Hello hello — I'm Danielle Ireland, and you're catching an episode of Don't Cut Your Own Bangs, the cozy corner of the internet where we answer the timeless question: Do I really want bangs… or do I just need to talk about my feelings? (Spoiler: it's often the feelings. And also sometimes bangs. We can be multidimensional.)

In today's episode, we're talking about planting good seeds — not the aggressive "new year, new you, fix your entire personality by Tuesday" energy, but the soft, intentional, nervous-system-friendly kind of reset.

Because if January were in charge of its own PR? It would be branded as recovery + reflection + gentle reorientation, not a monthly audition for your worthiness.

We use a seed metaphor (because nature gets it), talk about rest as a generative space, and explore why the opposite of anxiety isn't necessarily calm… it might actually be creativity. I also share a very humbling moment at acupuncture where my body had a lot to say and I hadn't been listening.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why the beginning of the year is a great time to set intentions, not punish yourself with "perfect"

• Rest as resistance (and why your body is not a machine)

• The surprising idea: the opposite of anxiety is creativity

• Micro-rest: how to make space for yourself even in a busy life

• The 4 questions that can reveal where you've lost your spark:

  • When did you stop dancing?

  • When did you stop singing?

  • When did you stop feeling enchanted by stories?

  • When did you stop sitting in stillness?

• How breadcrumbs (like a screenshot of a dance class) can lead you back to yourself

• A gentle reminder: you are the expert in you — advice is useful, but you're not required to outsource your inner knowing

A couple quotes from the episode:

• "Plant the seed… and then leave it alone. Give it the space and grace it needs to thrive."

• "Rest is a generative space. There is information for your healing in the dream space."

• "The opposite of anxiety is not calm — it's creativity."

• "Knowing something and doing something are not the same." (…my acupuncture appointment would like to cosign this.)

Gentle invitation for the week:

Pick one small "good seed" to plant — a tiny act of rest, wonder, play, or creativity — and let it be enough.

Links + Resources Mentioned:

• The Nap Ministry: https://thenapministry.wordpress.com/

• Martha Beck: https://marthabeck.com

• YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DontCutYourOwnBangs

• Website: https://danielleireland.com/

• Children's Book: https://danielleireland.com/wrestling-a-walrus

• The Treasured Journal: https://danielleireland.com/journal

• Substack: https://danielleireland.substack.com/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dontcutyourownbangs/

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danielleireland.LCSW

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dontcutyourownbangspod?_t=ZP-8yFHmVNPKtq&_r=1

Want to talk to me directly?

Email me at [email protected] and put "bangs" in the subject line — questions, stories, topics you want on the pod… I'm in. And yes, I really will respond.

Free Gift:

Grab my free meditation here: https://danielleireland.com/free

Quick favor (it helps more than you know):

If this episode felt like a deep exhale, please rate, review, and subscribe — and send it to the friend who's been treating January like a final exam. 💛