.

Here is what I’ve learned - They also feel the stress and oftentimes DO contract but they also make the other choice - to go bigger. To be bolder. To take the shot. My next question is always - why or how? What is it that drives them?

In most cases, it is because their “why” is incredibly clear to them.  They have conviction and focus that allows them to send their energy outward even when things are incredibly uncertain and timing is not necessarily “optimal”.

This month I had the privilege of speaking with Ashley the creator of Beauty by Day, Booty at Night fitness and lifestyle brand. A woman whose why is so strong that it makes her do the seemingly impossible - a mom and wife, a fitness instructor, a fitness model, a fitness buff herself, an entrepreneur, an aerial sports competitor, a friend, and an all-around remarkable human.  

She is on a mission to help women become their best selves in all areas of their lives. To help them understand how to work out and more than that how to set-up their lives so they have the time to pursue the things that make them feel beautiful, strong, and fulfilled.

Join me as I ask her questions about her budding fitness empire. Her brand. Her hopes and aspirations for her followers. How to keep expanding even when you feel like contracting.