From model and creative to entrepreneur and brand consultant, there are many titles one can attribute to the inspirational Cathleen Daly. The most all-encompassing title? A discoverer.
In 2015, her propensity for exploration and learning led her to start her blog, Discovering Daly. Since then, her blog has blossomed into a multi-faceted brand and business where she hopes to inspire others to embrace a lifestyle of discovery for themselves.
Dorisma recently got a chance to chat with Cathleen Daly about her views on purpose, gratitude and the importance of fashion in personal branding.
You mentioned on your site “I love what I do and I love my life!” I think the best way for someone to reach that point in life is by walking in purpose. Would you say you are doing that?
Yes, I do. To live life without purpose would be a waste to me.
Beautiful! What does walking in purpose mean to you then?
Walking in purpose to me means authentically living out your values and using your God-given talents in a way that glorifies our Creator and makes the world around you a better place. This can be in your work, relationships and communities.
I am not perfect at this, but I try my best to do this every day. Walking in purpose is not always an easy route, but it is a meaningful one. Your purpose can also change throughout the various seasons of your life. I find that to be a beautiful thing because I have learned that it is impossibly hard to do everything all at once. There is also something wonderful about pursuing different purposes according to the season you are in.
What advice can you give to women who want to find and walk in their purpose?
It’s okay to take the time to figure this out. It’s a journey and it changes throughout the different seasons of your life. Your purpose one season may be a career. Your purpose another season may be relationships and community. It could change and it doesn’t have to be done just one way. I don’t believe walking in purpose is an overnight accomplishment. It is a continual daily practice and mindset.
You believe an attitude of gratitude is always in style. How do you practice gratitude in the moments where you’re stressed or you feel like life isn’t going your way?
Let’s be honest, life can get tough and it doesn’t always go the way we plan. And I love planning! When it comes to gratitude, for me, it has always been about expressing gratitude to others. Gratitude towards God, His grace and His plans is important to me. Gratitude for the people who have guided, supported, taught, and loved you in your journey is also important. We can even be thankful for those in our life who haven’t done those things because we still learned something from them too. I honestly believe you can never say the words “thank you” too much and I always try to say thank you to the people in my life as much as I can.
You’re such an inspirational woman and your style is among some of the many things we admire about you. How would you describe it?
My personal style continually evolves. I love to dress, but I also love to be comfortable. I tend to lean towards clothes that are easy to wear, yet still have some touch of uniqueness to them. I love to accessorize with a fun shoe or cool, classy earrings. I also love gold and silver accents along with fun patterns like polka dots or snakeskin occasionally. When I’m modeling for shoots, blogging, or going to events, I love to be a little more dramatic with my clothing choices, but still keeping it classy. I usually wear more makeup and go for a bold lip and lashes; it’s fun! But, when I’m not doing those things or when I’m hanging out at home, I love being comfy – bring on the easy activewear and the cozy oversized t-shirt or sweater!
Yes, it’s all about balance and knowing how to dress appropriately for the occasion. Speaking of, you focus a lot on branding. What role do you believe fashion and style plays in someone’s personal branding.
Fashion plays a big role. My favorite fashion advice I was ever given was “you are addressed by how you dress.” We live in such a visual world and it’s important to show up well in it. You instantly know and trust someone is a doctor by what they are wearing so why not treat yourself the same?
What also matters is not just in what you wear, but how you wear it. Style is how you present yourself overall. It’s your personality, energy, and attitude just as much, if not more, than what just goes on your body. All of those things combined with your experience and story is what goes into your personal brand.
What advice would you give to a woman who aspires to be where you are today?
Dream big, pray, work smart, show gratitude, love others well, and trust God to take care of the rest! Everyone’s journey is different so don’t spend time comparing your story to someone else’s. Instead, learn from their story and figure out which parts and lessons can be applied to your life. Don’t be afraid to forge your own path and set your own goals that inspire you. Be the kind of woman that you want to be, not the kind of woman that you think you need to be.
To stay up to date with Cathleen, follow her @discoveringdaly on Instagram. Also, be sure to check out her blog at discoverdaly.com.
Images courtesy of Cathleen Daly.
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