Life & Work with Holly Chester of West Nashville

Today we’d like to introduce you to Holly Chester

Hi Holly, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I have many stories I could tell, but this one started when I was a little girl. I visited the library every summer and filled my ladybug backpack with as many books as I could. Little did I know, I was starting a love affair with words, which morphed into a dream of writing my own book one day. Over the years, I began writing songs, which led me to Nashville and then started posting my poetry online, which led me to releasing my first book in the fall of last year.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Creativity and writing is fun, but it’s not always a smooth and easy road because more often than not I get in my own way. In my book Welcome To My Mind, I compare the mind to a home, sharing poetry and prose that focuses on the limiting beliefs in my mind that have held me back in life, specifically perfectionism, overthinking, self-doubt. I self-published this book and included several photos throughout its pages to guide the reader on a visual journey. This brought it’s own set of challenges, as I had to learn how to self-publish and also coordinate with my friend Fadwa Ward to plan and prep for the photos to showcase in the book. Through writing and publishing the book, I really came face-to-face with multiple limiting beliefs and had to make a conscious decision everyday to keep going.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m most proud of pushing through my insecurities and the learning curves and bringing a work of art I’d dreamt about for years to life. I think what sets my poetry apart is that even though it addresses sad and dark moments, there is always a perspective of hope and change within it. We all have battles we face in our minds daily and I want to continue to share part of my mind in my work so that someone else will hopefully feel seen and understood.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
The Perfectionist’s Guide To Losing Control by Katherine Morgan Schafler is a book that changed the game for me. I knew I was a perfectionist, but didn’t realize how much it affected my day to day. It helped me see that instead of trying to eliminate all forms of perfectionism from my life, there are good forms that have contributed to my life and to focus on those. The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks is a great read that helps you identify your limiting beliefs and move beyond them to the next level of your life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hollychesterwrites.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollychesterwrites
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hollychesterwrites
• Other: Book on Amazon – https://amzn.to/4hWiu04