Meet Ashley Mauldin | Licensed Professional Counselor and Founder of Daring Women

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ashley Mauldin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashley, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
As a business owner, community leader and mom of two I have learned over the years that the concept of “work-life balance” is really a myth. It is perpetuated by perfectionism, which requires we set the bar so high we can never reach it – or if we do it cannot be sustained. We may have times where we feel like everything is balanced but these moments are fleeting. Life has a way of coming along and pushing us in a direction that causes us to stumble, losing that momentary balance. Instead of balance I prefer to think of life in terms of rhythm. Each new season has its own beat and we need to adjust our movement to it. When COVID-19 hit last year and the world shut down we all had to readjust – and quickly. Rather than fighting it I took some time to get clear about what I was truly committed to – which was being adaptive, flexible and resilient. Trust me when I say that there were times that I did not want to be flexible or adaptive, and a handful of moments where I failed to show up in these ways. But at the end of the day I know I am more empowered by choosing my response than simply reacting to what is happening around me. I also make sure I take time to evaluate how my schedule reflects (or does not reflect) my values. Am I living into my values rather than just professing them? Will I feel good about my choices when I near the end of my life or will I feel a sense of regret? This reflection helps me move toward the best version of my self and my life. Giving myself permission to let go of my pursuit of balance has been a game changer for me. I dare you to consider whether or not trying to achieve “balance” is working for you.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I moved to the Roaring Fork Valley in 2011. I was going through a turbulent period of transition in my life which included becoming a new mom, moving, buying a house, starting a business, my baby having health issues – all while dealing with postpartum depression. I felt very alone and struggled to talk to anyone about what was going on because of my role as a therapist. I was worried about what people would think if the knew how depressed I felt. This is a time I could have really used a tribe of strong women to lift me up, to hold space for who I was and what I was going through. Unfortunately that wasn’t the case. But having experienced my own struggles with loneliness and disconnection I was inspired to create Daring Women, a group for women looking for deeper, more meaningful and authentic connection. A group that supports one another to become the best versions of themselves. So in 2018 I launched Daring Women. We meet monthly and center our events and discussions around Brené Brown’s 10 Guideposts for Wholehearted Living.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Best of Glenwood and Roaring Fork -Hike Hanging Lake -Raft the Colorado River -Go on the Cliffhanger at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park -Visit Doc Holiday’s Grave -Soak at the Hotsprings -Ski at Sunlight -Get dinner at Eat Bistro in New Castle

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The Roaring Fork Leadership program for helping me see the big picture and have more clarity on what I stand for.

Website: www.daringwomenllc.com

Instagram: @daringwomenllc

Facebook: @daringwomenllc