An Inspired Chat with Ginger Terrell

We recently had the chance to connect with Ginger Terrell and have shared our conversation below.

Ginger, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: Would YOU hire you? Why or why not?
Would I hire me? Absolutely.

I’m the kind of person who brings fresh air into the room. I see the big picture when others get stuck in the details, and I love sparking ideas that shift perspectives and unlock new possibilities. My gift is making connections – between people, ideas, and opportunities – that others might never think of.

I know my strength isn’t in the day-to-day grind of execution – it’s in vision, creativity, and connection. I thrive on catalyzing creativity, generating new ideas, and then moving forward to spark the next thing. I’d hire me because I keep ideas alive and possibilities expanding.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
At the heart of everything I do is helping people navigate what’s next with clarity, confidence, and connection.

Through my consulting practice, 𝐺𝑖𝑓𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝐷𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛, I walk alongside individuals in career transition – students, professionals, entrepreneurs – guiding them toward paths that align with their strengths, values, and calling.

Through 𝑊𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛 𝑂𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐺𝑜, I extend that mission into community. We’re built for the 21st-century woman – the one who refuses to network the way it’s always been done. Instead of stiff, transactional events, we cultivate authentic connection, shared wisdom, and yes – 𝑓𝑢𝑛 – creating circles where women can be seen, supported, and celebrated.

Together, these two expressions of my work reflect the same passion: equipping people to step into their future with clarity and surrounding them with a community that helps them thrive.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
The relationship that most shaped how I see myself is my relationship with Jesus. I don’t say that lightly. I’ve lived through profound betrayal, trauma, loss, and grief – especially in my 40s, when it felt like my very identity had been shattered. I also wrestled deeply with my own faith during that time, questioning what I believed and how I could hold on when so much of life felt broken. There were moments I honestly didn’t know if joy or purpose would ever be possible again.

But it was in surrendering – not just the obvious struggles, but the unseen attitudes, habits, and wounds – that I discovered God’s presence in a new way. My relationship with Jesus taught me that even in the middle of brokenness, I am deeply loved, and that life can still hold beauty, wonder, and hope.

That’s why I often talk about “chasing beauty.” It started as a personal practice, then grew into something I shared online, and now others send me their own chasing beauty moments. It reminds me that my story matters – and if my journey can help even one person find connection, hope, or freedom, then the pain wasn’t wasted.

For me, faith isn’t about fear or formulas; it’s about relationship. It’s about learning to live with authenticity, curiosity, and grace, and realizing I don’t have to have it all figured out to keep moving forward with Jesus by my side. And if you’re not religious or believe differently than I do – that’s okay. We can still find points of connection, respect one another’s journeys, and do really good work and life together.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one kind thing to my younger self, it would be this: You’re going to make it. The heartbreak, the betrayals, the questions about faith – they won’t erase you. They’ll refine you. One day, you’ll look back and see that even in the moments you felt shattered, God was quietly holding the pieces together.

And when it comes to your work – stop believing the lie that you have to ‘be’ something in order to be worthy. You don’t have to fit neatly into a box like realtor, counselor, or lawyer. Your path will twist and turn across industries and interests, and that doesn’t make you irresponsible or scattered. It makes you a connector. An encourager. Someone who helps people see differently and find hope. That is just as valid – and just as needed – as any title or empire.

You don’t have to rush to figure it all out. Just keep taking the next step. Beauty will find you, joy will return, and the story you’re living – even the painful, winding chapters – will become a source of hope for others. You are loved, you are held, and your life will matter more than you can see right now.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
A belief I used to hold tightly was that I always had to defend myself and my position. I grew up in an environment where “having the answer” and “being right” were seen as essential, so I carried that posture into nearly every area of my life. I became so entrenched in defending everything that a close friend (who was also a psychologist) once told me I seemed to be defending my very existence. That hit hard. Of course, my first instinct was to deny it – and defend why I wasn’t defensive – but later I realized she was right.

Over time, I learned that needing to be right all the time wasn’t strength, it was a barrier. It cut me off from real connection and kept me from hearing others. Today, I try to enter conversations with curiosity, kindness, and respect. I can still hold to my values, but I don’t need to prove someone else wrong or demand they agree with me. That shift – from defensiveness to openness – has been one of the most freeing transformations of my life.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
When I’m gone, I hope people say that being around me made them feel seen, encouraged, and hopeful. Not because I had all the answers, or because I built the biggest empire, but because I brought fresh air into the room – I connected people, sparked ideas, and reminded them that beauty can be found even in hard places.

I never apologized for my faith, but I respected other people’s belief systems. I hope people caught a glimpse of the Jesus I follow – the one who leads with love, grace, and kindness, not judgment. And while I wasn’t afraid to speak up when people used His name as a weapon, I hope that even though I may have been candid, I still responded in a way that pointed back to His true heart of love and humility.

I hope the story isn’t about titles or accomplishments, but about the way I lived: curious, authentic, willing to reinvent, and deeply rooted in love. If people remember that I helped them believe again – in hope, in their calling, in the possibility of experiencing joy – then my life will have mattered.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.gingerterrell.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gingerterrell
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gingerterrell

Image Credits
All images are either mine or from a paid subscription to Canva