Don't Cut Your Own Bangs Danielle Ireland

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
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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