Hello and welcome to the final episode in our series, “Riding the Waves.” This has been an exploration to find what becomes available to us when we hold big ideas, big feelings, and big problems a little more lightly. So far, Juanita Molano Parra and I have looked at the issue through the lens of the following questions: -Where should I start? -What should I do? -What if I fail? -What now? In this final episode, we bring it all together by asking “What do I know?” Juanita and I have really enjoyed sharing and bouncing ideas off of each other as a way to determine why these big things can be so challenging, what gets in the way of progress, and, ultimately, what opens up for us when we add some mindfulness to our approach. Thank you so much for joining us on this journey. Your time, your care, and your attention mean more to me than you know!  And a big, very special THANK YOU to Juanita for her time, her knowledge, her insight, and her friendship. It’s been a blast!  Be sure to listen next time as "Don't Cut Your Own Bangs" continues to navigate the messy middle between where we are and where we want to be. JUANITA MOLANO PARRA, MBA, PCC Juanita is an engineer and MBA turned certified life and leadership coach. Originally from Colombia, she worked in multinational corporate finance and later started her own coaching business—training new coaches and partnering with organizations to transform culture and leadership from within. Her business, Jump Coaching, helps leaders live authentically, lead with purpose, and turn their dreams into reality. Juanita lives in Indianapolis with her husband, their daughter, and two cats.   Jump Coaching - www.jumpcoaching.co Jump Start newsletter - https://www.jumpcoaching.co/newsletter LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juanitamp/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jumpcoaching.co/ Email - [email protected] DANIELLE IRELAND, LCSW Thank you for your support and engagement as part of the Don't Cut Your Own Bangs community. Feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or anything you'd like to share.  Website - https://danielleireland.com/ The Treasured Journal - https://danielleireland.com/journal Substack - https://danielleireland.substack.com/ Blog - https://danielleireland.com/blog/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/danielleireland_lcsw Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/danielleireland.LCSW Podcast on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@danielleireland8218/featured        

Welcome to the penultimate episode in our series, “Riding the Waves,” in which Juanita Molano Parra and I examine what comes up, what opens up, and what becomes available when we hold big ideas, big feelings, and big problems a little more lightly.   Join Juanita and me as we consider “What Now?” As with the other questions in our series, this prompt helps us find a way to work through the big, challenging things and deal with what gets in the way of progress. Here are a few observations from our discussion: -Asking “what now?” can introduce confusion or fear of consequences. -Be present. Assess how you feel and what you’re experiencing at this moment. -What’s happening now is not necessarily urgent. Consider taking a pause.  -Simply being in the now can help lighten your grip on big things.  Thank you for listening and be sure to tune in next time for the final episode in our series. Your time, your care, and your attention mean more to me than you know! SUBSCRIBE ON YOUR iPHONE -Open the Podcasts app on your iPhone and tap the Home icon in the bottom left. -Search for or tap on “Don’t Cut Your Own Bangs.” -Tap on “+Follow” in the upper right, or -Tap on the 3 dots (...) in the upper right and then tap on the plus sign (+) to “Follow Show.” SUBSCRIBE ON YOUR SAMSUNG MOBILE PHONE -Open the Google Podcasts app. -Tap the Search icon and enter “Don’t Cut Your Own Bangs.” -Select the podcast from the search results. -Tap the Subscribe button. JUANITA MOLANO PARRA, MBA, PCC Juanita is a certified life and leadership coach. Her business, Jump Coaching, helps leaders live authentically, lead with purpose, and turn their dreams into reality.  Jump Coaching - www.jumpcoaching.co Jump Start newsletter - https://www.jumpcoaching.co/newsletter LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juanitamp/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jumpcoaching.co/ Email - [email protected] DANIELLE IRELAND, LCSW Thank you for your support and engagement as part of the Don't Cut Your Own Bangs community. Feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or anything you'd like to share.   Website - https://danielleireland.com/ The Treasured Journal - https://danielleireland.com/journal Substack - https://danielleireland.substack.com/ Blog - https://danielleireland.com/blog/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/danielleireland_lcsw Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/danielleireland.LCSW Podcast on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@danielleireland8218/featured        

It seems counterintuitive to actually loosen your grip on something that you care about. But, that’s what Juanita Molano Parra and I are examining in our series, “Riding the Waves.” We’re looking at what comes up, what opens up, and what becomes available when we hold big ideas, big feelings, and big problems a little more lightly. Can this technique help us navigate rough emotional waters?  As a way in, Juanita and I pose several questions that indicate how we approach and manage “big things.” This episode continues our breakdown of  “what’s at stake?” Stakes can be both inspirational and paralyzing. We explore how stakes motivate (and demotivate) us, share what gets in the way of progress, and use real-life examples to provide context. Here are a few thoughts from our discussion: Do we create unrealistic expectations when we use educational information to measure our success? How can we balance self development with the pitfalls of perfectionism? Using how-to resources for growth and development can be constraining, but “enlightenment will always taste of freedom.” (A quote of a quote.) Best practices can provide a sense of permission in the face of risk.  Possibility is the flip side of risk, and possibility can be filled with beauty, magic, and joy.  Join us next time as our series continues. Thank you for listening! JUANITA MOLANO PARRA, MBA, PCC Juanita is an engineer and MBA turned certified life and leadership coach. Originally from Colombia, she worked in multinational corporate finance and later started her own coaching business—training new coaches and partnering with organizations to transform culture and leadership from within. Her business, Jump Coaching, helps leaders live authentically, lead with purpose, and turn their dreams into reality. Juanita lives in Indianapolis with her husband, their daughter, and two cats.   Jump Coaching - www.jumpcoaching.co Jump Start newsletter - https://www.jumpcoaching.co/newsletter LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juanitamp/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jumpcoaching.co/ Email - [email protected] DANIELLE IRELAND, LCSW Thank you for your support and engagement as part of the Don't Cut Your Own Bangs community. Feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or anything you'd like to share. You can connect with me at any of the links below. Website - https://danielleireland.com/ The Treasured Journal - https://danielleireland.com/journal Substack - https://danielleireland.substack.com/ Blog - https://danielleireland.com/blog/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/danielleireland_lcsw Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/danielleireland.LCSW Podcast on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@danielleireland8218/featured        

Hello and thank you for joining Juanita Molano Parra and me as we continue “Riding the Waves,” the series in which we examine what comes up, what opens up, and what becomes available when we loosen our grip on big ideas, big feelings, and big problems. By holding big things a little more lightly, it becomes easier to ride the turbulent emotional waves. This episode introduces the question, “what’s at stake?” Stakes can be both good and bad, penalty and reward, inspirational and paralyzing. We explore how stakes motivate us, what gets in the way, and real-life examples for context. Here are a few observations from our discussion: Parenting, in particular, carries huge stakes. Additional stakes can surface with people who are asked to watch our children or who have opinions on how our children are being raised.   Social media can affect how we view stakes and prompt us to doubt ourselves. Sometimes there is conflict between how much something matters and how to make that thing happen.  The actual stakes can be very different from what we perceive to be at stake. We can feel attachments to a variety of things including people, outcomes, stories, and the way things have always been done. Thank you for listening. Tune in next time for part 2 of "What's at Stake?" JUANITA MOLANO PARRA, MBA, PCC Juanita is an engineer and MBA turned certified life and leadership coach. Originally from Colombia, she worked in multinational corporate finance and later started her own coaching business—training new coaches and partnering with organizations to transform culture and leadership from within. Her business, Jump Coaching, helps leaders live authentically, lead with purpose, and turn their dreams into reality. Juanita lives in Indianapolis with her husband, their daughter, and two cats.   Jump Coaching - www.jumpcoaching.co Jump Start newsletter - https://www.jumpcoaching.co/newsletter LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juanitamp/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jumpcoaching.co/ Email - [email protected] DANIELLE IRELAND, LCSW Thank you for your support and engagement as part of the Don't Cut Your Own Bangs community. Feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or anything you'd like to share. You can connect with me at any of the links below. Website - https://danielleireland.com/ The Treasured Journal - https://danielleireland.com/journal Substack - https://danielleireland.substack.com/ Blog - https://danielleireland.com/blog/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/danielleireland_lcsw Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/danielleireland.LCSW Podcast on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@danielleireland8218/featured        

Hello! Thank you for joining Juanita Molano Parra and me as we pick up from our last discussion and dive deeper into the question, "what if I fail?" This is the third question in our series, “Riding the Waves,” where we examine what comes up, what opens up, and what becomes available when we hold big ideas, big feelings, and big problems a little more lightly.  Several interesting ideas became clear during the first part of our discussion on fear and failure. Now, we consider why the mere possibility of failure can be so difficult to manage and discuss how we often get in the way of our own progress. In addition to sharing real-world examples, we also offer a helpful exercise for loosening that tight grip on the big things in life.  Here are some of the discussion points from this episode:   We have to learn to navigate “what if I fail?” so that we keep moving toward our goals and dreams. Failure and judgment are closely related.  When we ruminate and let negative thoughts run free, our bodies react as though we’re actually under threat, which can reinforce the negativity. Because fear of failure can include other fears, such as fear of rejection, we experience an increased sense of risk. Failure to acknowledge a fear makes it difficult to manage the risks.  Fear can tell us a lot about ourselves. The “Three Column Exercise” is a great resource because it gives your fears a voice.  Take an inventory of your resources. Most likely, they will be more plentiful than you think and can help ease some of the fear you may be feeling.  Fear can shrink your focus and your view of what’s real, but lightening your grip on the fear allows clarity to come into view.  Once we’re clear on what we fear, we can ask: What is to be addressed? What is to be healed? What is to be tackled? These questions naturally lead to “What’s at stake?” And that is the question we examine next time in our series, “Riding the Waves.” Thank you for listening!   JUANITA MOLANO PARRA, MBA, PCC Juanita is an engineer and MBA turned certified life and leadership coach. Originally from Colombia, she worked in multinational corporate finance and later started her own coaching business—training new coaches and partnering with organizations to transform culture and leadership from within. Her business, Jump Coaching, helps leaders live authentically, lead with purpose, and turn their dreams into reality. Juanita lives in Indianapolis with her husband, their daughter, and two cats.   Jump Coaching - www.jumpcoaching.co Jump Start newsletter - https://www.jumpcoaching.co/newsletter LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juanitamp/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jumpcoaching.co/ Email - [email protected] DANIELLE IRELAND, LCSW Thank you for your support and engagement as part of the Don't Cut Your Own Bangs community. Feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or anything you'd like to share. You can connect with me at any of the links below. Website - https://danielleireland.com/ The Treasured Journal - https://danielleireland.com/journal Substack - https://danielleireland.substack.com/ Blog - https://danielleireland.com/blog/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/danielleireland_lcsw Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/danielleireland.LCSW Podcast on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@danielleireland8218/featured    

Welcome back and thank you for joining Juanita Molano Parra and me as we examine what comes up, what opens up, and what becomes available when we hold big ideas, big feelings, and big problems a little more lightly. This is an approach to well-being that begins with a question and often leads to other questions. But, if the answers can help us loosen our grip on those big scary things, then it becomes a bit easier to ride the turbulent emotional waves.   This episode in our series introduces the question, “what if I fail?” We explore why the concept of failure is hard and what gets in the way of healthy processing. We also offer real-life examples to provide context. Here are a few observations from our discussion: Facing fear of failure is easier when you’re not facing it alone because it can create a new intentionality or a new framework for moving forward.  Self sabotage can deceptively take the form of something worthwhile. Changing expectations can change fear levels and create more room to fail.  Can judgment provide meaning? When we have a death grip on the big things, it can be helpful to speak them aloud. Thank you for listening! Join us again next time for the second part of our deep dive into “what if I fail?” THE TREASURED JOURNAL Getting your thoughts out of your head and down on the page is a simple act that can change your life. The questions, prompts, and sentence stems in the journal will help you explore the big feelings in your life. Learn more at https://danielleireland.com/journal. JUANITA MOLANO PARRA, MBA, PCC Juanita is an engineer and MBA turned certified life and leadership coach. Originally from Colombia, she worked in multinational corporate finance and later started her own coaching business—training new coaches and partnering with organizations to transform culture and leadership from within. Her business, Jump Coaching, helps leaders live authentically, lead with purpose, and turn their dreams into reality. Juanita lives in Indianapolis with her husband, their daughter, and two cats.   Jump Coaching - www.jumpcoaching.co Jump Start newsletter - https://www.jumpcoaching.co/newsletter LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juanitamp/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jumpcoaching.co/ Email - [email protected] DANIELLE IRELAND, LCSW Thank you for your support and engagement as part of the Don't Cut Your Own Bangs community. Feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or anything you'd like to share. You can connect with me at any of the links below. Website - https://danielleireland.com/ The Treasured Journal - https://danielleireland.com/journal Substack - https://danielleireland.substack.com/ Blog - https://danielleireland.com/blog/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/danielleireland_lcsw Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/danielleireland.LCSW Podcast on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@danielleireland8218/featured        

Thank you for joining Juanita Molano Parra and me for our continuing series, “Riding the Waves.” We are looking at several questions designed to help us navigate big feelings, big situations, and big questions. We know that holding these big things lightly can make them less overwhelming and more approachable. Even better, new things become accessible and possible when we hold the challenging things lightly. Here are some observations as we continue our discussion of, “What should I do?” “Experiencing” the result of a plan (rather than just  “executing” a plan) is an example of a new thing becoming accessible. “Should” can cast a shadow. That shadow is probably some form of discomfort that we don’t want to acknowledge. When discomfort is acknowledged—and the grip on the discomfort is lightened—then it’s easier to see what we know to do, what we’re ready to do, and what we want to do.  We can be more comfortable with the discomfort of others when we don't make their discomfort about us. There's a lot of control wrapped up in “should.”  Thank you for listening. Tune in next week for our discussion of “What if I fail?” JUANITA MOLANO PARRA, MBA, PCC Juanita is an engineer and MBA turned certified life and leadership coach. Originally from Colombia, she worked in multinational corporate finance and later started her own coaching business—training new coaches and partnering with organizations to transform culture and leadership from within. Her business, Jump Coaching, helps leaders live authentically, lead with purpose, and turn their dreams into reality. Juanita lives in Indianapolis with her husband, their daughter, and two cats.   Jump Coaching - www.jumpcoaching.co Jump Start newsletter - https://www.jumpcoaching.co/newsletter LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juanitamp/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jumpcoaching.co/ Email - [email protected] DANIELLE IRELAND, LCSW Thank you for your support and engagement as part of the Don't Cut Your Own Bangs community. Feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or anything you'd like to share.  Website - https://danielleireland.com/ The Treasured Journal - https://danielleireland.com/journal Substack - https://danielleireland.substack.com/ Blog - https://danielleireland.com/blog/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/danielleireland_lcsw Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/danielleireland.LCSW Podcast on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@danielleireland8218/featured      

Welcome back as Juanita Molano Parra and I explore the next question in our series, “Riding the Waves.” In this series, we are looking at several questions as a way to navigate big feelings, big situations, and big questions. We’re considering how to hold these big things lightly so that they are less overwhelming and scary… and more approachable. New things become accessible and possible when we hold the challenging things lightly, and it’s those new possibilities we hope to reveal.  In the first of this two-part discussion on “What Should I Do,” we zoom in on all the work being done by the word “should.” Here are just a few our observations: Where does “should” come from? What gets in the way of purposeful “shoulds”?  In many cases, “what should I do” is not defining the next step in a plan. Instead, “should” is used as an avoidance tactic. “Should” can be rooted in perfectionism and control. “What should I do?” is very different from “this is what I am going to do.” What do I know to do? What am I ready to do? What do I want to do? And, how do those questions stack up next to:  What do I know? What am I ready for? What do I want?  Thank you for listening! THE TREASURED JOURNAL - https://danielleireland.com/journal The one tool I recommend to all of my therapy clients is journaling. Getting your thoughts out of your head and down on the page is a simple act that can change your life. I made the Treasured Journal for anyone who wants to dig a little deeper but doesn’t know where to start. The questions, prompts, and sentence stems in the journal will help support you in exploring the big feelings in your life. Learn more about this specially designed journal and its companion Meditation Series at https://danielleireland.com/journal. JUANITA MOLANO PARRA, MBA, PCC Juanita is an engineer and MBA turned certified life and leadership coach. Originally from Colombia, she worked in multinational corporate finance and later started her own coaching business—training new coaches and partnering with organizations to transform culture and leadership from within. Her business, Jump Coaching, helps leaders live authentically, lead with purpose, and turn their dreams into reality. Juanita lives in Indianapolis with her husband, their daughter, and two cats.   Jump Coaching - www.jumpcoaching.co Jump Start newsletter - https://www.jumpcoaching.co/newsletter LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juanitamp/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jumpcoaching.co/ Email - [email protected] Phone - 317.969.7363 DANIELLE IRELAND, LCSW Thank you for your support and engagement as part of the Don't Cut Your Own Bangs community. Feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or anything you'd like to share.  Website - https://danielleireland.com/ The Treasured Journal - https://danielleireland.com/journal Substack - https://danielleireland.substack.com/ Blog - https://danielleireland.com/blog/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/danielleireland_lcsw Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/danielleireland.LCSW Podcast on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@danielleireland8218/featured      

Juanita and I are excited to be back with the next episode in our miniseries, Riding the Waves. The logical first question, “where should I start,” has prompted a lot of discussion around finding confidence in the uncertainty of big feelings and big situations. Here are some of the topics we address:: Starting Messy: It’s okay if your beginning feels imperfect—give yourself permission to start anyway. Getting Stuck: Negative self-talk and the fear of how things might turn out can stop us before we take even the first step. Plans vs. Uncertainty: We often collapse “how is it going to go?” with “how is it going to turn out?” They’re not the same. Learn to separate them. Navigating with a Map or a Compass: Some people need a detailed plan or map, while others are comfortable just knowing which way is north.    Art and Science of New Beginnings: Where do intuition and logic meet? Balancing creativity with practicality can help us step into the unknown with more confidence. Handling Misalignment: It’s normal for reality to differ from your vision or dream. What matters is learning from past experiences and trusting that you can handle whatever comes your way. The “Why” and “The Plan”: Understanding your “why” clarifies the right next step. Gaining clarity can help build self-esteem and self-awareness, even in uncertain times. Holding Plans Lightly: A light touch avoids rigid thinking and attachment to things you can’t control. This was such a fun conversation! Tune in next week as we continue to explore the paradox of holding on and letting go, and how to ride the emotional waves that come with new beginnings.  VISIT DANIELLE’S WEBSITE  If you’d like more content like this and you want to stay in the know, hop on over to my website (https://danielleireland.com/) and hit subscribe. You will always be up to date on the latest learning material, my blog, and other meaningful content. Just click on the website so that you never miss out.   JUANITA MOLANO PARRA, MBA, PCC Juanita is an engineer and MBA turned certified life and leadership coach. Originally from Colombia, she worked in multinational corporate finance and later started her own coaching business—training new coaches and partnering with organizations to transform culture and leadership from within. Her business, Jump Coaching, helps leaders live authentically, lead with purpose, and turn their dreams into reality. Juanita lives in Indianapolis with her husband, their daughter, and two cats.   Jump Coaching - www.jumpcoaching.co Jump Start newsletter - https://www.jumpcoaching.co/newsletter LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juanitamp/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jumpcoaching.co/ Email - [email protected] Phone - 317.969.7363 DANIELLE IRELAND, LCSW Thank you for your support and engagement as part of the Don't Cut Your Own Bangs community. Feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or anything you'd like to share. You can connect with me at any of the links below. Website - https://danielleireland.com/ The Treasured Journal - https://danielleireland.com/journal Substack - https://danielleireland.substack.com/ Blog - https://danielleireland.com/blog/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/danielleireland_lcsw Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/danielleireland.LCSW Podcast on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@danielleireland8218/featured            

Hello! I’m excited to be back with the 16th season of the Don't Cut Your Own Bangs podcast! This season—all season—I am joined by Juanita Molano Parra, an experienced life and leadership coach. Together, we are going to examine ways to navigate big feelings, big situations, and big questions. More specifically, we’ll consider what becomes possible and available when we hold big ideas lightly. Our conversations will focus on looking for ways to make the harder, more challenging times in life feel more approachable, less confusing and scary. In each episode we’ll name a topic, explore why it is hard to deal with, and call out the things that get in the way of clarity. We’ll share real-life experiences, including many of our own. Instead of offering hard and fast solutions, we will discuss practices, habits, and ideas for you to explore. In other words, we won’t be making the emotional waves smaller, but we will provide ways for you to feel more confident stepping into the water and seeing where the ride takes you. RATE, REVIEW, SUBSCRIBE TO “DON’T CUT YOUR OWN BANGS” Like your favorite recipe or song, the best things in life are shared. When you rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast, your engagement helps me connect with other listeners just like you. Plus, subscriptions just make life easier for everybody. It's one less thing for you to think about and you can easily stay up to date on everything that’s new. So, please rate, review, and subscribe today.  JUANITA MOLANO PARRA, MBA, PCC Juanita is an engineer and MBA turned certified life and leadership coach. Originally from Colombia, she worked in multinational corporate finance and later started her own coaching business—training new coaches and partnering with organizations to transform culture and leadership from within. Her business, Jump Coaching, helps leaders live authentically, lead with purpose, and turn their dreams into reality. Juanita lives in Indianapolis with her husband, their daughter, and two cats.   Jump Coaching - www.jumpcoaching.co Jump Start newsletter - https://www.jumpcoaching.co/newsletter LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juanitamp/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jumpcoaching.co/ Email - [email protected] Phone - 317.969.7363 DANIELLE IRELAND, LCSW Thank you for your support and engagement as part of the Don't Cut Your Own Bangs community. Feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or anything you'd like to share. You can connect with me at any of the links below. Website - https://danielleireland.com/ The Treasured Journal - https://danielleireland.com/journal Substack - https://danielleireland.substack.com/ Blog - https://danielleireland.com/blog/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/danielleireland_lcsw Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/danielleireland.LCSW Podcast on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@danielleireland8218/featured    

Please note: This episode includes a discussion of pregnancy and miscarriage.   Our series on “The Right Kind of Hard” would not be complete without an examination of radical acceptance. It's probably the hardest to do, which makes it the rightest of the hardest to do. Ultimately, I think, the degree of difficulty makes radical acceptance most worthy of our energy and exploration.   How does radical acceptance apply to everything that we've explored so far? Why is it hard? Why do we avoid it? What does it really mean?  When we’re faced with a new reality that we don't like — a reality that hurts — we often try to negotiate with that reality. We focus on what was or what we think should have been, or we create a future that is not based in reality.   Our other option is to recognize that our new reality is the right kind of hard. Only after we allow ourselves to sit with the discomfort can we accept it and perhaps even embrace it because only then can we see that we have choices.  As always, thank you so much for listening. I hope you’ve found value in this series on “The Right Kind of Hard.” I'll be back with new episodes in July after taking a short break. In the meantime, give yourself a therapeutic experience: feed the birds, tell jokes, make bad art, be silly. Let yourself play. RESOURCES  Listener’s Favorite (ep. 35): You Are Not Alone. A Miscarriage Solocast  https://dontcutyourownbangs.libsyn.com/listeners-favorite-ep-35-you-are-not-alone-a-miscarriage-solocast  FOLLOW DANIELLE ON SUBSTACK I’m now on Substack and I’d love for you to check it out. Substack is its own platform that is teeming with my favorite thought leaders, writers, and authors—incredible people out in the world who are asking interesting questions and exploring interesting answers. I'm throwing my hat in the ring and putting engaging content out there, too. So, click the link (https://danielleireland.substack.com/) to subscribe. You’ll stay up to date and never miss out on the best new material.  CONNECT WITH DANIELLE  I greatly appreciate your support and engagement as part of the “Don't Cut Your Own Bangs” community. Feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or anything you'd like to share. You can connect with me at any of the links below. Website: https://danielleireland.com/ The Treasured Journal: https://danielleireland.com/journal Substack: https://danielleireland.substack.com/ Blog: https://danielleireland.com/blog/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielleireland_lcsw Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danielleireland.LCSW Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@danielleireland8218/featured    

Pursuing a goal. Chasing a dream. Improving your life. You're working hard to achieve something, but how do you know if you're making progress or even if you’re on the right track? My goal is to help you answer these questions with our series, “The Right Kind of Hard.”   This exploration hinges on a specific quote. (I think I heard it from Wayne Dyer.) Here it is: “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” It’s a smart take on perspective. Let's use it to view unconditional love from a different angle.   People often refer to unconditional love as the pinnacle, the ultimate love. But think about your relationships. Do healthy relationships rely on structure, rules, and boundaries? If so, what does that tell us about unconditional love? Can unconditional love co-exist with conditions? What conditions help you thrive? I invite you to join me in re-thinking one of our most cherished assumptions as we continue to pursue the right kind of hard.   As always, thank you for listening.  RATE, REVIEW, SUBSCRIBE I strongly believe that the best things in life are shared. And one of the best ways for you and I to share is for you to rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast. Your feedback tells me what you like and what you want more of. It helps make the podcast easier for others to find me and helps me create a podcast that’s better for you. Plus, subscriptions just make life easier for everybody. It's one less thing for you to think about and you can easily keep up to date on everything new. So, please rate, review, and subscribe today.  CONNECT WITH DANIELLE  I greatly appreciate your support and engagement as part of the “Don't Cut Your Own Bangs” community. Feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or anything you'd like to share. You can connect with me at any of the links below. Website: https://danielleireland.com/ The Treasured Journal: https://danielleireland.com/journal NEW! Substack: https://danielleireland.substack.com/ Blog: https://danielleireland.com/blog/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielleireland_lcsw Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danielleireland.LCSW Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@danielleireland8218/featured      

Our series on “the right kind of hard” has made clear the need to actively take breaks. When I'm in the middle of processing something—whether I’m cooking up a new idea or trying to keep an idea alive or trying to push something over the finish line—I want to honor the process and let things rest when needed. Taking a pause actually can be the most effective way to move forward.  So I'm taking a moment to pause and reflect and use a more consistent and deliberate way of checking in with myself. Perhaps you need a pause, too. If so, here are a few questions to consider. Think about them. Jot them down. Maybe even turn them into a journal exercise. 1 - How much time have I spent on (or avoiding) this thing?  2 - Have I defined what progress looks and feels like?   3 - Do I have or need an accountability buddy?   4 - How am I feeling before, during, and after?  5 - What do I really, really want?   Balancing creativity and ambition with periods of pause can help us maintain focus and momentum without becoming overwhelmed. So, if you want to reignite your creative spark or simply find a healthier pace in life, join me as we explore the transformative power of taking a break, a concept far more beneficial than mere rest.  Thanks for listening! THE TREASURED JOURNAL - https://danielleireland.com/journal I believe in the power of journaling to achieve the clarity needed for personal growth. It’s just that simple. The questions, prompts, and sentence stems in The Treasured Journal will help guide you as you examine the important themes in your life. Learn more about this specially designed journal and its companion, the Meditation Series, at https://danielleireland.com/journal. CONNECT WITH DANIELLE  I greatly appreciate your support and engagement as part of the “Don't Cut Your Own Bangs” community. Feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or anything you'd like to share. You can connect with me at any of the links below. Website: https://danielleireland.com/ The Treasured Journal: https://danielleireland.com/journal NEW! Substack: https://danielleireland.substack.com/ Blog: https://danielleireland.com/blog/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielleireland_lcsw Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danielleireland.LCSW Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@danielleireland8218/featured        

This season we are exploring “the right kind of hard,” which is all about identifying and doing the most relevant and useful work for personal and professional growth. So, I am thrilled to sit down with my dear friend, Lindsay Boccardo, who is perfectly suited for this topic.   As someone who makes her living developing leaders and teams and great work environments, Lindsay is acutely familiar with key questions around motivation, mindset, and self-awareness—many of the same questions we’re tackling here this season.  Lindsay is both engaged and engaging, fun, and a wealth of knowledge. She shares stories and insights that draw on her expertise as a coach, speaker, and trainer. One of the things I love most about Lindsay is her ability to distill complex ideas into a simple, actionable framework for growth. So, get ready for some tangible takeaways that you can apply to your own journey.   I also want to encourage you to visit Lindsay’s website. She has some exciting new offerings like "The Band" and "Dynamite Delivery," both of which are focused on advancing careers through emotional intelligence and developing communication skills.   Let me know what you think about this discussion and your own experiences with “the right kind of hard.” And, as always, thanks for listening!  CONNECT WITH LINDSAY BOCCARDO Website - https://www.lindsayboccardo.com/ The Band - https://www.practicewithlindsay.com/ Dynamite Delivery with Lindsay Boccardo - https://micdropworkshop.com/product/dynamite-delivery-with-lindsay-boccardo/ SUBSCRIBE TO MY WEBSITE  If you’d like more content like this and you want to stay in the know, hop on over to my website (https://danielleireland.com/) and hit subscribe. There you will always be up to date on the latest learning material, my blog, and other content. Just click on the website so that you never miss out.   CONNECT WITH ME  I greatly appreciate your support and engagement as part of the “Don't Cut Your Own Bangs” community. Feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or anything you'd like to share. You can connect with me at any of the links below. Website: https://danielleireland.com/ The Treasured Journal: https://danielleireland.com/journal NEW! Substack: https://danielleireland.substack.com/ Blog: https://danielleireland.com/blog/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielleireland_lcsw Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danielleireland.LCSW Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@danielleireland8218/featured        

I hope you have a teacher in your life who means as much to you as Dr. Michael O’Hara means to me. He is a wonderful mentor and a lovely person. If you’re wondering why I gush over him in my introduction, you will understand as our discussion unfolds.  Michael and I can easily pick up where we left off even when we haven’t seen each other in a while. That’s how we begin this interview, but trust me, our talk of the theatre dovetails perfectly into “The Right Kind of Hard.”  We explore so many key concepts—from the importance of fundamentals to manufacturing accountability, and seemingly everything in between. I hope you find this as inspirational and eye-opening as I did.  I’m so pleased to introduce you to my friend, Dr. Michael O’Hara. Thank you for listening. “As long as I have want, I have reason for living. Satisfaction is death.” –George Bernard Shaw __________________________ THE MUNCIE CIVIC THEATRE The Muncie Civic Theatre proudly presents “Fiddler on the Roof.” Get tickets at the link below to catch one of the final performances of this beloved musical! Thursday, April 25 - Sunday, April 28 https://munciecivic.org/ THE ANONYMOUS ENSEMBLE https://anonymousensemble.org/ ELIZABETH GILBERT Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear https://www.amazon.com/Big-Magic-Creative-Living-Beyond/dp/1594634726 SIMON SINEK Start with Why https://simonsinek.com/books/start-with-why/ THE TREASURED JOURNAL - https://danielleireland.com/journal I believe in the power of journaling to achieve the clarity needed for personal growth. It’s just that simple. When you start journaling, it’s not essential that you use The Treasured Journal—a plain sheet of paper will do. But, the questions, prompts, and sentence stems in the journal will help guide you as you examine the important themes in your life. Learn more about this specially designed journal and its companion Meditation Series at https://danielleireland.com/journal. CONNECT WITH ME  I greatly appreciate your support and engagement as part of the “Don't Cut Your Own Bangs” community. Feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or anything you'd like to share. You can connect with me at any of the links below. Website: https://danielleireland.com/ The Treasured Journal: https://danielleireland.com/journal NEW! Substack: https://danielleireland.substack.com/ Blog: https://danielleireland.com/blog/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielleireland_lcsw Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danielleireland.LCSW Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@danielleireland8218/featured        

In a recent substack, I wrote about “Falling, Farting & Misspelled Words.” Why? Well, because our fears and insecurities are not unique to us. We are all special, but our hangups are not. It’s an important topic, but kind of a funny one, too! We tend to think that our pain is too deep and personal to share. We think others simply won't understand or can’t know how we feel. So, we bury our pain. We mask it, self-medicate, go shopping—anything to avoid it. But, in doing so, we also avoid the hard thing that could get us back on track.   This episode expands on my substack essay and even includes a quick and creative visual exercise for looking fear in the face. It’s part of our special series, “The Right Kind of Hard.” It's about understanding that we will not be cast out into The Great Void if we fall or fart or misspell a word.  Sharing our fears, insecurities, and pain—and really facing them—is healing and transformative. That’s what the right kind of hard is all about. Thank you for listening!  I’M ON SUBSTACK I’m now on Substack and I’d love for you to check it out. Substack is its own platform that is teeming with my favorite thought leaders, writers, and authors—incredible people out in the world who are asking interesting questions and exploring interesting answers. I'm throwing my hat in the ring and putting engaging content out there, too. So, click the link (https://danielleireland.substack.com/) to subscribe. You’ll stay up to date and never miss out on the best new material.  CONNECT WITH ME  I greatly appreciate your support and engagement as part of the “Don't Cut Your Own Bangs” community. Feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or anything you'd like to share. You can connect with me at any of the links below. Website: https://danielleireland.com/ The Treasured Journal: https://danielleireland.com/journal Substack: https://danielleireland.substack.com/ Blog: https://danielleireland.com/blog/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielleireland_lcsw Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danielleireland.LCSW Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@danielleireland8218/featured          

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you're avoiding a topic or a task? You feel an uncomfortable twist in your gut or maybe you notice it in someone else, like when they're fidgeting or avoiding eye contact at the start of a conversation.  Trust me, we've all been there. And often, we're not quite sure if we're avoiding the thing because we're just not ready to face it or if we're actually preparing ourselves for the challenge ahead.   The good news is there’s a way to make the discomfort work for you. But first, you need to understand the distinction between the right kind of hard and the wrong kind. The right kind of hard acknowledges the discomfort. It helps you inch your way into it even if you're not sure what is on the other side. It's about being real with yourself, even when it's tough.  On the flip side, the wrong kind of hard is all about pretending. Toxic positivity, delusional thinking—basically telling yourself (and others) a story to avoid the real conversation. The wrong kind leads to unnecessary suffering. In this miniseries on “The Right Kind of Hard,” we will learn how to identify the right kind from the wrong kind and how to get plugged into useful work so that we can move along a path that helps us grow.  I’m so glad you’re here as part of the “Don’t Cut Your Own Bangs” community. Thank you for listening! SUBSCRIBE TO MY WEBSITE  If you’d like more content like this and you want to stay in the know, hop on over to my website (https://danielleireland.com/) and hit subscribe. There you will always be up to date on the latest learning material, my blog, and other content. Just click on the website so that you never miss out.   THE TREASURED JOURNAL - https://danielleireland.com/journal I believe in the power of journaling to achieve the clarity needed for personal growth. It’s just that simple. When you start journaling, it’s not essential that you use The Treasured Journal—a plain sheet of paper will do. But, the questions, prompts, and sentence stems in the journal will help guide you as you examine the important themes in your life. Learn more about this specially designed journal and its companion, the Meditation Series, at https://danielleireland.com/journal. CONNECT WITH ME  I greatly appreciate your support and engagement as part of the “Don't Cut Your Own Bangs” community. Feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or anything you'd like to share. You can connect with me at any of the links below. Website: https://danielleireland.com/ The Treasured Journal: https://danielleireland.com/journal NEW! Substack: https://danielleireland.substack.com/ Blog: https://danielleireland.com/blog/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielleireland_lcsw Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danielleireland.LCSW Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@danielleireland8218/featured              

Welcome back to a brand new season of “Don’t Cut Your Own Bangs!”  Diving back into podcasting after a bit of a hiatus—actually, diving back into anything after a hiatus—can prompt procrastination and cold feet, especially when life has dramatically changed in the meantime. Have you experienced that, too? Late last year my husband and I had a second child—a baby boy—and his older sister is now a “threenager!” So, as I sit down in front of the microphone again, well, there is a lot going on. Some moments are hard, but it's a beautiful kind of chaos with unexpected turns and occasions of pure joy.  Through it all, I’m seeing a theme emerge and many of my clients are experiencing something similar. We’re willing to do the hard work to improve ourselves, our parenting, our relationships, and our careers. But, are we investing in “the right kind of hard?” Is the work serving us and helping us be the best we can be? How do we know if we’re on the right path? We will focus on this universal theme in a series of new episodes that include personal stories, engaging guests, practical exercises, journal prompts, and more. So, if you’re feeling stuck or looking for direction, tune into the series and we’ll figure it out together.  I’m eager to get going on this new season of “Don’t Cut Your Own Bangs” and I’m thrilled that you’re along for the ride. Thank you for listening! NEW! I’M ON SUBSTACK I’m now on Substack and I’d love for you to check it out. Substack is its own platform that is teeming with my favorite thought leaders, writers, and authors—incredible people who are asking interesting questions and exploring interesting answers. I'm throwing my hat in the ring and putting engaging content out there, too. So, click the link (https://danielleireland.substack.com/) to subscribe. You’ll stay up to date and never miss out on the best new material.  CONNECT WITH ME  I greatly appreciate your support and engagement as part of the “Don't Cut Your Own Bangs” community. Feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or anything you'd like to share. You can connect with me at any of the links below. Website: https://danielleireland.com/ The Treasured Journal: https://danielleireland.com/journal NEW! Substack: https://danielleireland.substack.com/ Blog: https://danielleireland.com/blog/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielleireland_lcsw Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danielleireland.LCSW Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@danielleireland8218/featured

We’re wrapping up our "Journal Your Way to Clarity'' series with an examination of purpose, which can feel like a very heavy weight for many of us. You are not alone if you’ve struggled with questions like, "What am I supposed to do with my life?" or "How do I make my life meaningful?"  As a therapist, I've observed that people often struggle with defining their purpose because it's not just about a career or a role—it's about the totality of our experiences and values. And purpose evolves as our lives change, so the same questions arise during different life stages.  Journaling about past jobs, relationships, hobbies, and the things that “light us up” can uncover common threads and values that help us visualize our purpose. But purpose is also about how others see us. Asking people you trust for their perspectives can provide valuable understanding of the impact you have on those around you. So I invite you to participate in the exercises discussed in this episode. You might just find that you are the best gift you unwrapped this holiday season.  Thank you for listening! I'm looking forward to all that we will explore together in 2024! THE TREASURED JOURNAL - https://danielleireland.com/journal It’s not essential that you use The Treasured Journal for the exercises discussed in the “Journal Your Way to Clarity” series. A plain pad of paper will do. But, the questions, prompts, and sentence stems in the journal will help you examine important themes in your life so that you can gain the type of clarity that comes from meaningful self-reflection. CONNECT WITH DANIELLE  I greatly appreciate your support and engagement as part of the Don't Cut Your Own Bangs community. Feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or anything you'd like to share. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe. Your feedback is invaluable.  Website: danielleireland.com Instagram: @danielleireland_LCSW Facebook: @danielleireland_LCSW

Family. The dynamics can be so very complex. As we dive into the next-to-last life theme in our series from The Treasured Journal, we look at how structured communication exercises can uncover new perspectives and deepen interactions with family.  We also explore the importance of curiosity. A shared history can create a trap that leaves you feeling like there is nothing new to know, nothing new to learn. But, setting your assumptions aside and digging a little deeper can have tremendous rewards.  To foster this curiosity, our journaling exercise encourages you to adopt a mindset of "not knowing." This frees you to reflect on diverse expressions of love that you have received and helps you understand how you, in turn, express love to others.  Thank you for listening to the latest episode of the “Journal Your Way to Clarity" series. Be sure to tune in next time when we finish up the series with ways to use journaling to identify your purpose.  THE TREASURED JOURNAL - https://danielleireland.com/journal It’s not essential that you use The Treasured Journal for these exercises. A plain pad of paper will do. But, the questions, prompts, and sentence stems in the journal—along with this series of podcasts—will help you examine the important themes in your life  so that you can gain the type of clarity that comes from meaningful self-reflection. CONNECT WITH DANIELLE  I greatly appreciate your support and engagement as part of the Don't Cut Your Own Bangs community. Feel free to reach out with any questions, comments, or experiences you'd like to share. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe. Your feedback is invaluable.  Website: danielleireland.com Instagram: @danielleireland_LCSW Facebook: @danielleireland_LCSW    

Sex is the focus of Part 5 in our “Journaling Your Way to Clarity” series, which follows the seven life themes from The Treasured Journal:  career, relationships, money, love, sex, family, and purpose. Because sex is such a broad topic, we'll narrow the scope to our relationship with pleasure and give special emphasis to the idea of worthiness. Do you believe you are worthy and deserving of the experiences you want to have?  Sex is an especially good topic for journaling because an honest, raw examination of worthiness requires an open and vulnerable conversation between you and you. As a lead-in to our discussion, I share the joy that I found when I put down the self-help books and work-related reading and instead took up a fictional journey where the details fly off the page and the characters come to life in my mind. I’m not reading the words so much as watching the story unfold! I also give a quick update on Life with Lucas. David and I are starting to find a rhythm, but these early days as the mother in a four-person family have been challenging, surprising, and joyful!  As you can see, pleasure can take many forms. I hope you’ll join me for the guided writing exercises in this episode so that you can find the pleasure that you deserve. THE TREASURED JOURNAL - https://danielleireland.com/journal You don’t have to use The Treasured Journal for these exercises. A plain pad of paper will do. But, the questions, prompts, and sentence stems in the journal—along with this series of podcasts—will help you examine the important themes in your life so that you can gain the type of clarity that comes from meaningful self-reflection. CONNECT WITH DANIELLE  I greatly appreciate your support and engagement in the Don't Cut Your Own Bangs community. Feel free to reach out with any questions, comments, or experiences you'd like to share. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe. Your feedback is invaluable.  Thank you for listening! CONNECT WITH DANIELLE Website: danielleireland.com Instagram: @danielleireland_LCSW Facebook: @danielleireland_LCSW    

Hello! If you’ve been following along you know that I’ve been away having and taking care of our new baby boy. I am so excited to be back in front of the microphone again bringing you fresh, new content. In a future episode, I will share more on our unexpected but welcome pregnancy, the labor and delivery, and the unexpected but welcome challenges that arise in caring for two young children instead of only one!  Until then, we’re continuing the “Journal Your Way to Clarity” series with the next theme: love. Our focus is on self-love and its impact on relationships. So, we start off with this beautiful quote that I pulled from The Treasured Journal: “How you love yourself is how you teach others to love you.” - Rupi Kaur I invite you to think about or write about this thought-provoking prompt: "If I loved myself more fully, I would..."  Journaling can be mightily effective because it allows us to be free and honest. We don’t have to perform for others. We’re not obligated to play a role. We can think and consider and be who we truly are and how we truly feel. This makes journaling an unparalleled tool for self-reflection and insight. So I encourage you to join in on the exercises in this series. And be sure to check out the next episode in the series when we explore the topic of sex and its interconnectedness with various aspects of our lives.   It is so good to be back! Thank you for listening! RESOURCES and MENTIONS Rupi Kaur - https://rupikaur.com/ The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer - https://stepheniemeyer.com/the-books/ Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer - https://stepheniemeyer.com/midnight-sun-2020/ A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas - https://sarahjmaas.com/books/a-court-of-thorns-and-roses-series/a-court-of-thorns-and-roses  THE TREASURED JOURNAL - https://danielleireland.com/journal Whether you use The Treasured Journal or a plain pad of paper, journaling can help you see yourself, and your situation, more clearly. If you opt for the journal, you'll get useful questions, prompts, and sentence starters that perfectly complement the concepts discussed in this series.  CONNECT WITH DANIELLE  I greatly appreciate your support and engagement as part of the Don't Cut Your Own Bangs community. Feel free to reach out with any questions, comments, or experiences you'd like to share. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe. Your feedback is invaluable.  Website: danielleireland.com Instagram: @danielleireland_LCSW Facebook: @danielleireland_LCSW  

They say that “money makes the world go round” because it’s necessary to meet our basic needs. But another truth lurks within financial transactions:  money carries with it a tremendous amount of emotional weight. Our upbringing and our experiences with money shape our perspective and perception of its worth. So it’s useful to examine how money influences our moods and behavior, our relationships, and even our own sense of self. Toward the end of the episode, use the thought exercises to better understand how money makes you feel—both as a giver and a receiver. I recommend that you combine these exercises with journaling, especially if money is having an adverse effect on your well-being. For journaling, a plain pad of paper will do. But, if you want a guided journaling experience, get The Treasured Journal, which includes questions, prompts, and sentence stems that will help you open up and get your thoughts flowing.  THE TREASURED JOURNAL - https://danielleireland.com/journal Thank you for listening. This special series is designed to help you clarify how your life is shaped by your career, relationships, love, sex, money, family, and purpose.  If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe. Your feedback helps me increase the value of the program for you and makes it easier for other listeners to find us. This episode originally aired as #120 on March 20, 2023. CONNECT WITH DANIELLE Website: danielleireland.com Instagram: @danielleireland_LCSW Facebook: @danielleireland_LCSW  

Hello! Grab a warm beverage and settle in. We’re continuing our discussion of relationships as part of the Journal Your Way to Clarity series. Relationships can cover a lot of territory. But, for now, I want to focus on two specific concepts:  (1) how relationships are like mirrors, and (2) the relationship fear loop. The complexities of relationships can be confusing and maddening and difficult to sort given the intense emotions attached to the people in our lives. But I have found that journaling can help us learn to advocate for our needs, create space when necessary, and navigate challenging conversations with a new sense of confidence and self-awareness. This is why I recommend journaling to almost everyone! Whether you use The Treasured Journal or simply a plain pad of paper, journaling can help you see yourself, and your situation, more clearly. If you opt for the journal, you'll get useful questions, prompts, and sentence starters that perfectly complement the concepts discussed in this series.  Click for THE TREASURED JOURNAL - https://danielleireland.com/journal Thank you for listening. This episode originally aired as #117 on February 6, 2023. I greatly appreciate your support and engagement as part of the Don't Cut Your Own Bangs community. Feel free to reach out with any questions, comments, or experiences you'd like to share. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe. Your feedback is invaluable. CONNECT WITH DANIELLE Website: danielleireland.com Instagram: @danielleireland_LCSW Facebook: @danielleireland_LCSW    

Welcome to the next installment in the Journal Your Way to Clarity series. This is the first of a two-part look at relationships, a topic that tends to dominate our thoughts and conversations.  Whether it's the heartache, frustration, or anger that we feel toward a partner or someone else in our lives, these emotions usually reveal the need for work that looks inward, not outward.  The desire to be seen and heard—to connect with others on a meaningful level—is universal. But achieving that type of connection hinges on our ability to define what "being there" truly means.  So, when journaling about relationships, I encourage you to start with the following prompts:  What do I really feel? What do I really want? How can I satisfy that for myself with some small action? For this series of exercises, you don’t have to use The Treasured Journal—a plain pad of paper will do. But if you do use the journal, you can take advantage of questions, prompts, and sentence stems to move past the blank page and gain the type of clarity that comes from meaningful self-reflection. Pick up THE TREASURED JOURNAL - https://danielleireland.com/journal Thank you for listening. This episode originally aired as #116 on January 30, 2023. Thank you for being part of the Don't Cut Your Own Bangs community. I appreciate your support and engagement. Feel free to reach out with any questions, comments, or experiences you'd like to share. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe. Your feedback is invaluable.  BOOKS I’M READING (visit your local bookseller or library): Spare by Prince Harry - https://www.amazon.com/Spare-Prince-Harry-Duke-Sussex/dp/0593593804 The Myth of Normal by Gabor Maté, MD with Daniel Maté - https://www.amazon.com/Myth-Normal-Illness-Healing-Culture/dp/0593083881 Good Inside by Dr. Becky Kennedy - https://www.goodinside.com/book/ The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron - https://juliacameronlive.com/books-by-julia/ CONNECT WITH DANIELLE Website: danielleireland.com Instagram: @danielleireland_LCSW Facebook: @danielleireland_LCSW  

Hello! Well, a lot has happened since we last connected. Let me bring you up to date. In January of this year, I decided to devote a series of podcast episodes to the seven life themes found in The Treasured Journal:  career, relationships, money, love, sex, family, and purpose. I recorded and published episodes on three of the seven themes and invited listeners to journal along with me.  The ideas and questions discussed in each podcast supplied listeners with guided exercises that helped them go deeper and explore the themes further. The “Journal Your Way to Clarity” series was going well, and then… I found out I was pregnant! Somehow, the excitement of the pregnancy, the need to make room for a fourth human in our house, and all the other planning activities commandeered my brain. So now, in October, after giving birth to our sweet baby boy and taking time off to focus on my family, I am ready to re-engage with the podcast and the “Journal Your Way to Clarity” series. I am so excited to be back and can’t wait to get in front of the microphone again! To level set, I’m going to start by replaying the episodes that were published previously and then I’ll be back with fresh content for the remaining themes.  In Part 1 of the series, I focus on career. People tend to have a lot of unconscious bias, complicated feelings, and self-identity wrapped up in their careers. So it’s worth examining through journaling how we perceive its value and its effect on us. Journaling is one of the most powerful tools we have for gaining clarity and understanding. Whether you’re experienced at journaling or brand new to it, I encourage you to take advantage of these guided exercises to explore the seven themes in your life.   You can get a copy of THE TREASURED JOURNAL here: https://danielleireland.com/journal It’s not essential that you use The Treasured Journal for these exercises—a plain pad of paper and pen will do. But, along with this series of podcasts, the questions, prompts, and sentence stems in the journal will help you move past the blank page and gain the type of clarity that comes from meaningful self-reflection. Thank you for listening to the Don’t Cut Your Own Bangs podcast. This episode originally aired as #115 on January 23, 2023. BOOKS MENTIONED The Myth of Normal by Gabor Maté, MD with Daniel Maté - https://www.amazon.com/Myth-Normal-Illness-Healing-Culture/dp/0593083881 Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey - https://thenapministry.com Spare by Prince Harry - https://www.amazon.com/Spare-Prince-Harry-Duke-Sussex/dp/0593593804 CONNECT WITH DANIELLE  Website: danielleireland.com Instagram: @danielleireland_LCSW Facebook: @danielleireland_LCSW

Even with all of the progress we’ve made in our attitudes toward mental health and therapy, many people still find it hard to admit that they need help. And often, if they do ask for help, they’ve waited far too long.  Granted, therapy is not the only modality for emotional healing. Talking with friends, exercise, travel, and dozens of other things can help the healing process. But, only therapy is therapy.  Most of us look long and hard for reasons to avoid therapy. But, ultimately, THINKING about starting therapy is way harder than ACTUALLY starting therapy, and it’s because of these three myths.  1 - Something is wrong with me. (Not true.) 2 - I have failed. (Again, not true.) 3 - I have to know why I want it to start it. (No, you don’t.) Feeling the need to suck it up, to swallow our pain, to push through the hard times on our own is not only unnecessary, it also can be quite harmful.  If you’ve been thinking about starting therapy, don’t wait until the walls are crashing down around you. Taking that first step is easier than you think. If starting therapy seems scary and disempowering, consider this—therapy can be whatever you want it to be.  Thank you for listening.  ++++++++++++ For me and many others, journaling has been a life-changing practice. Sometimes you can grab a pen and any sheet of paper and the thoughts flow easily. But if you’re feeling blocked and having trouble finding the clarity you need, consider using the Treasured Journal. The Treasured Journal includes questions, prompts, and sentence stems to help you organize your thoughts and feelings. Get the journal and its companion meditation guide at the link below. THE TREASURED JOURNAL - https://danielleireland.com/journal Feel free to reach out with any questions, comments, or experiences you want to share. I would love to hear from you! If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe. Your feedback helps me increase the value of this program and makes it easier for others to find us.  This episode originally aired as #111 on November 7, 2022. CONNECT WITH DANIELLE Website: danielleireland.com Instagram: @danielleireland_LCSW Facebook: @danielleireland_LCSW

Lauren Rieker, RDN, is a registered dietitian and owner/manager of Collaborative Counseling & Nutrition, an outpatient nutrition and body image counseling center in Indianapolis. I talk with Lauren about her own history with food, exercise, and health—and how it led her to pursue an approach to eating disorders, body image, and intuitive eating that emphasizes compassion, mindfulness, and holistic treatment. This is not a typical discussion about our bodies and food-related struggles. In today’s environment, virtually all women are affected by pervasive messaging—and often misinformation—about body weight, size, and shape. So, I hope you will join us as Lauren shares her experience and perspective on these and related topics: intuitive eating, eating disorders versus disordered eating, conventional diet culture and health outcomes, trusting our bodies, and combining therapy services and nutrition for healthy living. Thank you for listening! CONNECT WITH LAUREN Website: Collab-counseling.com  Instagram: @laurenrieker.rd ++++++++++++++++++ For me and many others, journaling has been a life-changing practice. Sometimes you can grab a pen and any sheet of paper and the thoughts flow easily. But if you’re feeling blocked and having trouble finding the clarity you need, consider using the Treasured Journal. The Treasured Journal includes questions, prompts, and sentence stems to help you organize your thoughts and feelings. Get the journal and its companion meditation guide at the link below. THE TREASURED JOURNAL - https://danielleireland.com/journal Feel free to reach out with any questions, comments, or experiences you want to share. I would love to hear from you! If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe. Your feedback helps me increase the value of this program and makes it easier for others to find us.  This episode originally aired as #109 on October 17, 2022. CONNECT WITH DANIELLE Website: danielleireland.com Instagram: @danielleireland_LCSW Facebook: @danielleireland_LCSW  

Women have always known that building community with other women creates a powerful force for good. Leslie Bailey, the co-founder and CEO of Indy Maven and Maven Space, has transformed that knowledge into a lifestyle media company and community for women that epitomizes her spirit of collaboration, support, and inspiration.  I love the wisdom and vulnerability that she brings to our discussion on managing success, giving away too much of yourself, setting boundaries, asking for help, and understanding that self-care is about more than bubble baths. This is an invaluable discussion for anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed, in need of support, or out of control despite their achievements. Thank you for listening! CONNECT WITH LESLIE and INDY MAVEN Indy Maven Website: https://indymaven.com/ Maven Space website: https://mavenspace.co/ Leslie Bailey Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lesalina/ Leslie Bailey Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lesalina ++++++++++++++++++ For me and many others, journaling has been a life-changing practice. Sometimes you can grab a pen and any sheet of paper and the thoughts flow easily. But if you’re feeling blocked and having trouble finding the clarity you need, consider using the Treasured Journal. The Treasured Journal includes questions, prompts, and sentence stems to help you organize your thoughts and feelings. Get the journal and its companion meditation guide at the link below. THE TREASURED JOURNAL - https://danielleireland.com/journal Feel free to reach out with any questions, comments, or experiences you want to share. I would love to hear from you! If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe. Your feedback helps me increase the value of this program and makes it easier for others to find us.  This episode originally aired as #104 on May 16, 2022. CONNECT WITH DANIELLE Website: danielleireland.com Instagram: @danielleireland_LCSW Facebook: @danielleireland_LCSW  

My guest is an absolute powerhouse of a woman, Betsy Murphy. Betsy is the author of several popular books, including the "Autobiography of an Orgasm" and "Write On: A Daily Writing Practice for Anyone with a Story to Tell."  Betsy is a screenwriter, performer, speaker, writing coach, and guide for women to help retrieve the hidden parts of their stories. She discusses the things most people don't want to talk about, but does so in a way that makes you feel comfortable being part of the conversation.  I found several key takeaways in our discussion, including how gratitude can keep us alive, how feeling it all is necessary, and why we need to pay attention to the footprints. I'm confident you’ll find valuable inspiration here, too.  Thank you for listening! CONNECT WITH BETSY MURPHY Website: http://betsybmurphy.com/ Instagram: @Betsybmurphy ++++++++++++++++++ For me and many others, journaling has been a life-changing practice. Sometimes you can grab a pen and any sheet of paper and the thoughts flow easily. But if you’re feeling blocked and having trouble finding the clarity you need, consider using the Treasured Journal. The Treasured Journal includes questions, prompts, and sentence stems to help you organize your thoughts and feelings. Get the journal and its companion meditation guide at the link below. THE TREASURED JOURNAL - https://danielleireland.com/journal Feel free to reach out with any questions, comments, or experiences you want to share. I would love to hear from you! If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe. Your feedback helps me increase the value of this program and makes it easier for others to find us.  This episode originally aired as #90 on November 1, 2021. CONNECT WITH DANIELLE Website: danielleireland.com Instagram: @danielleireland_LCSW Facebook: @danielleireland_LCSW  

Kate Kennett is a mother, SCUBA diver, whale enthusiast, content creator, entrepreneur, and life and business coach who wants to help you realize your passion and expand your reach so that you can live a life you deserve. She is a disruptor in the best sense of the term. As a coach, Kate speaks from experience. She knows the value of taking risks, facing change head-on, learning from mistakes, and saying “yes” even when you don’t feel ready. She believes in asking yourself “why” until no more “why” is left. We talk about dreams and goals and how to manage the journey in between. How do we stay inspired? What about the steps needed to get to the goal? Can we just ignore the naysayers? Where can we find accountability? Kate is an absolute delight and her experiences make for great conversation.  Thank you for listening! CONNECT WITH KATE LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itskate-16a327193/ Instagram -  https://www.instagram.com/content_monkey/?hl=en ++++++++++++++++ For me and many others, journaling has been a life-changing practice. Sometimes you can grab a pen and any sheet of paper and the thoughts flow easily. But if you’re feeling jammed up and having trouble finding the clarity you need, consider using the Treasured Journal. The Treasured Journal includes questions, prompts, and sentence stems to help you organize your thoughts and feelings. Get the journal and its companion meditation guide at the link below. THE TREASURED JOURNAL - https://danielleireland.com/journal Feel free to reach out with any questions, comments, or experiences you want to share. I would love to hear from you! If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe. Your feedback helps me increase the value of this program and makes it easier for others to find us.  This episode originally aired as #79 on January 27, 2021.  CONNECT WITH DANIELLE  Website: danielleireland.com  Instagram: @danielleireland_LCSW Facebook: @danielleireland_LCSW

Hello. I invite you to join me as I revisit one of my favorite episodes—a discussion of compassion fatigue and empathy with Liesel Mertes. Liesel is a workplace empathy consultant and founder of Handle with Care Consulting.  The need for compassion and empathy after loss or disruption is vital to every aspect of our lives. Even though this can be a heavy topic, our discussion is light and gentle. I’m confident that anyone whose life and worldview have been disrupted over the last several years will find benefit in Liesel’s experience and insight. We also spend time talking about the workplace specifically. Management must reckon with the fact that today’s workforce values compassionate leadership and that translates to greater productivity, loyalty, and employee retention. I know you’ll appreciate Liesel’s expertise as she walks us through several examples of how managers can realize empathy and compassion as essential leadership skills. Thank you for listening! CONNECT WITH LIESEL MERTES Website: https://www.lieselmertes.com/  Podcast: https://www.lieselmertes.com/blog-2  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lieselmertes/ ++++++++++++++++++ Journaling can be life-changing. Grab a pen and put your thoughts on paper—you might be amazed by how much it helps. But, if you’re having trouble getting started or sorting out your thoughts, consider getting a copy of the Treasured Journal. The Treasured Journal includes questions, prompts, and sentence stems to help you make sense of what you’re feeling. Get the journal and its companion meditation guide at the link below. THE TREASURED JOURNAL - https://danielleireland.com/journal Feel free to reach out with any questions, comments, or experiences you want to share. I would love to hear from you! If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe. Your feedback helps me increase the value of this program and makes it easier for others to find us.  This episode originally aired as #72 on November 23, 2020, and was updated with a new introduction in May 2022 after the tragic school shooting in Uvalde, TX.  CONNECT WITH DANIELLE  Website: danielleireland.com  Instagram: @danielleireland_LCSW Facebook: @danielleireland_LCSW

When doing the emotional work toward healing and recovery, you will at times wonder whether you’re on the right path. Eventually and inevitably, you'll ask how you will know when you are “done” or healed. This is an important question, so I want to revisit a discussion that explores what it means to heal, how we can identify areas that need attention, and how we can gauge our progress. I delve into how our bodies can help us pinpoint areas that need healing as well as the nuances that differentiate being triggered from feeling activated. The level of activation we feel with painful emotions—anger, grief, worry, frustration, and sadness—can tell us a lot about where we are on our journey. The less these emotions consume us, the more healed we become. One useful way to gauge our level of activation is through journaling about our relationships, memories, and experiences. If you’ve tried journaling, but find yourself getting stuck—not knowing what to write or having trouble going deep—I invite you to get a copy of the Treasured Journal. The Treasured Journal includes questions, prompts, and sentence stems that will help you open up so that you can realize the benefits of journaling. Get the journal and its companion meditation guide at this link: THE TREASURED JOURNAL - https://danielleireland.com/journal Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions, comments, or experiences that you want to share. I would love to hear from you! If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe. Your feedback helps me increase the value of this podcast and makes it easier for new listeners to find us.  Thank you for listening! This episode originally aired as #52 on June 24, 2020.  CONNECT WITH DANIELLE  Website: danielleireland.com  Instagram: @danielleireland_LCSW Facebook: @danielleireland_LCSW  

We are inundated every day with images and messaging and even well-intentioned remarks that we are not beautiful enough or thin enough or good enough. The cost of consuming, comparing, and self-criticism in our beauty culture is far too high.  But, the good news is that each of us can learn to re-think the images and re-frame the messaging. We really can get to a place where we love the person we see in the mirror. Marianne Talkovski is a licensed acupuncturist and esthetician. As the owner of Project Gorgeous, Marianne focuses on organic skin care and acupuncture for stress relief, healthy aging, and fertility.  Her journey, including her own struggles with our cultural standards of beauty, has fueled a passion for helping her clients prioritize self-care, improve their health and energy, pursue their desires, and love the skin they are in. In this discussion, Marianne explains how our most authentic expression of beauty can be found in radical self-acceptance. We talk about the connection between our emotions and our bodies, the role of awareness in healing, and the way our face reflects the life we live.  I know you’ll find some interesting ideas here. Thank you for listening! CONNECT WITH MARIANNE Website - https://projectgorgeous.com/ Instagram -  https://www.instagram.com/projectgorgeousindy/ ++++++++++++++++++ Journaling can be life-changing. Grab a pen and put your thoughts on paper—you might be amazed by how much it helps. But, if you’re having trouble getting started or sorting out your thoughts, consider getting a copy of the Treasured Journal. The Treasured Journal includes questions, prompts, and sentence stems to help you make sense of what you’re feeling. Get the journal and its companion meditation guide at the link below. THE TREASURED JOURNAL - https://danielleireland.com/journal Feel free to reach out with any questions, comments, or experiences you want to share. I would love to hear from you! If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe. Your feedback helps me increase the value of this program and makes it easier for others to find us. This episode originally aired as #50 on June 9, 2020. CONNECT WITH DANIELLE Website: danielleireland.com Instagram: @danielleireland_LCSW Facebook: @danielleireland_LCSW  

At the time of this interview, Corey Sleet worked his magic as a Senior Stylist at Bobby Cooper Salon. Now, Corey is co-owner and Master Stylist at Lux Lab Hair + Body in Carmel, Indiana.   Corey describes how, as a kid growing up in Gary, Indiana, he knew at a very young age that he wanted to be a stylist, but he struggled with how others might perceive that desire so he kept the dream to himself for a long time. Today, Corey is one of the leading professionals in his field and I love the story of how he got here.  I first sat in Corey’s chair about a decade ago. I appreciate his unique blend of humor, honesty, and professionalism. We talk about some of my favorite subjects: what it means to have a vision for your future, what happens when doubt sets in, and what it feels like to turn a dream into reality. I know you’ll enjoy this fun chat with Corey. Thank you for listening!   CONNECT WITH COREY  Lux Lab Hair + Body: https://luxlab.aurasalonware.com/login Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luxlabhairandbody/ ++++++++++++++++++ Journaling can be life-changing. Grab a pen and put your thoughts on paper—you might be amazed by how much it helps. But, if you’re having trouble getting started or sorting out your thoughts, consider getting a copy of the Treasured Journal. The Treasured Journal includes questions, prompts, and sentence stems to help you make sense of what you’re feeling. Get the journal and its companion meditation guide at the link below. THE TREASURED JOURNAL - https://danielleireland.com/journal Feel free to reach out with any questions, comments, or experiences you want to share. I would love to hear from you! If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe. Your feedback helps me increase the value of this program and makes it easier for others to find us. This episode was originally published as #47 on May 20, 2020. CONNECT WITH DANIELLE Website: danielleireland.com Instagram: @danielleireland_LCSW Facebook: @danielleireland_LCSW  

Tanorria Askew is a DEI consultant and coach, personal chef, cookbook author, public speaker, podcast co-host, and social justice activist. She is passionate about creating connections and community by gathering people around a dinner table to share a memorable meal and unforgettable conversation.  Growing up, she learned to associate food with community and then, as an adult, worked as a corporate trainer focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). But her appearance on season 7 of MasterChef with Gordon Ramsey prompted a leap of faith and sent her down a new path as a business owner who uses her many gifts to unite people of disparate races, cultures, and backgrounds. You will love Tanorria’s fantastic energy and presence. And I know you’ll find hope and inspiration in her commitment to creating inclusive spaces, breaking down barriers, encouraging uncomfortable conversations, and promoting action in the face of injustice.  Thank you for listening! CONNECT WITH TANORRIA Tanorria’s Table: https://www.tanorriastable.com/ Black Girls Eating podcast: https://www.blackgirlseating.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanorriastable/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tanorriastable/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanorria-askew-5379b255/ Cookbook: Staples + 5: 100 Simple Recipes to Make the Most of Your Pantry: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Tanorria-Askew/author/ ++++++++++++++++++ Journaling can be a life-changing tool. Grab a pen and put your thoughts on paper—you might be amazed by how much it helps. But, if you’re having trouble getting started or sorting out your thoughts, consider getting a copy of the Treasured Journal. The Treasured Journal includes questions, prompts, and sentence stems to help you make sense of what you’re feeling. You can get the journal and its companion meditation guide at the link below. THE TREASURED JOURNAL - https://danielleireland.com/journal Please feel free to reach out with any questions, comments, or experiences you want to share. I would love to hear from you! If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe. Your feedback helps me increase the value of this program and makes it easier for others to find us. This episode was originally published as #43 on April 27, 2020. CONNECT WITH DANIELLE Website: danielleireland.com Instagram: @danielleireland_LCSW Facebook: @danielleireland_LCSW  

"becauseOne" is an online platform that connects people's passions with the needs of those served by non-profit organizations. This remarkable initiative sprang from the collaborative vision of sisters Stephany Dolan and Stacia Jones and was driven by their family's desire to strengthen community and make it easier to help others.   We look at how to use becauseOne to get involved with organizations that match your specific areas of interest. And, as part of our discussion about the enthusiasm and challenges around developing their idea, Stephany and Stacia explain how elevating the good being done in the world is a key part of their vision.  I’m excited to bring you this discussion because the platform is transforming how we give while also serving as an antidote to online negativity. With becauseOne, anyone can embrace philanthropy, spread positivity, and witness the direct impact of their contributions.  Thank you for listening! RESOURCES becauseOne website: https://becauseone.com/ Call: 463-444-8301  Email: [email protected]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087037890605 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/becauseone_community/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/becauseone/ ++++++++++++++++++ Journaling can be a life-changing tool. Grab a pen and put your thoughts on paper—you might be amazed by how much it helps. But, if you’re having trouble getting started or sorting out your thoughts, consider getting a copy of the Treasured Journal. The Treasured Journal includes questions, prompts, and sentence stems to help you make sense of what you’re feeling. You can get the journal and its companion meditation guide at the link below. THE TREASURED JOURNAL - https://danielleireland.com/journal Please feel free to reach out with any questions, comments, or experiences you want to share. I would love to hear from you! If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe. Your feedback helps me increase the value of this program and makes it easier for others to find us. CONNECT WITH DANIELLE Website: danielleireland.com Instagram: @danielleireland_LCSW Facebook: @danielleireland_LCSW  

Danielle starts with an update on her pregnancy and ongoing home renovation, recent reading and recommendations, and then shares what listeners can expect from the show this fall while she is getting acquainted with her newborn son. The main focus of the discussion, however, centers on the often daunting task of setting, communicating, and upholding boundaries. Danielle compares the hard work of identifying the need for a boundary and finding the courage to discuss a boundary with the hard work of pregnancy, because, why not? Of course, the most challenging aspect of boundary setting can be upholding the boundary—keeping it alive—especially when faced with resistance or backsliding.   Boundaries have consequences, but managing them successfully is integral to healthy relationships, including your relationship with yourself. So, remember, (1) clear is kind, (2) less is more, and (3) someone else’s reaction to your boundary does not change anything about that boundary.  This is an important topic for all of us. Thanks for listening! REFERENCES The Myth of Normal by Daniel Maté and Gabor Maté Tell Me Everything by Minka Kelly  Good Inside by Becky Kennedy, PhD becauseOne - https://becauseone.com/ ++++++++++++++++++ Journaling can be a life-changing tool. Grab a pen and put your thoughts on paper—you might be amazed by how much it helps. But, if you’re having trouble getting started or sorting out your thoughts, consider getting a copy of the Treasured Journal. The Treasured Journal includes questions, prompts, and sentence stems to help you make sense of what you’re feeling. You can get the journal and its companion meditation guide at the link below. THE TREASURED JOURNAL - https://danielleireland.com/journal Please feel free to reach out with any questions, comments, or experiences you want to share. I would love to hear from you! If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe. Your feedback helps me increase the value of this program and makes it easier for others to find us.  CONNECT WITH DANIELLE  Website: danielleireland.com  Instagram: @danielleireland_LCSW Facebook: @danielleireland_LCSW

In the second part of their discussion, Danielle and Lindsay Boccardo share stories of formative experiences that have influenced who they are and how they think today.  While Lindsay faced challenges as the youngest person in the room during her early career and worried that she didn’t belong, Danielle felt like an outlier as one of the oldest people in her graduate program. But we learn that, with the right mindset, unique or unusual qualities can actually work in your favor.   Lindsay also emphasizes the value of adopting confidence from others and how it can help you push past fear and hesitation until that confidence becomes your own. And, she shares how the doors of communication can swing wide open when you reflect back to others how they show up for you. It’s a really fun and smart discussion between two friends who personify support and connection.  Listen to Part 1- https://dontcutyourownbangs.libsyn.com/128-danielle-x-lindsay-boccardo-pt-1-re-post +++++++++++++ REFERENCES Lindsay Boccardo - https://www.lindsayboccardo.com/ Cafe Patachou - https://www.cafepatachou.com/ Brené Brown - https://brenebrown.com/ Glennon Doyle - https://momastery.com/ +++++++++++++++++ Journaling can be a life-changing tool. Grab a pen and put your thoughts on paper—you might be amazed by how much it helps. But, if you’re having trouble getting started or sorting out your thoughts, consider getting a copy of the Treasured Journal. The Treasured Journal includes questions, prompts, and sentence stems to help you make sense of what you’re feeling. You can get the journal and its companion meditation guide at this link: THE TREASURED JOURNAL - https://danielleireland.com/journal Thank you for listening. Please feel free to reach out with any questions, comments, or experiences you want to share. I would love to hear from you! If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe. Your feedback helps increase the value of this program and makes it easier for others to find us.  This episode was originally published as #21 on August 9, 2019.    CONNECT WITH DANIELLE  Website: danielleireland.com  Instagram: @danielleireland_LCSW Facebook: @danielleireland_LCSW  

Danielle is joined by her dear friend Lindsey Boccardo, a certified coach, millennial expert, public speaker, and professional drummer.  Lindsey helps companies hire and retain talent by understanding and focusing on millennials' unique needs and expectations in the workplace. Her training and experience enable her to bridge the gap between generations in the world of business, offering valuable insights while empowering individuals and companies to maximize their potential. This is a fun episode! It just seems like two good friends talking and making each other laugh. But, along the way, they tackle some of life’s biggest questions: the difference between sharing and bragging; the roots of perfectionism and procrastination; the effect of unintentionally toxic motivation, and the right way to celebrate a friend’s success. Be sure to listen to part 2 of their conversation. ++++++++++++++ REFERENCES Lindsay Boccardo - https://www.lindsayboccardo.com/ Cafe Patachou - https://www.cafepatachou.com/ Brené Brown - https://brenebrown.com/ Glennon Doyle - https://momastery.com/ +++++++++++++++++ Journaling can be a life-changing tool. Grab a pen and put your thoughts on paper—you might be amazed by how much it helps. But, if sorting out your thoughts and feelings is still difficult for you, consider getting a copy of the Treasured Journal. The Treasured Journal includes questions, prompts, and sentence stems that will help you make sense of what you’re feeling. You can get the journal and its companion meditation guide at this link: THE TREASURED JOURNAL - https://danielleireland.com/journal Thank you for listening. Please feel free to reach out with any questions, comments, or experiences you want to share. I would love to hear from you! If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe. Your feedback helps me increase the value of this program and makes it easier for others to find us.  This episode was originally published as #20 on August 9, 2019.     CONNECT WITH DANIELLE  Website: danielleireland.com  Instagram: @danielleireland_LCSW Facebook: @danielleireland_LCSW

From corporate marketing to goat yoga, from an 11-year-old urban gardener to a ponytailed farmer, from armoring up to being vulnerable, Erin Peckinpaugh tells an uplifting and inspiring story of growth, connection, and community.  Food scarcity is defined as a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life. This can be a temporary situation for a family or can last a long time. Erin’s story introduces us to people in Indianapolis who are tackling this problem with lots of creativity and tons of heart. I guarantee you’ll fall in love with everyone you meet along the way.  Thank you for listening! REFERENCES Erin Peckinpaugh: Rise Yoga & Events - https://www.eventbrite.com/o/erin-peckinpaugh-rise-yoga-amp-events-17315204887 The Young Urban Gardener - https://www.facebook.com/theyoungurbangardener/ The Patachou Foundation - https://thepatachoufoundation.org/ The Caprini Creamery - http://caprinicreamery.com/ Traders Point Creamery - https://www.traderspointcreamery.com/ Broad Ripple Farmers Market - https://www.broadrippleindy.org/farmers-market/ Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle  Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert +++++++++++++++++ For me and many others, journaling is a game-changing tool. Just grab a pen and put your thoughts on paper. You might be amazed by how much it helps. But, if you continue to struggle sorting out your thoughts and feelings, consider getting a copy of the Treasured Journal. The Treasured Journal includes questions, prompts, and sentence stems that will help you open up so that you can make sense of what you’re feeling. You can get the journal and its companion meditation guide at this link: THE TREASURED JOURNAL - https://danielleireland.com/journal Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions, comments, or experiences that you want to share. I would love to hear from you! If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe. Your feedback helps me increase the value of the program for you and makes it easier for other listeners to find us.  This episode was originally published as #34 on February 4, 2020.   CONNECT WITH DANIELLE  Website: danielleireland.com  Instagram: @danielleireland_LCSW Facebook: @danielleireland_LCSW

As I wrap up the “What Now” series, I want to leave you with a few tips to help you deal with the stress that can come with change, decision-making, and the reactions of others.  But first, I need to acknowledge the reality that self-discovery and the actions you take as a result can be challenging for you and for those around you. Always remember that support and connection can play a big role in moving through the process successfully.  Try these tips to deal with the challenging times associated with change as well as the plain old stressors that you encounter in everyday life:  Tip 1: Engage your senses Tip 2: Break tasks into small steps Tip 3: Use timers to make it easier to start and maintain focus  I hope you have benefitted from this series as much as I’ve enjoyed bringing it to you. Thank you for listening! RESOURCES MENTIONED Spotify Playlist: Brain Food Meditation App: Insight Timer JOURNALING Journaling can be a game-changing tool. Just grab a pen and put your thoughts on paper. You might be amazed by how much it helps. But, if you continue to struggle with sorting out your thoughts and feelings, consider getting a copy of the Treasured Journal. The Treasured Journal includes questions, prompts, and sentence stems that will help you make sense of what you’re feeling. Get the journal and its companion meditation guide at this link: The Treasured Journal - https://danielleireland.com/journal THANK YOU FOR LISTENING  Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions, comments, or experiences you want to share. I would love to hear from you! If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe. Your feedback helps me increase the value of the program for you and makes it easier for other listeners to find us.  CONNECT WITH DANIELLE  Website: danielleireland.com  Instagram: @danielleireland_LCSW Facebook: @danielleireland_LCSW

Congrats! You’ve arrived at the 3rd step in the change process. You’ve done the work. You know that moving forward with your decision is the right thing for you, even though there are no guarantees. But now, when imagining what could lie ahead, your thoughts become your worst enemy. You feel tense, uncomfortable, and even fearful. There is a wall of emotions—a wall of anxiety—between you and what you want. You need to find a way to the other side.   To achieve that, I invite you to grab a pen and paper or a whiteboard and join me for a fantastic exercise that will help you put your fears and risks in a tangible form. From there, you can develop action plans for different scenarios that could result from the change.  I love this exercise. It’s a great way to right-size your stress, find clarity on what’s holding you back, and gain the control you need to move forward. Be sure to tune in next time for the final part of this series. +++++++++++++++ Thank you for listening! Please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments, or experiences you want to share. I would love to hear from you! If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe. Your feedback helps me increase the value of the program for you and makes it easier for other listeners to find us.  +++++++++++++ Journaling can be a game-changing tool. Just grab a pen and put your thoughts on paper. You might be amazed by how much it helps. But, if you still struggle with sorting out your thoughts and feelings, consider getting a copy of the Treasured Journal. The Treasured Journal includes questions, prompts, and sentence stems that will help you make sense of what you’re feeling. Get the journal and its companion meditation guide at this link: THE TREASURED JOURNAL - https://danielleireland.com/journal Thank you! CONNECT WITH DANIELLE  Website: danielleireland.com  Instagram: @danielleireland_LCSW Facebook: @danielleireland_LCSW

The desire for guarantees is a theme I see a lot in my practice. People realize that change is needed, but the thought of putting the change and themselves “out there” can be scary.   We feel reluctance to express our needs because we fear what others will think about us. So, it’s no wonder we want a guarantee that we will be met with approval and acceptance. But, of course, there are no guarantees when it comes to the way others will react. It’s time we reframe our fear and think differently about risk. After all, we have the right to express our feelings, needs, and preferences without worrying about what others will think. Thank you for listening. Be sure to tune in next time to learn about breaking through the “wall of anxiety” so that you can move forward with confidence. Feel free to contact me with any questions, comments, or experiences you want to share. I would love to hear from you! Please rate, review, and subscribe if you like this podcast. Your feedback helps me increase the value of the program and makes it easier for other listeners to find us.  +++++++++++++ Check out my conversation with Lindsay Boccardo in episodes 20-21 of “Don’t Cut Your Own Bangs” from August 2019 and learn more about Lindsay at https://www.lindsayboccardo.com/about.html. +++++++++++++ Journaling can be a game-changing process. Just grab a pen and put your thoughts on paper. You might be amazed by how much it helps. But, if you continue to have trouble sorting out your thoughts, consider getting a copy of the Treasured Journal. The Treasured Journal includes questions, prompts, and sentence stems that will help you make sense of what you’re feeling. Get the journal and its companion meditation guide at this link: THE TREASURED JOURNAL - https://danielleireland.com/journal Thank you! CONNECT WITH DANIELLE  Website: danielleireland.com  Instagram: @danielleireland_LCSW Facebook: @danielleireland_LCSW

**This episode contains a special announcement you won’t want to miss!** Okay, you’ve done the work. Searched for answers. Gained some insight. You have clarity on how you feel and what you want. You’re ready for the next steps. So… what now?  This episode kicks off a four-part series that looks at how to move through the emotions that come with big decisions. In part 1, Danielle talks about the benefits of sitting with a decision for a while instead of launching into action right away.  Embodying a decision gives your nervous system a chance to catch up. By listening to how your body is responding, you can gain an even deeper understanding of your true feelings and desires. Embodying a decision enables you to move forward from a place of internal motivation and empowerment—and with greater confidence. In part 2 of our series, Danielle explores the desire for guarantees in decision-making and delves into the art of trusting ourselves. Be sure to tune in! Thank you for listening!  Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions, comments, or experiences that you want to share. I would love to hear from you! If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe. Your feedback helps me increase the value of the program for you and makes it easier for other listeners to find us.  ++++++++++ For many of us, journaling is a game-changing tool that helps us gain the clarity we need. If you haven’t tried it, just grab a pen and put your thoughts on paper. You might be amazed at the results! But, if you need some extra help sorting out your thoughts and feelings, consider getting a copy of the Treasured Journal. The Treasured Journal includes questions, prompts, and sentence stems that will help you open up so that you can make sense of what you’re feeling. You can get the journal and its companion meditation guide at this link: THE TREASURED JOURNAL - https://danielleireland.com/journal CONNECT WITH DANIELLE  Website: danielleireland.com  Instagram: @danielleireland_LCSW Facebook: @danielleireland_LCSW  

Oftentimes, navigating less-than-healthy relationships can be helped by asking yourself two crucial questions—am I in a relationship with the other person’s potential or with who they truly are? And the follow-up question: how do I know when it's time to make a change? To position ourselves for good decision-making, we must first balance our logic and emotions so that we can approach these questions in a thoughtful way. Rarely can the head or the heart ­alone provide a complete answer—the truth will live somewhere in between. There is so much to consider when assessing the potential vs. reality question. We must recognize that the emotion of fear can prevent us from honestly evaluating our relationships. We have to accept that change only occurs when someone decides to change—and that change is usually iterative with mistakes or setbacks likely to occur. It can be a long, frustrating process. So we must determine the true value of our investment in the relationship. If you’re like most people I talk with, you will want to do everything you can to make the relationship work. In the end, though, you must center your needs and your health. You’re the only one who can decide the best next steps. But I hope this discussion helps you approach the idea of potential vs. reality in a way that enables you to do what is best for you. If you’re having trouble thinking through the contours of a difficult relationship, I recommend journaling. For me and many others, journaling has been a game-changing tool. Just grab a pen and put your thoughts on paper. You might be amazed by how much it helps. But, if you continue to struggle—if the words and thoughts are still jumbled up inside you—consider getting a copy of the Treasured Journal. The Treasured Journal includes questions, prompts, and sentence stems that will help you open up so that you can make sense of what you’re feeling. You can get the journal and its companion meditation guide at this link: THE TREASURED JOURNAL - https://danielleireland.com/journal Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions, comments, or experiences you want to share. I would love to hear from you! If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe. Your feedback helps me increase the value of the program for you and makes it easier for other listeners to find us.  Thank you for listening! CONNECT WITH DANIELLE  Website: danielleireland.com  Instagram: @danielleireland_LCSW Facebook: @danielleireland_LCSW  

When doing the emotional work toward healing and recovery, you will at times wonder whether you’re on the right path. Eventually and inevitably, you will ask how you know when you’re “done” or how you know when you’re healed.   These are important questions, so I want to revisit a discussion that explores what it means to heal, how we can identify areas that need attention, and how we can gauge our progress.   I delve into how our bodies can help us pinpoint areas that need healing as well as the nuances that differentiate being triggered from feeling activated.   The level of activation we feel with painful emotions—anger, grief, worry, frustration, and sadness—can tell us a lot about where we are on our journey. The less these emotions consume us, the more healed we become.   One useful way to gauge our level of activation is through journaling about our relationships, memories, and experiences. If you’ve tried journaling, but find yourself getting stuck—not knowing what to write or having trouble going deep—I invite you to get a copy of the Treasured Journal. The Treasured Journal includes questions, prompts, and sentence stems that will help you open up so that you can realize the benefits of journaling. Get the journal and its companion meditation guide at this link:   THE TREASURED JOURNAL - https://danielleireland.com/journal   Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions, comments, or experiences that you want to share. I would love to hear from you! If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe. Your feedback helps me increase the value of the program for you and makes it easier for other listeners to find us.    Thank you for listening!   CONNECT WITH DANIELLE    Website: danielleireland.com  Instagram: @danielleireland_LCSW Facebook: @danielleireland_LCSW

I am thrilled to talk again with Casey Jourdan, a growth coach, Iraq War veteran, and Purple Heart recipient. With a Master’s in Mental Health and personal experience with ADHD, autism, and traumatic brain injury, she helps neurodivergent folks figure out their version of success and how to achieve it. But, as it turns out, her advice is also valuable for the more neurotypical among us.   Casey first joined me on episode 36 of this podcast in early March 2020. You can find that discussion here - https://dontcutyourownbangs.libsyn.com/36-danielle-ireland-x-casey-jordan. Since then, there have been a number of changes in Casey’s life and we use this opportunity to get caught up.    We discuss what the pandemic revealed and examine why some mental health diagnoses aren’t made until later in life, especially for women and people of color. We also spend time talking about the importance of rest, including how to carve out time and space for yourself. Casey’s recent TikTok video on the topic went viral because who doesn’t have a need for more and better rest?!    Casey knows firsthand the value of being intentional in your life choices. She helps folks heal their past, reframe their present, and find their new path forward. If you're ready to take the road less traveled, Casey is ready to help.   CONNECT WITH CASEY   Website - https://caseyjourdan.com/hello/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@caseyjourdan Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/caseyjourdan/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pursuitofevolution/   BOOKS MENTIONED   “Rest is Resistance” by Tricia Hersey - https://thenapministry.com/ “Come As You Are” by Emily Nagoski, Ph.D. - https://www.emilynagoski.com/home “The Myth of Normal” by Gabor Maté - https://drgabormate.com/book/ “The Sleep Revolution” by Arianna Huffington - https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/25893700   THE TREASURED JOURNAL   Journaling can be a helpful tool to have along whatever your journey. A plain pad of paper and pen will do or you can make use of the prompts, questions, and sentence stems you’ll find in the Treasured Journal. Whether you use the journal on its own or pair it with the Meditation Series, these tools will help you open up and get your thoughts flowing. You’ll find the journal and its companion guide at this link - https://danielleireland.com/journal   CONNECT WITH DANIELLE    Thank you for listening to the podcast. Feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or experiences that you want to share. I would love to hear from you! If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe. Your feedback helps me increase the value of the program for you and makes it easier for other listeners to find us.    Website: danielleireland.com  Instagram: @danielleireland_LCSW Facebook: @danielleireland_LCSW