Author: Danielle Delaney

Danielle Wallace is the founder of The Virtuous Creative. She's also the CEO, copywriter and video marketer of Chayil Media Publishing where she helps powerhouse service-pros and product businesses flip facts into sales-driven narratives.
Self-Care/

5 Ways to Declutter Your Mind Today

Sometimes, life is just too busy. Maybe you find yourself frustrated when it comes to wondering how you can possibly get all the important stuff done. Sometimes I feel this way too, so you’re not alone. I get it! And your answer is pretty simple: Declutter your mind. In this blog post, I’m sharing some of my favorite ways to declutter my mind. I’m confident that these tips will help you clear out the clutter and make room for more productive thoughts as well.

Have some quiet time alone

You can reduce stress and anxiety by taking time to unwind.

Pray – Prayer allows you to get closer to God and tap into clarity and discernment.

Take a walk – Get outside, breathe in the fresh air, and enjoy nature.

Get enough sleep – It’s hard for you to think clearly when you’re tired or stressed, so make sure you get enough rest before tackling any big projects or stressful tasks.

Manage your time better

One of the biggest mistakes people make when trying to declutter their minds is not managing their time properly.

When you’re feeling overwhelmed and overwhelmed, it’s easy to forget about your schedule or simply not have one at all—which means that a lot of the work you do will go unfinished.

If you want to organize your thoughts and clear out some brain space, make sure that you plan out what needs to be done each day as well as how much time each task should take.

Delegate and ask for help

Delegation is an important part of your decluttering process, but it can be difficult to know where to start.

The first step is asking for help from people who are good at what you need done. And by the way, don’t be afraid of being assertive when delegating tasks. Be sure to also follow up with those subordinates after completing those assignments so that everything goes smoothly!

It’s crucial that everyone involved has clear expectations about what needs to get done.

Set short-term goals

Setting goals can be a powerful way to get your mind working toward a clearer, more productive and happier state.

Setting goals helps you focus on what really matters in life, prioritize what’s most important to you and achieve more by having a clear outline of where you want to be. Short term goals are an excellent way of keeping your mind clutter free because they give you something that feels achievable in an otherwise overwhelming world.

Short term goals can be as simple as:

  • Reading 1 chapter per day from a book on decluttering your mind
  • Going for a walk every day (even if it’s only 15 minutes)
  • Progressing in a new skill once a week

Be kind to yourself

It is so easy to get caught up in the daily grind and forget to give yourself a break.

You can start by being kinder to yourself, whether it’s for a mistake you made or for something that didn’t go as planned. Giving yourself some time out of your day to do something you enjoy will help make everything else seem less overwhelming.

Be kind to others too! It can be easy to feel overwhelmed when it comes down to how much we have on our plates at any given time, but don’t compare yourself with other people and don’t get down on them when they’re struggling with their own problems or just having a rough day – we all need each other!

A decluttered mind is a productive mind

When your mind is decluttered:

  • You’ll be able to focus on what’s important, rather than worrying about things that don’t matter.
  • You will make better decisions, because your mind won’t be cluttered with unnecessary information that could cloud your judgment.
  • You will concentrate on tasks at hand instead of getting distracted by other things like social media.

The key to decluttering your mind is being aware that you can do it.

Danielle Delaney

You might feel like you’re drowning in a sea of thoughts and emotions, but the truth is that we all have the ability to clear out our minds if we try hard enough.

The first step in this process is recognizing that there is room for improvement, which can be done by creating space for yourself by setting aside time each day just for yourself or taking regular breaks throughout the day, so you don’t get overwhelmed.

Once you know there is something wrong with how cluttered your brain feels at times when trying to complete tasks, start working on ways to clear out all those thoughts as quickly as possible so they don’t interfere with what needs doing right now.

Curious about what I’m learning on my creative journey as it relates to faith, self-care, and entrepreneurship?

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Entrepreneurship/

4 Powerful Ways to Pray Over Your Business

Prayer is the best way to stay connected with God Almighty in all areas of your life, including your business.

I personally, don’t know how you can operate a business without God Almighty. Proverbs 3:6 tells us, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and he shall direct your paths.”

Now, as for praying for your business, here are 4 ways that will guide you through the process.

Pray for God’s Will in starting and operating your business

When it comes to starting and operating your business, you should pray for God’s will. Ask Him to show you the right way to start and operate your business.

Pray that He would help you make the right decisions in starting and operating your business. Pray that He would help you see His hand at work in your business.

Ask the Lord to bring the right people into your business

Asking God to bring the right people into your business is a great way to pray for your business.

The right people are those who will help you succeed, whether they’re clients, customers, employees, mentors, mentees, or business friends. They have a similar vision, mindset, and values as you do – and they bring something unique (or at least different) to the table that makes them uniquely suited for what you’re trying to accomplish.

Ask God to protect you and your team

As you pray over your business, ask God to protect you and your team.

Also, pray for your clients, customers, and the community that is served by your business. Ask God to bless every aspect of it: sales, production, management, and your team’s creativity.

Finally, pray that He will help you make wise decisions regarding finances and growth so that the company remains financially stable (and profitable).

Thank God for what He has provided you with

  • Thank God for the resources He has provided you with.
  • Thank God for the people He has placed in your life.
  • Thank God for the opportunity to serve others.
  • Thank God for the ability to do what you love.

Entrepreneurship is in many ways a matter of faith. Having a sense of purpose and direction, acknowledging your dependence on God, and committing to making the most of every opportunity that comes your way are all essential elements to success. These steps will help you grow your business, but ultimately it all starts with your relationship with Jesus Christ, the one true entrepreneur.

Want more insights from Danielle about how to show up boldly in business and everyday life as a Christian woman creative?
Subscribe to her official email list where you’ll receive weekly letters in your inbox. 
Click here to subscribe to Danielle’s official email list. 
Faith/

A Letter to My 15-Year-Old Self on My 35th Birthday

Dear Danielle,

Some things will never change…

You still love to cozy up with a GOOD book, journal, and pen. These have always been your go-to’s for either learning something new or dumping your thoughts out onto paper.

These days, you’ve added coffee or tea into the mix.

But you know what’s really changed?

Your faith in the Lord. While it’s always been strong, it’s stronger than you’d ever imagined. I recently picked up a journal that you kept while you were in the 10th grade – and OMG! You were so bold and brave in your faith.

During that same year, your dad left this earth. That was the first time you met grief. It was such a tough time. It left you incredibly sad for most of your junior and senior years.

But you made it through – with the help of God’s unchanging hand and your mom.

Speaking of your mom, while year 35 is exciting to embark on, she’s missing on this earth too now, right along with your dad.

But I’m so proud of you because you’re harvesting the seeds they planted inside of you. I believe they’re sincerely proud of the 30’s version of their daughter.

You’re continuously bold in your faith, keen on boundaries, and taking care of yourself every day – so that you can show up to operate in your God-given purpose.

Speaking of purpose, you probably thought you’d be a TV reporter forever, right?

Nope. Do you remember those days – in between cheerleading practice, where you spent dreaming of being a writer too…

Well, guess what?

You have an entire copywriting and storytelling business. You’ve literally taken your passion for writing and skills from TV news – and packaged it up to serve other people who want to stand out in business.

You’re amazing!

Not only that, but you’re also generously serving other Christian women through your digital magazine, blog, and podcast. You’re making an impact and serving in a way that brings you so much joy. You also wrote about this in your journal back in the day.

Since those teenage years – you’ve had a continuous growth mindset and heart of gratitude.

Danielle, you’re so brave! And you may be small, but you’re so mighty!

Again, you’re amazing!

May you have a blessed and beautiful 35th birthday!

Want more insights from Danielle about how to show up boldly in business and everyday life as a Christian woman creative?
Subscribe to her official email list where you’ll receive weekly letters in your inbox. 
Click here to subscribe to Danielle’s official email list. 
Entrepreneurship/

Video! Does It Matter in Business? Yes!

Have you been ignoring video, hoping it will just go away? Or worse, thinking you can accomplish the same goals without it? 

I’m here to tell you, video is going nowhere.

YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world, and thousands of hours of video are uploaded each and every day. Video clips on social platforms on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn enjoy far more engagement than do plain text or even image-based updates.

 When it comes to training programs, most people prefer video to text—or at least a combination of the two. 

And now with streaming video, this rapidly growing marketing channel has become even more crucial to your marketing strategy. 

  • Live video lets viewers get to know you better and trust you. 
  • Your personality and brand shine through in ways written words or pre-recorded video simply cannot manage
  • A built-in sense of urgency makes it easy to connect with your action takers
  • Repurposing video for other channels is easy and super productive
  • Instagram and other social networks appear to give more weight to video, showing it in more newsfeeds than other post formats

In addition to all of that, video is easy to produce—contrary to what some people may think.

Simply prop up your smartphone, log into your preferred app, and viola! You’re live. And because it’s a live, streaming video, your viewers likely have less expectation of perfection. 

For example, with a scripted webinar, they expect a certain polish. But with streaming video, you can get away with a much more lighthearted, go-with-the-flow style. It’s perfect for Q&A sessions, special announcements, group coaching, or anything else where you simply want to connect with your audience, and there’s no agenda. 

If you’re recording videos for Instagram Reels, Stories, Facebook, or LinkedIn you can simply grab your phone to prop it up on something as well – and also invest in a microphone.  There are a variety of microphones on Amazon. And lastly, when it comes to presentation, make sure your lighting is on point. You can film near a window or invest in a ring light. I also have a couple of these that I got from Amazon.

Don’t Abandon Your Other Marketing Methods. 

We see this happen a lot—a popular trend or strategy comes along, and all of a sudden everyone is on board. 

However, you must not forget to incorporate other methods like photos, carousel posts, or email marketing into your marketing strategy. Recorded video and live video can complement these methods. 

So while Instagram Reels and Live video in general definitely matters when it comes to your overall marketing efforts, it’s not the end-all, be-all tool that will outshine everything else in your marketing strategy. 

Want more insights from Danielle about how to show up boldly in business and everyday life as a Christian woman creative? Subscribe to her official email list where you’ll receive weekly letters in your inbox. 

Click here to subscribe to Danielle’s official email list. 

Faith/

Daughter of God, How Much Are You Worth?

How much are you worth?

Clothes? We make sure they are protected. We make sure they are free of wrinkles.

Hair? We make sure each strand stays in its rightful place. Makeup? For many of you, it’s essential to have a flawless face no matter how much it costs you. Your self-worth? That’s where many of you stop and neglect the most important thing.

There are so many that aspire to be the Proverbs 31 woman but lack the true meaning of this woman.

She’s undoubtedly strong but today we see a generation of women that hide behind so many things, constantly comparing themselves to the next woman instead of growing in God’s word, gaining wisdom and knowledge.

It’s either a game of comparison among other women or trying to prove to a man that you are worth his time.

Whether you are in college or a woman well into her 30s you know what I’m referring to. Whether you are a married woman with children or a single woman with children, you are aware of the uncertainties and the constant need to be better than the next woman.

Why?

You are God’s daughter and there should be no comparison and no searching for worth in another human. When we truly sit at the feet of the Lord we realize this and are humbled to become the daughter God has made us to be.

Here are a few truths for you to remember:

“For she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.” – Proverbs 3:14 – 16

“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” – 1 Samuel 16:7

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” – Psalm 139:13-14

REFLECT

What are you masking right now? Is it self-doubt or past pains? Give those worries and thoughts to the Lord and focus on the important things. Are you settling for less in a relationship? Dig deep in God’s word to realize your worth. You are a queen and a daughter of the most high!

Entrepreneurship/

Why Do We Overcomplicate Our Goals?

Overthinking is the worst!

So often in life, we get too caught up in the “what ifs.”

OR…

We make stuff too complicated.

I’m sure you can relate.

And while I’ve always been a person who is never afraid to take action, I was stuck overthinking whether or not I should actually publish a podcast in my copywriting and brand storytelling business.

I knew I needed to…

But some sort of weird doubt started creeping in.

Whew!

Fortunately, I got real with myself and gained tons of clarity through prayer and reflection on one of my walks. 

And now, it’s here – after sitting on my laptop for over a year.

The Storytelling Meets Branding Podcast is the hub for powerhouse coaches who want to boldly amplify their brand using the power of storytelling.

These weekly chats bring me so much joy.

And by the way, you’re welcome to tune in.

Click here to start listening to The Storytelling Meets Branding Podcast. 

 

Faith/

Trying to Find Your Purpose? Check Out This Book

Last year, my heart was filled with joy when one of my clients mailed me a gift of appreciation.

It included a refreshing face mask and an incredible book to read.

The book was “Dare to Bloom: Trusting God Through Painful Endings and New Beginnings” by Zim Flores.

It’s such a page-turner. More importantly, it’s a book about literally trusting God through everything.

Throughout the book, Zim recounts her experiences of REALLY stepping outside of her comfort zone and trusting God along the way.

I love Zim’s wisdom about navigating new beginnings.

I’m sure you can relate. Sometimes, fear can get the best of us in different seasons. This book is also a perfect read to reflect on reclaiming your true identity in Christ.

While nearly every page I read, has tons of yellow highlights, this is one of my favorite quotes inside of the book:

“Purpose doesn’t end once we find it; rather, purpose is something that continues to unfold and evolve throughout our lives.” – Zim Flores 

At the end of each chapter, you’ll find questions for reflection.

By the way, the photos inside the book are beautiful!

I hope you’ll check it out. If you do, pop in the comments here and let me know. 

Entrepreneurship/

How to Ask for a Mentor

So, you’re looking for a mentor?

Well, there are a few things to consider…

The first step is to ALWAYS lead with value.

Having a mentor is not an opportunity to “take” what you want.

Your mentor wants to know what you bring to the table.

What can they learn from you as well? How can you help them?

Do your research. 

Don’t send a vague email to a potential mentor that seems like you just want to “pick their brain.”

Take the time to do your research about them from their website.

Watch their videos. Sign up to their email list + find out valuable info from their socials.

Be clear on why you would like them to mentor you. Again, don’t be vague.

Share your goals with your mentor.

Value their time. 

Time is precious and chances are your mentor is busy. Don’t waste their time with questions that add no value.

Respect their time. 

Again, your mentor is busy.

Don’t stand them up for a scheduled meeting or show up late.

Lastly, don’t get mad or excessively contact them if you don’t hear a response right away from them.

I hope this is helpful for anyone out there who may be stuck on reaching out to someone for mentorship.

Entrepreneurship/

These Are My Tried-and-True Productivity Tips

TIME…

Some people may argue, that there isn’t enough time in the day or our weekends should be much longer.

But here’s the reality: We must prepare our minds to use our time differently.

It’s certainly easy for us to fall in the traps of distraction these days – from our phones to the neverending feeds of information online. If we’re not careful, we could find ourselves in a swamp of idleness.

I’ve personally deleted Instagram during the day from my phone – and blocked other social media platforms from my laptop to stay focused.

Now, hopefully, these 5 tips will help you boost your productivity, once and for all.

1. Start the day in prayer. Allow prayer to be the first thing you turn to when waking up. Not your phone. Talk to the Lord and find hope in him before you start another day. I promise you will feel less frazzled and better equipped for the day.

2. Read a daily devotional. Right now, I’m reading Paul David Tripp’s “New Morning Mercies” daily devotional. It’s amazing! For myself, reading a devotional in the morning gives me more peace. I also highlight some sections that I read to come back to for further study later that night.

3. Journal your thoughts away. Journaling provides clarity – clearing out all those thoughts that are piled in your head. Grab a journal and just write. It doesn’t have to be perfect and no one has to see it. Write your goals for the day, scriptures, etc.

4. Speak positivity in the air. Going back to your journal – look at the scriptures you’ve written and say them aloud. Just like everything mentioned above, it will boldly prepare you to tackle your day.

5. Listen to a Christ-centered podcast. I have a long list of these podcasts but my absolute favorite right now is “Revive Our Hearts” with Nancy Demoss Wolgemuth. I can count on a daily message that encourages, empowers, and equips me for the day. Do a search for Christian podcasts and see what pops up for you. Make sure it’s biblically sound. Listen as you’re getting ready or while driving.

I hope these tips help if you’re not already in the habit of doing them. If they are, feel free to let me know!

Faith/

3 Biblical Ways to Help Relieve Anxiety and Stress

Stress can sometimes get the best of us.

My biggest breakdown with anxiety and stress was following the passing of my mom back in November 2017.

I’d experienced this when I was 15 years old when my dad passed, but as an adult, it was taken to a different level – after realizing I had neither of them by my side.

Between all the to-do’s, emotions, and draining job in news at the time, I felt as though my world was completely upside down.

I was constantly thinking “How am I going to do this or that.”

Fortunately, these days are different.

While grief never ends, I’m so thankful for God’s sufficient grace.

I strongly believe that if you don’t master your emotions, they will master you. Managing your stress and anxiety plays a BIG part in our lives.

Here are some ways I have utilized God’s word to help me greatly manage stress and anxiety:

Taking everything to God in prayer – As a believer, prayer is important all the time – not just in difficult seasons. However, when you find yourself in those difficult seasons it’s also important not to just lean into your own understanding.

Meditating on God’s word – One of the things I’m so thankful to have is both of my parent’s bibles. My mom has highlighted tons of things and compiled decades of notes in both of them that have helped me tremendously.

Praise and worship – I know the church hasn’t been the same, since the start of the pandemic, but what’s stopping you from praising and worshiping the Lord right where you are? Turn up your favorite worship music and give thanks and praise right where you are.

Look, if you’re facing stress and anxiety right now…I promise your situation can get better.

Now, life isn’t perfect, but things will get a lot better.

If you find that you need more help in terms of managing your stress and anxiety, don’t be afraid to reach out for help from a therapist or leaders in your church.

I’d love to know how you’re dealing with stress and anxiety. Maybe my tips have also sparked some inspiration. 

Drop in the comments to let me know. 

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