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About this episode
In this episode of Don't Be Caught Dead, we dive deep into the often-avoided topic of death, grief, and the importance of compassion in navigating these challenging experiences. Join me as I chat with Dr Hayley D Quinn, an anti-burnout business coach and former clinical psychologist, who shares her insights on how compassion can transform our relationships with ourselves and others, especially during times of loss.
Dr. Hayley opens up about her journey from burnout to empowerment, highlighting the significance of self-compassion and the three flows of compassion: from ourselves to others, from others to ourselves, and the often-overlooked self-compassion. We discuss how these elements play a crucial role in both personal and professional realms, particularly for women entrepreneurs who often juggle multiple responsibilities. With practical tips and heartfelt anecdotes, Dr. Hayley encourages us to embrace our authentic selves and to have those difficult conversations about death and dying that can alleviate future suffering.
As we navigate the complexities of grief, Dr. Hayley reminds us that there is no right way to grieve and that being kind to ourselves is essential. We explore the importance of preparing for the unexpected, discussing how having open conversations about our wishes and plans can ease the burden on our loved ones when the time comes. This episode is a gentle nudge to face the uncomfortable truths about death while fostering a compassionate approach to ourselves and those around us.
Remember; You may not be ready to die, but at least you can be prepared.
Take care,
Catherine
Show notes
Guest Bio

An Anti-burnout Business Coach and Former Clinical Psychologist
Dr Hayley D Quinn is an anti-burnout business coach, speaker, trainer, author and former clinical psychologist. Dr Hayley is founder and director of Welcome to Self® a company that helps women entrepreneurs transform their relationships with themselves and their businesses so they can succeed without compromising their well-being. She is also the host of the popular Welcome to Self® podcast.
Whilst overcoming burnout herself, Dr Hayley discovered the power of compassion and developed sustainable ways of working. She now guides women to step out of the shadows, embrace their authenticity, and build thriving businesses aligned with their values.
With a blend of empathy, compassion and practical skills, she empowers her clients to stop playing small, take up space, and create a life and business that nourishes them.
Dr Hayley believes if you thrive your business will too!
Summary
Key points from our discussion:
- Understanding the three flows of compassion: self-compassion, compassion for others, and receiving compassion.
- The importance of having open conversations about death and dying to prevent additional suffering.
- Practical tips for self-care and checking in with ourselves during times of grief.
- The significance of aligning our lives and businesses with our core values.
- How compassion can transform our relationships and enhance our well-being.
Transcript
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There is no right way to grieve.
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Grief is a very individual process
and there's no particular way that
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you should be or shouldn't be in that.
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Grief isn't just about the loss of.
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a human being.
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So I think really we need to a, broaden
our horizon of w ... Read More
1
00:00:02,700 --> 00:00:04,830
There is no right way to grieve.
2
00:00:05,279 --> 00:00:11,790
Grief is a very individual process
and there's no particular way that
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you should be or shouldn't be in that.
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Grief isn't just about the loss of.
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a human being.
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So I think really we need to a, broaden
our horizon of what grief actually means.
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Remember for ourselves that there
is not a correct way to do this.
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However you're feeling and whatever
you're doing is the right way.
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Welcome to Don't Be Caught Dead.
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A podcast encouraging open conversations
about dying and the death of a loved one.
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I'm your host, Catherine Ashton, founder
of Critical Info, and I'm helping to
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bring your stories of death back to life.
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Because while you may not be ready
to die, At least you can be prepared.
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Don't Be Caught Dead acknowledges
the lands of the Kulin Nations
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and recognises their connection
to land, sea and community.
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We pay our respects to their Elders,
past, present and emerging and extend
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that respect to all Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander and First
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Nation peoples around the globe.
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Today I'm speaking with Dr Hayley Quinn.
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Hayley is an anti burnout business
coach, speaker, trainer, author
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and former clinical psychologist.
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Dr Hayley is founder and director of
Welcome to Self, a company that helps
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women entrepreneurs transform their
relationships with themselves and
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their businesses so they can succeed
without compromising their well being.
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She is also the host of the
popular Welcome to Self podcast.
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Whilst overcoming burnout herself, Dr.
Hayley discovered the power of compassion
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and developed sustainable ways of working.
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She now guides women to step out
of the shadows, embrace their
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authenticity and build a thriving
business aligned with their values.
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With a blend of empathy, compassion
and practical skills, she empowers
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her clients to stop playing small,
take up space And create a life
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and business that nourishes them.
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Dr. Hayley believes that if you
thrive, your business will thrive too.
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Thanks for joining us, Dr. Hayley.
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Oh, thanks so much for having me.
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It was lovely to connect recently
and talk about coming on the podcast.
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So we met online and we're both
members of the networking group, One
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Roof, and I'm in Melbourne and you're.
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You're north of me, aren't you?
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Sunshine Coast in Queensland.
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That's right.
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And so we had a bit of a chat prior to
Christmas about the work that you do.
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And I'm really fascinated about the
fact that it's based around compassion.
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So can you talk to me a little bit
about You know, what is the power of
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compassion?
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Yeah, definitely.
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So I always like to start with what is
compassion, because I think there's a lot
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of misunderstandings around what that is,
and I think often people think it's quite
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a kind of weak, soft, let yourself off the
hook kind of thing, and it's really not.
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The definition by Professor
Paul Gilbert, who's the founder
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of Compassion Focused Therapy.
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And that is that compassion is a
sensitivity to suffering in ourselves
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and others with a commitment to
alleviate or prevent the suffering.
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So I think it's really important to
start there because one of the key
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foundations of compassion is courage.
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And certainly in the sort of work
you do, people are suffering.
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Yeah, and we need to have this
sensitivity to suffering, but also
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in the work that I do with women who
are running businesses, they can get
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caught up in a lot of suffering in that
as well and oftentimes minimize it.
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So I think one of the things
that's really helpful is when we
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can build a compassionate mind.
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and a compassionate self.
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And then we can respond to
ourselves differently in all sorts
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of situations, but also respond
to other people differently.
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And we'll talk more about
that, I'm sure as we go on.
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So
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it
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sounds
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like
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it's one of those things where it kind
of reminds me when you were talking
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about, you know, when you're on the
airplane and they always say, put
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your mask on first before you put your
mask on someone else that you need to.
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really focus within yourself before
you can actually really help others?
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Would that be the sort of
thing that it is, is based on?
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Is, is really that power that
you give to yourself first?
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Yeah.
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Well, I think, you know, really,
when we think about it, we
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need to take care of ourselves.
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We need to take care of others.
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We need to take care of community.
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We need to take care of mother earth.
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So for me, it's all of it.
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And with compassion as well, there's a
lot of talk online around self compassion.
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And self compassion is
really, really important.
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But it's not the only flow of compassion.
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There's three flows of compassion.
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There's compassion from ourselves
to others, and many, many people,
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particularly women, and particularly
the women I work with who run service
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based businesses, tend to be very good
at offering compassion to other people.
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Then there is the self compassion
and this is one that people
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can really struggle with.
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And then there's also
compassion from others.
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And again, people can really struggle with
receiving compassion from other people.
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So we tend to find that people find it
easier to give the compassion outward.
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Then to give it to themselves or
receive it from other people and it's
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important that we look at all three flows
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And that's interesting because when you're
actually saying when you there's two
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things that come to mind We're about the
two elements that you're talking about
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there with the giving of compassion and
then also the receiving of the compassion
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So that immediately makes me think of
when someone has died and that confusion
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around you know You'd like to support
someone, but you don't know how, and then
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that other side of the coin, if you're
the person who has actually had someone
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pass away and die, and you know, how do
you respond when people want to offer you?
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And sometimes that can be really
challenging because people always
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have the You know, I don't think
anyone says something to someone
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who is grieving that is ill intent.
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But sometimes it can be taken the
wrong way, and sometimes we say
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things that are a little, a little
cliche sometimes, because sometimes we
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don't know what we should be saying.
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So it'd be great if we could talk
through more of those three elements
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in detail, and see how we can sort of
maybe delve and support, see how we
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can talk to people about supporting
Those in those situations, because
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that's really challenging and I'm
sure you've seen many of those sort
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of scenarios in your work as well.
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Yeah, so I think the first thing I would
say is particularly in Western cultures.
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definitely in Western culture.
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We don't deal with death.
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We don't talk about death.
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We don't teach people
how to navigate death.
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You know, when I met you, I was
really, I remember saying to you, I
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was really excited about the work you
do because this is something we need
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to talk more about and we just don't.
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So one of the first things I'd say is
if you are in a situation where somebody
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close to you has had somebody die and
you don't know What to say, or you're
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feeling awkward, go gently with yourself.
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It's understandable that you don't
know how to navigate this, because
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likely as nobody's ever told you.
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Yeah, yeah.
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And, and this can be
one of the first things.
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It's like, come back to that.
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Does this make sense that
I'm feeling this way?
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And when it comes to grief, I think for
many of us, it would be, yes, of course,
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it makes sense because this is not a
topic that we discuss, we're taught
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about, people tend to want to avoid it.
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I think I said to you in my phone
that I like talking about death,
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sounds a bit weird, but I like
having these conversations because
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I think they're important when
I was working as a psychologist.
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I worked with numerous people who had
lost a loved one and none of these
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conversations had ever happened around,
you know, what would happen if one
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of us dies, how are the household
finances worked out or where are
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important paperwork, anything like that.
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And the additional suffering on top of
the grief of the loss was heartbreaking.
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So for me, being able to have these
conversations within families as
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professionals, what are you going
to do with your business if you die?
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What happens with the
things in your business?
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Because somebody, one of your loved
ones or one of your colleagues is
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going to have to deal with that.
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If none of these conversations are
happening, these are going to be
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additional layers of suffering.
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That's
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exactly the situation that
we found ourselves in.
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And it really is challenging because
you go straight into action mode.
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You know, that's, I don't know
whether that's the based on
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the whole fight or flight when
you're, you know, you, you, you.
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because we were in shock
because of our friend Roland.
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It was a heart attack and
it was a totally unexpected.
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So you just go into action mode and
so you are constantly thinking about
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the logistics and you know and before
you realize that you're already in the
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thick of it and you really haven't.
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And what we found is, you know, we didn't
even know where his keys were and, and,
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you know, we've been choked that we can't,
we can't park downstairs, but, like,
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these are just the silly things that you
find yourself, like, having to deal with.
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And so, I, I totally agree with you with
what I've found in our situation is,
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had we known some of that information,
and just, in my, You know, the children
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didn't even know whether Colin wanted
a cremation, or whether he wanted to
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be buried, so they had to make those
decisions, and they're really challenging
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decisions to make in the speak of grief.
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Of course, and
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you
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know, you mentioned
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you
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don't
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actually know, and I think part of
that is part of the normal process,
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because when somebody dies, certain
things have to happen, but it's that
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additional layer of, If we didn't have
to deal with all that, yes, we could
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do the practical things we have to do,
and then we could move towards grief.
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The other thing I'd like to say is,
there is no right way to grieve.
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Grief is a very individual process,
and there's no particular way that
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you should be or shouldn't be in
that, whether you are directly
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impacted or indirectly impacted.
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And also just as a side note
as well, grief isn't just about
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the loss of a human being.
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People can have significant grief
reactions to pets, to the loss of a
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home, to the change of a circumstance.
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So I think really we need to A, broaden
our horizon of what grief actually means,
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And also remember for ourselves that
there is not a correct way to do this.
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However you're feeling and whatever
you're doing is the right way.
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Now, obviously, if you're causing
harm to yourself, we want to
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make sure you're getting help.
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And if grief is becoming extremely
prolonged to the point that you
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can't get on and function in your
life, then obviously go and seek
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help from your GP or a psychologist
or, you know, speak to a trusted.
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person in your life.
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In general, there is no
right or wrong way to grieve.
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And I think that's really
important for people to know.
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And I think also the other thing
that I find is that grief can
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raise its ugly head, not just
at the time of the incident.
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And like you said, you know,
like for me personally.
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I certainly grieved when, after my
car accident, and it was a whole
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change of lifestyle for me and a
whole change of career, so there was
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a lot of grieving that I went through.
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But it can also be something
that rears its ugly head.
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years after as well.
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Absolutely.
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Yeah.
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And I think people have to be kind
about that too, to themselves.
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Absolutely.
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And this is where that sort of
compassion to self comes in of actually
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how can you be with yourself and how
can you talk to yourself and what
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kind of actions can you take that
are going to be helpful, not harmful.
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And can you talk us through some
of those actions that you suggest?
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Is that something that you could
give us an indication of, Dr. Hayley?
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00:12:45,470 --> 00:12:50,600
Look, I think a lot of that is
going to be individual to what
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somebody needs for themselves.
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Obviously speaking to yourself in
a kind and friendly voice tone.
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is more helpful than being self critical.
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And again, depending on the relation,
if we'd say we're talking about the
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relationship with a human being that's
died, depending on your relationship with
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that person is really going to influence
what shows up for you after death.
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There may be complexities to that.
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So it's not really a stock answer,
but certainly being kind to yourself,
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coming back to that is what I'm doing.
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Helpful, not harmful.
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You know, having the odd glass of wine.
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isn't going to do you any harm,
but if, if you were drinking a
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bottle of wine every day for weeks
on end after a loved one had died.
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Then you're likely going to
be causing yourself a problem.
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Yeah, so I think for me it's coming back
to those Things like what is it that I
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need right now checking in with yourself
and that as well can be hard again You
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know grief can be Something that shows up
lightly to something that is so profound.
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I think when we think about the flows
of compassion and you mentioned before,
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sometimes people can find it hard to
receive compassion or receive help
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from people when they've had a loss.
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And some of that may be because
of the kind of cliched things that
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end up not being very helpful.
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Some of it can be because they've
had a lifetime of finding it
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hard to receive help from people.
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Yeah.
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And this is why, for me, building
this relationship, this compassionate
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relationship with yourself now
is helpful for in the future
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when difficult things happen.
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Yeah?
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Trying to do this in the eye of the
storm is obviously going to be more
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difficult than if it's something that
you've practiced in your life before
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the things But if we can, and the other
thing people can often think is that
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by asking for help or being willing
to accept help is a sign of weakness.
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And what I would say to that is
it's actually a sign of great
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strength, particularly if it's
something that you struggle with.
249
00:14:57,915 --> 00:14:58,885
Yeah, it's interesting.
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We had a situation recently where it was
a family occasion and there was a series
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of speeches and there was a friend of my
son who gave a speech and you could have
252
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heard a pin drop during his speech and
What it was is that we have seen him over
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years of, you know, high school develop
into the beautiful young man he's become.
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And that has been because he's worked
really hard at developing those skills.
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Because it came from a background
which was not where you, you
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gave speeches, I suppose.
257
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It was pretty challenging.
258
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And so, for us to see him have developed
those skills, especially in the last
259
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few years where he's been out in the
workforce and his living situation has
260
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improved and for him to be able to give
that speech that he gave the other night
261
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was just so beautiful and so heartfelt
and everyone in the room felt the love.
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because it was a real progression of
how much he has developed and how much
263
00:16:12,945 --> 00:16:18,185
He has developed his confidence And
his sense of self and well being during
264
00:16:18,185 --> 00:16:22,994
that time And that was really really
beautiful to see because you're right,
265
00:16:22,994 --> 00:16:27,295
you know, not everyone Comes from the
same backgrounds and whatever baggage we
266
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have in our upbringing we carry with us
into the future And what was so beautiful
267
00:16:31,665 --> 00:16:37,895
was in this one moment to actually see
This young man, you know presents so
268
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beautifully and really, you know He's
becoming himself and who he chooses to
269
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be which was just something so lovely.
270
00:16:46,114 --> 00:16:51,374
Yeah, I think you know It's important
for us to do these practices and start to
271
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develop this different relationship with
ourselves at times when we're not in high
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stress Because then when the challenges
and the difficulties or the losses
273
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arrive, we have this part of ourselves
we can draw upon to help us through.
274
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We can be sensitive to our own suffering
and have a commitment to want to
275
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alleviate and prevent the suffering.
276
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We are more motivated
to do it differently.
277
00:17:14,435 --> 00:17:15,915
And where does one start?
278
00:17:16,585 --> 00:17:20,724
Like, I totally understand that,
you know, being a female and an
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00:17:20,734 --> 00:17:23,484
entrepreneur and a solo founder as well.
280
00:17:23,815 --> 00:17:28,474
I can totally understand that you,
you do work with women in business.
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00:17:28,544 --> 00:17:34,015
Because we do wear so many hats and,
and we have so many responsibilities.
282
00:17:34,165 --> 00:17:37,695
And we, and, and in times of crisis
we are generally the ones that kind
283
00:17:37,695 --> 00:17:41,320
of have to bring it together or
step up to the plate to do things.
284
00:17:42,010 --> 00:17:45,820
So, where do you start
before we get to crisis mode?
285
00:17:46,220 --> 00:17:50,449
Well, I, I would say and probably
say to most people, start with just
286
00:17:50,460 --> 00:17:52,049
slowing down and taking a breath.
287
00:17:54,810 --> 00:17:59,529
I'll often just put my hand on my
heart, just take a breath in and
288
00:17:59,530 --> 00:18:03,660
a long breath out, which even that
can be really difficult for people.
289
00:18:04,250 --> 00:18:09,550
So maybe for some people it might be
starting by acknowledging that, wow, this
290
00:18:09,560 --> 00:18:11,390
is going to be really difficult for me.
291
00:18:11,745 --> 00:18:15,555
I've never actually thought
about taking care of myself.
292
00:18:15,995 --> 00:18:18,865
I've never actually given
myself permission to slow down.
293
00:18:19,375 --> 00:18:21,925
Or it might be accessing a book.
294
00:18:21,925 --> 00:18:25,554
I know for me, I was a
single parent at university.
295
00:18:25,604 --> 00:18:27,764
I'd been in a domestic
violence relationship.
296
00:18:27,764 --> 00:18:30,475
So, you know, life had its challenges.
297
00:18:31,034 --> 00:18:35,739
And I came across the Mindful Path to
Self Compassion book by Chris Germer.
298
00:18:36,580 --> 00:18:39,039
And I read it and I remember
reading it, you know, this is great.
299
00:18:39,039 --> 00:18:40,370
And then obviously I was a single parent.
300
00:18:40,399 --> 00:18:42,229
I was sometimes working up to three jobs.
301
00:18:42,229 --> 00:18:43,370
I was extremely busy.
302
00:18:43,729 --> 00:18:45,639
This was before I burnt
out, funnily enough.
303
00:18:46,259 --> 00:18:48,599
And I kind of put it aside
and didn't do much with it.
304
00:18:48,689 --> 00:18:52,239
And then fortunately for me, when I was
a psychologist, part of my training was
305
00:18:52,239 --> 00:18:53,899
learning compassion focused therapy.
306
00:18:54,570 --> 00:18:58,510
So I had the benefit of being
able to kind of learn this as part
307
00:18:58,510 --> 00:19:00,500
of my work to help my clients.
308
00:19:00,760 --> 00:19:05,040
But the beautiful thing about compassion
focused therapy is that you embody it.
309
00:19:05,325 --> 00:19:07,495
So that you can work
well with your clients.
310
00:19:07,565 --> 00:19:11,395
And it was an absolute life changer
for me personally and professionally.
311
00:19:12,215 --> 00:19:17,595
And there's some really beautiful
resources out there around compassion.
312
00:19:17,605 --> 00:19:19,214
There's lots of stuff on the internet.
313
00:19:19,684 --> 00:19:24,394
I have a podcast for business owners
and talk a lot about these kinds
314
00:19:24,394 --> 00:19:26,645
of things on the podcast as well.
315
00:19:27,504 --> 00:19:32,915
But some of it might be that
you commit to just speaking to
316
00:19:32,915 --> 00:19:34,345
yourself a little bit nicer.
317
00:19:34,610 --> 00:19:39,320
During the week and you know, we all
have that inner critic mine used to be
318
00:19:39,320 --> 00:19:44,379
my default and she was brutal Over the
years and through practice my default
319
00:19:44,390 --> 00:19:46,020
now is more sort of hand on heart.
320
00:19:46,049 --> 00:19:48,210
Oh my gosh, darling I
know this is really hard.
321
00:19:48,230 --> 00:19:51,640
You're doing the best you can I never
would have thought that I'd speak to
322
00:19:51,640 --> 00:19:58,040
myself like that many years ago So it
might be that you catch yourself when
323
00:19:58,040 --> 00:19:59,370
you're like, oh god, you're so stupid.
324
00:19:59,370 --> 00:20:00,000
Why did you do that?
325
00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:04,055
It's so stupid It's like oh,
okay I noticed that I'm talking
326
00:20:04,055 --> 00:20:05,345
to myself really harshly.
327
00:20:05,785 --> 00:20:07,605
How would I speak to my loved one?
328
00:20:07,605 --> 00:20:09,155
How would I speak to my best friend?
329
00:20:10,015 --> 00:20:11,985
And then actually say that to yourself.
330
00:20:12,474 --> 00:20:16,355
Because none of us, I would imagine,
but probably wouldn't be friends
331
00:20:16,355 --> 00:20:19,794
for long, are saying to your friends
like, Oh my God, you're so stupid.
332
00:20:20,295 --> 00:20:21,085
You're such an idiot.
333
00:20:21,254 --> 00:20:21,874
Why did you?
334
00:20:22,355 --> 00:20:23,185
Beep do that.
335
00:20:23,315 --> 00:20:23,895
Yeah.
336
00:20:23,955 --> 00:20:24,195
Yeah.
337
00:20:24,195 --> 00:20:24,615
Yeah.
338
00:20:25,124 --> 00:20:28,394
And yet we think that that's fine
to talk to ourselves like that.
339
00:20:28,784 --> 00:20:32,804
Yeah, like my relationship
with myself was hideous.
340
00:20:33,445 --> 00:20:35,335
I had a very brutal self critic.
341
00:20:35,454 --> 00:20:41,315
And over time, I was able to
change that and develop a much more
342
00:20:41,344 --> 00:20:45,435
compassionate response to myself, which
like I say, is now a default for me.
343
00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:48,130
And I never would have
thought that was possible.
344
00:20:48,140 --> 00:20:51,150
So if I can come from where I came
from with my relationship with
345
00:20:51,150 --> 00:20:53,730
myself, honestly, you can do this.
346
00:20:54,270 --> 00:20:59,109
And it really is helpful and it helps you
have these hard conversations as well.
347
00:20:59,470 --> 00:21:00,959
So I have a bit of a buddy with you.
348
00:21:00,959 --> 00:21:03,169
You know, when you're going to go do
something tough, you've kind of got
349
00:21:03,169 --> 00:21:04,840
this compassionate part of yourself.
350
00:21:05,199 --> 00:21:06,070
It's like, come on early.
351
00:21:06,100 --> 00:21:08,010
I know this is hard, but we've got this.
352
00:21:08,010 --> 00:21:08,639
You can do it.
353
00:21:09,565 --> 00:21:14,605
And it is really a different, I found
when I went through the process also of
354
00:21:14,625 --> 00:21:22,245
just changing that inner voice, I think
it made me more tolerant, empathetic
355
00:21:22,285 --> 00:21:27,665
person, because the way in which I'd
frame things, I'd be more mindful of how I
356
00:21:27,675 --> 00:21:30,135
framed them when I was talking to myself.
357
00:21:30,135 --> 00:21:33,835
So I found myself, I suppose,
more mindful when I had those
358
00:21:33,865 --> 00:21:35,515
conversations with other people.
359
00:21:35,684 --> 00:21:40,105
And you're right, like that, one of
the first things that, that I learned
360
00:21:40,155 --> 00:21:43,595
was finding that time for yourself.
361
00:21:44,065 --> 00:21:44,195
Yeah.
362
00:21:44,785 --> 00:21:49,389
You know, and just It started off with me
just having a cup of tea in the morning
363
00:21:49,930 --> 00:21:54,670
and just sitting there with a cup of
tea and the dog and the annoying cat.
364
00:21:54,929 --> 00:21:55,879
But I still love them.
365
00:21:56,099 --> 00:22:02,019
But sitting there for a full cup of tea
length of time before I did anything else
366
00:22:02,499 --> 00:22:05,320
and that's a long time to start off with.
367
00:22:05,770 --> 00:22:08,730
And then after a while you
go, oh gee that went quickly.
368
00:22:09,250 --> 00:22:09,590
Yeah.
369
00:22:09,620 --> 00:22:13,649
But at the start it was like I
felt found myself really fidgety.
370
00:22:14,129 --> 00:22:20,180
And, and really hard to get in the process
of allowing myself time for myself.
371
00:22:20,689 --> 00:22:21,219
Yeah.
372
00:22:21,249 --> 00:22:25,070
And that's so normal, like in
CFT Compassion Focus Therapy,
373
00:22:25,100 --> 00:22:28,299
we talk about the three circle
emotion regulation system.
374
00:22:28,299 --> 00:22:31,830
So we've got the red circle, which
is the threat system, and that's on
375
00:22:31,870 --> 00:22:33,719
24 hours a day, seven days a week.
376
00:22:34,090 --> 00:22:37,159
And certainly when people are in grief,
that's going to be a system that's highly
377
00:22:37,159 --> 00:22:41,840
activated and at other times, then we
have the drive system or the blue circle.
378
00:22:42,560 --> 00:22:47,940
And that's the part of the system that
motivates us to pursue and achieve.
379
00:22:48,399 --> 00:22:52,620
And then we have the green circle or
the soothing system, which is our rest
380
00:22:52,620 --> 00:22:54,830
and digest, tend and befriend system.
381
00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:57,710
So this is when we're not under
threat, we're not trying to
382
00:22:57,710 --> 00:22:59,089
pursue or achieve anything.
383
00:22:59,419 --> 00:23:00,899
We can relax more.
384
00:23:00,899 --> 00:23:03,530
We have that sense of
safeness, contentment.
385
00:23:03,909 --> 00:23:07,540
It's a calmer space and we feel more
connected to ourselves and others.
386
00:23:08,169 --> 00:23:12,439
Now what can happen and you describe
that so beautifully is when people
387
00:23:12,459 --> 00:23:16,770
are trying to move towards that
soothing system, it can activate the
388
00:23:16,770 --> 00:23:18,350
threat because we're not used to it.
389
00:23:18,360 --> 00:23:19,639
So you start to get agitated.
390
00:23:19,639 --> 00:23:21,420
So you're starting to move
into that fight flight.
391
00:23:21,555 --> 00:23:22,390
Yeah.
392
00:23:22,390 --> 00:23:25,445
Your nervous system starts
to kind of up regulate.
393
00:23:26,115 --> 00:23:29,485
And this is where some of the
breathing practices can come, be
394
00:23:29,485 --> 00:23:32,625
really, really helpful because they
can help down regulate that system.
395
00:23:32,755 --> 00:23:36,304
So as you're perhaps sitting,
and I'll often say to people, can
396
00:23:36,305 --> 00:23:39,055
you just take a few minutes and
perhaps sit and have a cup of tea?
397
00:23:39,055 --> 00:23:39,375
So that was.
398
00:23:39,780 --> 00:23:41,180
Fantastic example you used there.
399
00:23:41,420 --> 00:23:41,940
Oh good, I'm glad.
400
00:23:44,410 --> 00:23:46,220
Just lead into that well,
thank you very much.
401
00:23:46,670 --> 00:23:49,110
And as you do that,
just notice your breath.
402
00:23:49,240 --> 00:23:51,050
Because you may find you get agitated.
403
00:23:51,580 --> 00:23:54,279
I've got to do this, I've got to get
the kids ready, or I've got to do that
404
00:23:54,280 --> 00:23:59,730
thing, or that work thing, or, you
know, I should be doing something else.
405
00:24:00,220 --> 00:24:01,610
This is lazy.
406
00:24:01,790 --> 00:24:04,010
All those kind of things
that start to show up.
407
00:24:04,070 --> 00:24:06,490
So really noticing what's
happening with your breath.
408
00:24:07,480 --> 00:24:09,190
And then slowing down your breath.
409
00:24:10,360 --> 00:24:13,410
And when we're doing that, we want
to make sure that our out breath is
410
00:24:13,510 --> 00:24:15,740
equal to or longer than our in breath.
411
00:24:16,510 --> 00:24:21,269
When we think about when we breathe
in, that activates our sympathetic
412
00:24:21,269 --> 00:24:24,340
nervous system, which is a bit
like the accelerator on the car.
413
00:24:24,960 --> 00:24:28,940
And when we breathe out, we activate
the parasympathetic nervous system,
414
00:24:28,940 --> 00:24:30,530
which is like putting the brakes on.
415
00:24:31,629 --> 00:24:35,370
So if we're doing, you know, like at
school, it's like, take a big deep breath.
416
00:24:35,419 --> 00:24:36,339
Yeah, yep.
417
00:24:36,715 --> 00:24:39,835
What we need to be saying
is, take a long breath out.
418
00:24:39,915 --> 00:24:41,095
Yeah, that's interesting.
419
00:24:41,105 --> 00:24:44,805
Because if we just take big
breaths in, and we've only got
420
00:24:44,814 --> 00:24:48,075
little out breaths, we're actually
activating ourselves too much.
421
00:24:48,524 --> 00:24:52,694
See, something explained like that,
simply in the way in which you've
422
00:24:52,695 --> 00:24:56,814
explained it, that it's, because when
I find myself in these situations, I
423
00:24:56,814 --> 00:25:01,614
always do focus on the breathing in,
and raising the chest, and making sure I
424
00:25:01,614 --> 00:25:04,524
expand my diaphragm as much as possible.
425
00:25:05,060 --> 00:25:07,340
But really, my focus should
always be on the breath out.
426
00:25:07,340 --> 00:25:08,400
Is that what you're saying?
427
00:25:08,610 --> 00:25:09,380
Absolutely.
428
00:25:09,410 --> 00:25:13,420
And also when you're breathing in, and
this can be tricky for people and a lot
429
00:25:13,420 --> 00:25:18,709
of women when I worked with clients as
a psychologist, obviously do a lot of
430
00:25:18,710 --> 00:25:22,670
these breathing exercises with clients
and particularly with women, when I'd say,
431
00:25:22,749 --> 00:25:24,409
okay, I want you to focus on breathing.
432
00:25:24,475 --> 00:25:25,804
into the belly.
433
00:25:26,064 --> 00:25:26,284
Yeah.
434
00:25:26,334 --> 00:25:27,284
And
435
00:25:27,475 --> 00:25:28,425
people don't want to do that.
436
00:25:28,504 --> 00:25:28,745
Yeah.
437
00:25:29,024 --> 00:25:29,895
Why is that?
438
00:25:29,945 --> 00:25:33,705
Well, I mean, as women, we grow up in this
society that says, you know, you should
439
00:25:33,705 --> 00:25:36,425
be stick thin and not have a stomach.
440
00:25:36,425 --> 00:25:40,195
So we don't want to breathe out
and make our stomach bigger.
441
00:25:41,550 --> 00:25:44,969
you know, we actually want to
breathe deep into our belly.
442
00:25:45,970 --> 00:25:49,639
So if you had your hand on your chest
and on your belly, it's your hand
443
00:25:49,639 --> 00:25:52,520
on your belly that wants to be doing
the moving when you're breathing in.
444
00:25:53,409 --> 00:25:54,219
Yeah, okay.
445
00:25:54,229 --> 00:25:57,920
And they're simple things that you
can do anywhere because, you know,
446
00:25:58,569 --> 00:26:02,690
it's a simple practice of just
putting your hand on your belly and
447
00:26:02,690 --> 00:26:04,240
your chest and seeing which moves.
448
00:26:04,895 --> 00:26:09,075
So breathing into your belly and then
a nice equal or longer out breath.
449
00:26:09,175 --> 00:26:10,135
That's fantastic.
450
00:26:10,505 --> 00:26:12,785
Thank you very much for
sharing that one Hayley.
451
00:26:12,865 --> 00:26:14,305
That's much appreciated.
452
00:26:14,315 --> 00:26:15,595
No, it's an absolute pleasure.
453
00:26:15,645 --> 00:26:18,825
So yeah, I think doing the breathing
techniques, speaking to yourself
454
00:26:18,844 --> 00:26:23,274
kindly and a regular practice I have
is just checking in with myself.
455
00:26:23,275 --> 00:26:25,720
It's like, hey How am I going?
456
00:26:25,890 --> 00:26:26,770
How are you going Hayley?
457
00:26:26,900 --> 00:26:28,220
What do I need right now?
458
00:26:28,260 --> 00:26:29,920
And it might be I need some water.
459
00:26:30,120 --> 00:26:31,310
It might be I need to eat.
460
00:26:31,350 --> 00:26:33,290
It might be I need to go and sit down.
461
00:26:33,290 --> 00:26:35,230
It might be I need to go move my body.
462
00:26:35,240 --> 00:26:37,230
You know, I sit at my
computer quite a bit.
463
00:26:37,770 --> 00:26:40,039
It might be that you need to reach out.
464
00:26:40,365 --> 00:26:43,595
for some help with something, particularly
if you're in that grieving process.
465
00:26:43,595 --> 00:26:48,044
It might be that you need to go and get
under your doona and just have a good cry.
466
00:26:48,074 --> 00:26:48,865
Yeah.
467
00:26:48,915 --> 00:26:49,185
Yeah.
468
00:26:49,185 --> 00:26:52,405
Whatever it might be, but checking,
getting into this habit of
469
00:26:52,405 --> 00:26:54,215
regularly checking in with yourself.
470
00:26:54,855 --> 00:26:57,714
Now you mentioned before you, you
and I are both business owners.
471
00:26:57,714 --> 00:26:59,975
I certainly work with
women business owners.
472
00:27:00,745 --> 00:27:04,815
And if you're running a business
and you're a solo business owner,
473
00:27:05,185 --> 00:27:09,005
life doesn't just stop because
you've got a business to run, right?
474
00:27:09,224 --> 00:27:11,224
No, it certainly doesn't, does it?
475
00:27:11,355 --> 00:27:14,715
And these things happen
and we have grief and loss.
476
00:27:14,995 --> 00:27:18,594
I think, I can't remember if it was just
before I met you or just after I met you,
477
00:27:18,614 --> 00:27:20,945
that we had a loss of a close friend.
478
00:27:21,465 --> 00:27:26,645
And for me, that meant really
letting go of a lot of the things
479
00:27:26,645 --> 00:27:28,705
that I didn't need to get done.
480
00:27:29,815 --> 00:27:31,915
I still had some clients I wanted to see.
481
00:27:32,514 --> 00:27:36,145
I felt able to see them, but a
lot of the other stuff I looked
482
00:27:36,145 --> 00:27:39,875
around and asked myself, what is
it that I don't need to be doing?
483
00:27:39,895 --> 00:27:43,745
Because I think one of the
things we can underestimate is.
484
00:27:44,205 --> 00:27:49,925
The cognitive or thinking impact it can
have, the emotional impact tends to be
485
00:27:49,925 --> 00:27:56,004
more obvious with grief, but also the
fatigue and how tired we can become
486
00:27:56,004 --> 00:27:58,495
because our body is doing so much more.
487
00:27:58,824 --> 00:28:00,234
And that's often underestimated.
488
00:28:01,450 --> 00:28:04,730
And we need to take these
things into account.
489
00:28:04,740 --> 00:28:08,560
I'll often hear people say, Oh yeah,
but my clients need me or yeah, but
490
00:28:08,560 --> 00:28:12,659
I've got to get that thing done or
you know, what if my business stops
491
00:28:12,800 --> 00:28:14,750
completely if I don't tend to it?
492
00:28:15,250 --> 00:28:18,759
So there can be a lot of fear again
that then adds to the suffering.
493
00:28:19,185 --> 00:28:19,945
It's interesting that you
494
00:28:19,945 --> 00:28:24,735
say that because around about the same
time and you had just actually lost
495
00:28:24,745 --> 00:28:28,805
that close friend before we spoke and
I think it was around about the same
496
00:28:28,805 --> 00:28:34,135
time that Rosie Batty was speaking
at the Frankston Library here just
497
00:28:34,145 --> 00:28:39,855
before Christmas and I went along and
I spoke to her because I just finished
498
00:28:39,855 --> 00:28:44,645
her book Hope which is her second book
that she released and that covers that.
499
00:28:44,700 --> 00:28:49,940
period from when she became Australian
of the Year and those years after.
500
00:28:50,060 --> 00:28:57,250
And it talks about her struggles in
relation to being so busy, still trying
501
00:28:57,250 --> 00:29:03,220
to grieve for Luke but being really,
really busy and the amount of engagements
502
00:29:03,220 --> 00:29:07,850
and appointments she felt compelled
to attend because she was given this.
503
00:29:08,435 --> 00:29:13,855
Platform which she would not normally
have had and the toll that it took on
504
00:29:13,865 --> 00:29:20,575
her And so when I met her just before
christmas I thanked her for her honesty
505
00:29:20,575 --> 00:29:25,565
and and how she Really explained that
that period and she was very vulnerable
506
00:29:25,565 --> 00:29:28,010
in in what she you know, divulge.
507
00:29:28,070 --> 00:29:31,540
And I said, thank you for sharing that
because I've just actually booked out
508
00:29:31,540 --> 00:29:38,030
my entire calendar for all of January,
really, to make sure I get a good month
509
00:29:38,060 --> 00:29:44,420
break and I'm not focusing on work and
everything can wait because it really
510
00:29:44,420 --> 00:29:48,670
brought home to me that, you know,
whatever I do is for the long haul.
511
00:29:48,865 --> 00:29:53,105
And it needs to be, and you know, I,
I should know better because obviously
512
00:29:53,105 --> 00:29:56,675
I've had to, I have to manage my chronic
pain and have to be very mindful of
513
00:29:56,675 --> 00:30:00,055
my physicality with the issues that
I have with the neuropathic pain.
514
00:30:00,565 --> 00:30:03,975
But it was something that just brought
it home going, you know what, the
515
00:30:03,975 --> 00:30:05,625
problems are still going to be there.
516
00:30:05,735 --> 00:30:09,705
And in a month's time, I need to
actually take the time off to make
517
00:30:09,705 --> 00:30:13,425
sure that I am actually fit enough
to go back and deal with them.
518
00:30:14,615 --> 00:30:15,515
Absolutely.
519
00:30:15,945 --> 00:30:19,675
Having experienced a significant
burnout, like I didn't know at
520
00:30:19,675 --> 00:30:23,715
the time, like I've chosen to no
longer be a registered psychologist.
521
00:30:24,045 --> 00:30:27,515
I love my business coaching
and other work I'm doing.
522
00:30:28,335 --> 00:30:30,005
But when I had my burnout.
523
00:30:30,225 --> 00:30:35,235
I was very much, you know, wanting to be
a psychologist and didn't know if I was
524
00:30:35,235 --> 00:30:36,515
going to be able to continue to do that.
525
00:30:36,515 --> 00:30:39,125
I literally had to walk away
from where I was working.
526
00:30:39,645 --> 00:30:45,245
I ended up starting up for myself in
a home based business and just really
527
00:30:45,305 --> 00:30:47,375
taking it easy and starting that up small.
528
00:30:47,375 --> 00:30:50,054
But I didn't know whether I was
going to be able to do that.
529
00:30:50,305 --> 00:30:53,975
And I had so many lessons whilst
that was not a great time in my life.
530
00:30:53,985 --> 00:30:58,045
And there was a lot of grief and loss
around identity and what having chronic
531
00:30:58,045 --> 00:31:01,155
illness meant, because that's what I
developed for me through a burnout.
532
00:31:01,545 --> 00:31:03,035
Whilst it was a really difficult time.
533
00:31:03,035 --> 00:31:07,985
It was also a time that gave me so many
lessons that I'm so, so grateful for.
534
00:31:08,445 --> 00:31:13,225
And it was really the catalyst of me
moving more into, well, hang on, what
535
00:31:13,235 --> 00:31:15,595
is the life I want to live and I can.
536
00:31:16,035 --> 00:31:17,765
And I can do that just because I want to.
537
00:31:17,915 --> 00:31:20,735
I can make choices about what I want,
just because that's what I want.
538
00:31:21,175 --> 00:31:24,225
So, it was a complex time,
but I'm very grateful for the
539
00:31:24,225 --> 00:31:25,465
lessons I learned from it.
540
00:31:25,965 --> 00:31:29,015
And now my mind's just gone, what on
earth are you talking about, Hayley?
541
00:31:29,015 --> 00:31:31,295
Ah,
542
00:31:31,295 --> 00:31:33,574
dear!
543
00:31:34,255 --> 00:31:36,395
That's so reassuring, because
everyone will be going, Ha!
544
00:31:36,895 --> 00:31:37,445
See?
545
00:31:37,785 --> 00:31:43,475
Just is a normal woman after all,
you know, like we have moments
546
00:31:43,485 --> 00:31:46,705
where we're all together and
then all of a sudden we're not.
547
00:31:47,535 --> 00:31:47,855
Yeah.
548
00:31:47,855 --> 00:31:48,925
It's like, hang on.
549
00:31:49,025 --> 00:31:54,315
I'm sure I had a brain about a minute ago,
but that part of me just left the room.
550
00:31:54,315 --> 00:31:55,190
I love it.
551
00:31:55,190 --> 00:31:56,066
I love it.
552
00:31:56,066 --> 00:31:58,109
I think I've come back to it.
553
00:31:58,109 --> 00:31:58,984
Um, about this.
554
00:31:59,125 --> 00:32:03,045
The importance of actually taking
care of you for the long haul, because
555
00:32:03,105 --> 00:32:07,365
the fear of what might go wrong in
the next little while is not what
556
00:32:07,375 --> 00:32:08,985
you want driving your decisions.
557
00:32:09,015 --> 00:32:12,245
And this is where, when we can
come back to this compassionate
558
00:32:12,245 --> 00:32:17,935
self, the qualities of compassion
are wisdom, strength, and courage.
559
00:32:18,495 --> 00:32:21,535
And the wisdom piece is so important.
560
00:32:21,645 --> 00:32:25,255
And we want to be able to
regulate our nervous system.
561
00:32:25,475 --> 00:32:28,275
So when we can implement these
breathing techniques and we can
562
00:32:28,285 --> 00:32:31,295
down regulate our system, well, that
might be that for you, it might be
563
00:32:31,295 --> 00:32:33,145
listening to some soothing music.
564
00:32:33,445 --> 00:32:35,275
It might be going for a walk.
565
00:32:35,325 --> 00:32:36,985
It might be being in water.
566
00:32:37,665 --> 00:32:39,275
It might be doing the breathing.
567
00:32:40,105 --> 00:32:43,585
Getting to know what helps you
regulate your nervous system
568
00:32:43,585 --> 00:32:44,905
is really, really important.
569
00:32:45,345 --> 00:32:46,585
When we can do that.
570
00:32:47,315 --> 00:32:50,865
And we're in that, that green
circle is the more dominant one.
571
00:32:51,525 --> 00:32:56,905
We can access our wisdom because we're not
in the threat space when we're in threat.
572
00:32:57,425 --> 00:33:01,355
All we're interested in is
get safe, get safe, get safe.
573
00:33:02,465 --> 00:33:04,265
It doesn't really matter how we do that.
574
00:33:04,645 --> 00:33:05,995
We just need to get safe.
575
00:33:06,185 --> 00:33:12,055
Now, if you're in a situation that is
dangerous and you need to run away, Get
576
00:33:12,055 --> 00:33:14,305
safe, run away is a really great idea.
577
00:33:15,325 --> 00:33:19,465
If you're fearful of something
that may not actually be a reality,
578
00:33:19,655 --> 00:33:22,185
running away from it probably
isn't going to be the most helpful.
579
00:33:23,015 --> 00:33:23,415
Yeah.
580
00:33:23,745 --> 00:33:27,865
Like we were talking about earlier,
avoiding conversations about death
581
00:33:28,295 --> 00:33:31,835
with your family or your business
partners or your colleagues.
582
00:33:32,105 --> 00:33:36,165
If you're running away from those
conversations, that's because
583
00:33:36,175 --> 00:33:37,945
threat is making the decision.
584
00:33:38,195 --> 00:33:41,535
Wisdom would more likely be telling you.
585
00:33:42,500 --> 00:33:45,260
Sit down and have the
conversation about what you want.
586
00:33:45,480 --> 00:33:50,360
Sit down and have the conversation
around where the keys to the thing is.
587
00:33:50,920 --> 00:33:55,550
Have the conversation around where are
the important documents I might need.
588
00:33:55,810 --> 00:33:59,430
I run a building company with my husband
and then I've got my own business.
589
00:33:59,780 --> 00:34:04,670
And I'm always trying to have these
conversations with my husband and son.
590
00:34:05,550 --> 00:34:09,170
I get rolled eyes sometimes, but I
persist because I know it's important.
591
00:34:09,560 --> 00:34:15,160
Because I've sat with people in such
distress, that had they had these
592
00:34:15,160 --> 00:34:22,160
conversations, yes they would be grieving,
but their suffering wouldn't be layer upon
593
00:34:22,160 --> 00:34:26,000
layer because of the things that they now
have to try and figure out on their own.
594
00:34:26,080 --> 00:34:33,330
And I sat down with my husband and I did
up an Excel spreadsheet and literally
595
00:34:33,330 --> 00:34:37,930
listed all of our things, who we have
insurance with, who we have this with,
596
00:34:37,930 --> 00:34:42,290
who we have that, what are the policy
numbers, what are the contact numbers.
597
00:34:42,780 --> 00:34:44,550
And I said to him, we'll
just keep this updated.
598
00:34:45,500 --> 00:34:49,090
We'll have a shared copy, and if
anything happens to one or the other
599
00:34:49,090 --> 00:34:51,260
of us, at least we've got that.
600
00:34:51,510 --> 00:34:51,940
It's so
601
00:34:51,940 --> 00:34:55,150
interesting that you say that
because I have always grown up
602
00:34:55,170 --> 00:34:56,950
with that sort of documentation.
603
00:34:57,030 --> 00:35:01,860
My mother was a very organized woman
and president of many committees and
604
00:35:02,260 --> 00:35:06,850
local health centers, and my father
was a clerk of the coroner's court.
605
00:35:06,955 --> 00:35:11,585
So, for me, I just thought that was
normal, you know, and my, my other
606
00:35:11,585 --> 00:35:15,535
siblings, you know, they all joined the
forces, so they naturally, you know,
607
00:35:15,535 --> 00:35:18,915
I think that within the second day of
joining any armed force in Australia,
608
00:35:18,915 --> 00:35:20,265
you have to actually write a will.
609
00:35:20,265 --> 00:35:23,995
That's just a fait accompli,
but, you know, it wasn't until,
610
00:35:24,325 --> 00:35:27,975
and my husband, I have to you
know, apologize in advance again.
611
00:35:28,325 --> 00:35:33,305
I use him as the example that he had
no idea when I met him, you know, about
612
00:35:33,305 --> 00:35:38,955
that paperwork and what was required
and because, you know, documenting your
613
00:35:38,955 --> 00:35:45,145
wishes is so important and again, you
know, it was what we did with Roland
614
00:35:45,165 --> 00:35:48,835
that started off as an Excel spreadsheet
and I worked with his children.
615
00:35:48,835 --> 00:35:51,385
We worked through that Excel
spreadsheet that I had, you know,
616
00:35:51,835 --> 00:35:54,825
it's, what can I say, I was a
producer of events so, you know.
617
00:35:55,355 --> 00:35:57,075
the Excel spreadsheets, my love.
618
00:35:57,535 --> 00:36:01,665
And then that has what has been, you know,
turned into that critical info platform.
619
00:36:02,045 --> 00:36:07,975
So there is some way in which we can
guide people about what sort of documents
620
00:36:07,975 --> 00:36:12,775
they need, what sort of things they
need to consider, like even such things
621
00:36:12,805 --> 00:36:16,865
as you were mentioning pets before,
you know, pets are part of our family.
622
00:36:17,295 --> 00:36:19,525
So a lot of people.
623
00:36:19,835 --> 00:36:24,975
Forget that we have to also consider what
their care plans are and it's not just
624
00:36:24,985 --> 00:36:31,335
preparing for when we die Because you
know the perception what I find Sometimes
625
00:36:31,355 --> 00:36:36,225
is that when we talk about end of life
planning and advanced care planning people
626
00:36:36,245 --> 00:36:42,600
only think oh That's something that you
do when you get old, but I was hit from
627
00:36:42,660 --> 00:36:46,810
behind on my way to work and that changed
my life and I had to go to hospital.
628
00:36:47,220 --> 00:36:51,100
So at any point in time, we could
come across situations where we
629
00:36:51,360 --> 00:36:56,260
have an illness or we find ourselves
in hospital or even overseas.
630
00:36:56,270 --> 00:37:00,710
You know, we made sure that our son,
before he went overseas, he actually
631
00:37:00,710 --> 00:37:02,330
completed all of this information.
632
00:37:02,740 --> 00:37:06,320
So, if we needed to assist
him with anything while he was
633
00:37:06,320 --> 00:37:07,800
overseas, we could do that.
634
00:37:08,300 --> 00:37:12,870
And I think that when, like you were
saying, people get caught up in the idea
635
00:37:12,870 --> 00:37:17,940
of, well, I'm not going to die now, or
I'm not old enough to plan, all of these
636
00:37:17,950 --> 00:37:23,420
things that the conversations we have
in our head, but in reality, it should
637
00:37:23,420 --> 00:37:27,545
just be like, If you run a business,
you have public liability insurance,
638
00:37:27,605 --> 00:37:29,915
you know, standard stock standard thing.
639
00:37:30,325 --> 00:37:34,775
So if you run a business, you
actually have a succession plan.
640
00:37:34,955 --> 00:37:41,705
So everyone around you knows that you
actually have this many websites that
641
00:37:41,705 --> 00:37:46,565
you manage, this many domains, you
know, where's your insurance policy.
642
00:37:46,785 --> 00:37:50,225
Do you have someone that can make
decisions if you can't make those
643
00:37:50,225 --> 00:37:54,615
decisions for your business, you know,
have those conversations like you were
644
00:37:54,615 --> 00:37:56,555
saying your husband and you have had.
645
00:37:57,055 --> 00:38:01,605
Yeah, I think that that it really
is important that we don't leave it.
646
00:38:02,525 --> 00:38:05,125
Until we think that we're
at the age that we need it.
647
00:38:05,295 --> 00:38:09,305
Yeah, and I think some of the other
stuff is, that there is this thing
648
00:38:09,305 --> 00:38:10,385
of, you know, it won't happen to me.
649
00:38:10,405 --> 00:38:13,205
Well, I mean, we all know it will
happen to us, but we think, oh,
650
00:38:13,205 --> 00:38:16,655
it won't happen to me for another
however many decades, hopefully.
651
00:38:16,865 --> 00:38:18,945
Or, you know, this doesn't
need to be done now.
652
00:38:19,175 --> 00:38:24,445
But it can also be That for some people
thinking about this stuff triggers
653
00:38:24,445 --> 00:38:26,745
grief and they don't want to go there.
654
00:38:27,085 --> 00:38:32,165
So I would say, like, if that's the
case, do what you can to address that.
655
00:38:32,195 --> 00:38:36,015
Whether that's by yourself or whether
that's with a helping professional.
656
00:38:36,285 --> 00:38:38,315
And bring that sense of compassion.
657
00:38:38,585 --> 00:38:40,985
Acknowledge for yourself,
this is really hard.
658
00:38:42,025 --> 00:38:45,715
When I think about talking about
death with my family, like I know
659
00:38:45,715 --> 00:38:53,065
for me, if I think about my son in
these topics, I can feel it now, I get
660
00:38:53,065 --> 00:38:55,225
this overwhelming sense of sadness.
661
00:38:55,385 --> 00:38:58,675
I don't want to die and leave him and
I certainly don't want him to die.
662
00:38:58,885 --> 00:39:05,495
So that for me, I know is something
that I'm like, okay, if I'm going to
663
00:39:05,495 --> 00:39:09,435
address things around that, that's
going to be really challenging
664
00:39:09,505 --> 00:39:11,175
and it's going to feel painful.
665
00:39:11,660 --> 00:39:13,410
And I can still do that.
666
00:39:13,500 --> 00:39:18,190
I can be with myself in a way that
allows me to be sensitive to the
667
00:39:18,190 --> 00:39:19,800
suffering that I'm experiencing.
668
00:39:20,250 --> 00:39:22,990
So maybe that's something I
need to do a bit more gently,
669
00:39:22,990 --> 00:39:24,790
a bit slower, or over time.
670
00:39:25,440 --> 00:39:29,630
But I can still do it, because
if I don't do the thing, then
671
00:39:29,630 --> 00:39:31,360
I'm not alleviating suffering.
672
00:39:31,490 --> 00:39:34,590
I'm actually potentially creating
more suffering down the track.
673
00:39:35,900 --> 00:39:39,270
I think this is, for me, where
compassion is just so powerful.
674
00:39:39,480 --> 00:39:44,280
And in your business, you know, if
you don't want to think about, or
675
00:39:44,280 --> 00:39:47,880
if thinking about, well, if I step
away, like you said, I blocked out
676
00:39:47,880 --> 00:39:52,160
your calendar for a month, some
people that might just be paralyzing.
677
00:39:52,320 --> 00:39:53,440
It's like, well, I can't do that.
678
00:39:53,610 --> 00:39:56,020
And it's like, okay, that's a month.
679
00:39:56,420 --> 00:39:58,700
Think about what that's
going to mean in a year.
680
00:39:59,010 --> 00:40:04,710
If you had to pay somebody to do some
of the tasks so you could take the
681
00:40:04,710 --> 00:40:08,969
month, if you're in a position to do
so, what will that mean in 12 months?
682
00:40:09,180 --> 00:40:13,030
Because if you push through that month
when you really needed to take that time
683
00:40:13,030 --> 00:40:17,120
for yourself, then in 12 months, maybe
you don't have a business or maybe you
684
00:40:17,130 --> 00:40:20,170
have a business, but you're hanging on
by the skin of your teeth because you're
685
00:40:20,170 --> 00:40:22,260
just feeling completely burnt out.
686
00:40:22,510 --> 00:40:25,650
So we have to think past the right now.
687
00:40:25,820 --> 00:40:26,600
It's kind of both.
688
00:40:26,600 --> 00:40:28,574
It's like what needs to happen right now.
689
00:40:29,295 --> 00:40:33,235
That's going to be helpful and prevent
further suffering in the future.
690
00:40:33,505 --> 00:40:38,045
Yeah, and it's, it just reminded
me of something else while you were
691
00:40:38,045 --> 00:40:42,995
talking then, Dr. Hayley, was, you
know, when I was working at the,
692
00:40:43,005 --> 00:40:46,245
the Royal Botanic Gardens, I'd been
there for 13 years, I thought it
693
00:40:46,245 --> 00:40:49,385
was my life and it was going to be.
694
00:40:49,840 --> 00:40:50,850
My forever job.
695
00:40:51,120 --> 00:40:52,100
Absolutely loved it.
696
00:40:53,250 --> 00:40:55,270
And It was my focus.
697
00:40:55,290 --> 00:40:56,560
It was my one and all.
698
00:40:56,590 --> 00:40:59,870
It would be something that I
didn't mind working, you know.
699
00:40:59,990 --> 00:41:03,260
And certainly event management is
definitely a flight or fight, um,
700
00:41:03,350 --> 00:41:06,980
constant state that you're in with
managing, uh, managing events.
701
00:41:06,990 --> 00:41:10,880
But, you know, I, I thought it was
something that I'd be doing forever.
702
00:41:12,090 --> 00:41:17,380
But something that I had to come to
realize and was a really challenging
703
00:41:17,380 --> 00:41:19,790
thing for me is that I'm replaceable.
704
00:41:21,020 --> 00:41:25,110
And the fact that, you know, that job's
still there, someone else has filled
705
00:41:25,110 --> 00:41:29,990
it, and someone else I'm sure is doing
a very good job of it, but I had to come
706
00:41:29,990 --> 00:41:34,385
to the realisation that It wasn't the
be all and end all when it come, like
707
00:41:34,385 --> 00:41:38,725
when you're brought back to the base
element of what matters and your health
708
00:41:38,725 --> 00:41:40,845
and you have to make those choices.
709
00:41:41,005 --> 00:41:43,885
And I'm sure when you had your
burnout, you had a very similar
710
00:41:43,885 --> 00:41:47,165
process that you had to go through
about what you valued in life.
711
00:41:47,515 --> 00:41:48,415
Oh, absolutely.
712
00:41:48,485 --> 00:41:52,885
And when you come back to that, you
know, I had to realize that and grieve
713
00:41:52,895 --> 00:41:57,975
for the fact that I was replaceable and
I did have to leave my job and what I
714
00:41:57,995 --> 00:42:03,525
thought defined me and made me who I
was because I thought that I was defined
715
00:42:03,535 --> 00:42:09,445
by that particular role and I think I
held on to that really closely because
716
00:42:09,465 --> 00:42:14,585
that was my first job that I had after
I went back to work after I had had a
717
00:42:14,585 --> 00:42:21,715
child so I think that that also made that
stronger for me that that defined me.
718
00:42:22,260 --> 00:42:27,730
And then when I hear numerous
conversations that you hear within this
719
00:42:27,730 --> 00:42:34,450
industry, is that no one has ever said in
the last few, you know, months of their
720
00:42:34,450 --> 00:42:40,380
life, that, It was their job that they
loved the most or that they wanted their
721
00:42:40,380 --> 00:42:45,090
job around them when they were dying or
they were given a life limiting illness.
722
00:42:45,570 --> 00:42:48,260
It always comes down
to family and friends.
723
00:42:48,910 --> 00:42:52,550
Absolutely, nobody's like, I wish
I'd spent another hour in the office.
724
00:42:55,860 --> 00:42:58,660
Might say, I wish I'd spent another
hour sitting on the beach watching
725
00:42:58,660 --> 00:43:04,100
the sunset, but not, I wish I'd
spent another hour in the office.
726
00:43:04,440 --> 00:43:05,210
Absolutely.
727
00:43:05,220 --> 00:43:08,300
It's about the experiences
and the relationships and the
728
00:43:08,300 --> 00:43:09,830
connections that we have in life.
729
00:43:09,870 --> 00:43:12,890
I think all the research points to
that, but I think you raise a really
730
00:43:12,890 --> 00:43:15,010
interesting point around identity as well.
731
00:43:15,010 --> 00:43:18,309
Certainly for me with my
burnout, that shook my identity
732
00:43:18,309 --> 00:43:19,610
when I had chronic illness.
733
00:43:19,620 --> 00:43:20,680
It's like, what's that mean?
734
00:43:21,090 --> 00:43:23,220
I was then later identified as.
735
00:43:23,355 --> 00:43:26,305
Neurodivergent autism and ADHD at 52.
736
00:43:26,515 --> 00:43:30,455
So that was another identity thing
as well, which has been great.
737
00:43:30,945 --> 00:43:36,245
And then I did a lot of work around my
identity as a psychologist or clinical
738
00:43:36,245 --> 00:43:40,255
psychologist, because I knew that I
was starting to move away from that.
739
00:43:40,550 --> 00:43:44,790
And had I not done that work, I
literally chose not to renew my
740
00:43:44,790 --> 00:43:47,110
registration in November of last year.
741
00:43:47,360 --> 00:43:51,490
Had I not already done that work around
identity, I think the grief and loss
742
00:43:51,490 --> 00:43:53,110
around that would have been immense.
743
00:43:53,370 --> 00:43:57,870
Because I'd done the work,
I was able to move forward.
744
00:43:57,970 --> 00:44:00,260
I've been running two businesses,
and again, I don't ever
745
00:44:00,260 --> 00:44:01,370
want to be burnt out again.
746
00:44:01,370 --> 00:44:04,690
And I was realizing that that's
probably not the best way to do that.
747
00:44:05,340 --> 00:44:05,620
Yeah.
748
00:44:06,040 --> 00:44:08,730
Because I wanted to go fully
in on my coaching and speaking.
749
00:44:08,955 --> 00:44:12,075
I did that work around letting
go of identity, which made that
750
00:44:12,075 --> 00:44:14,175
transition for me a lot smoother.
751
00:44:14,455 --> 00:44:17,945
Of course, there's some grief and
loss around having stepped away.
752
00:44:17,945 --> 00:44:21,375
I'd done, I'd worked really hard as a
single mom to become a psychologist.
753
00:44:21,375 --> 00:44:26,305
And I really loved being in that
industry and working with my clients,
754
00:44:26,755 --> 00:44:28,735
but that identity work was important.
755
00:44:28,785 --> 00:44:33,045
And as you were speaking, it made me
think about people who see themselves as.
756
00:44:33,885 --> 00:44:40,755
So and so's wife or so and so's husband
or I'm such and such's mother or parent
757
00:44:41,175 --> 00:44:46,965
and have these very narrow focus of
what what your role is in life and what
758
00:44:46,965 --> 00:44:52,345
I would say is Some of the work that I
think is really helpful as well is seeing
759
00:44:52,365 --> 00:44:59,235
how multifaceted you are And how many
identities you actually hold in the world?
760
00:45:00,135 --> 00:45:04,455
because then Say you're married
and your partner dies, then
761
00:45:04,455 --> 00:45:06,765
you haven't lost your identity.
762
00:45:07,225 --> 00:45:12,445
If the only identity you held on
to was I am his wife or her wife.
763
00:45:12,665 --> 00:45:16,645
I think that's an important
one as well, which again can
764
00:45:16,745 --> 00:45:18,925
give us somewhere to turn to.
765
00:45:19,555 --> 00:45:26,285
I'm also these things, so I can grieve
this, and I can grieve this person, and
766
00:45:26,285 --> 00:45:28,115
I can grieve this part of my identity.
767
00:45:29,645 --> 00:45:31,355
And I've got all this to look to as well.
768
00:45:32,125 --> 00:45:34,165
Yeah, that's a, that's
a great way to view it.
769
00:45:34,245 --> 00:45:41,625
And another way in which I found my
way to move forward, you know, and by
770
00:45:41,625 --> 00:45:43,465
no means did this happen overnight.
771
00:45:43,465 --> 00:45:49,135
Like I think I worked on all of this for
quite a few years during the process and
772
00:45:49,515 --> 00:45:54,625
something that was key when I did a 16
week rehab program at Victorian Rehab
773
00:45:54,625 --> 00:46:01,350
Centre and where they Really bring you
back to basics and the basics of you know,
774
00:46:01,360 --> 00:46:04,550
any human is really what are your values?
775
00:46:04,830 --> 00:46:06,810
You know, what do you value in life?
776
00:46:07,500 --> 00:46:11,540
And I do feel like I've kind of
been completely broken down and then
777
00:46:11,550 --> 00:46:13,150
had to be put back together again.
778
00:46:13,670 --> 00:46:18,520
And so starting at my values was a
great place and I've spoken about
779
00:46:18,520 --> 00:46:23,895
this a bit because My values were
so strong and I aligned myself with
780
00:46:23,895 --> 00:46:28,755
them at the gardens and that was the
work that satisfied my values there.
781
00:46:29,185 --> 00:46:35,325
So I knew that whatever I had to do
moving forward had to be complimentary
782
00:46:35,325 --> 00:46:39,925
and accommodate my and be flexible
with my physical needs and managing
783
00:46:39,925 --> 00:46:44,545
my chronic pain, but it had to
really tick my boxes on my values.
784
00:46:44,615 --> 00:46:45,205
Absolutely.
785
00:46:45,325 --> 00:46:48,815
And I found that that work
was Unbelievable, because
786
00:46:48,815 --> 00:46:50,165
you really do work out,
787
00:46:50,745 --> 00:46:51,745
you know, what matters.
788
00:46:51,805 --> 00:46:54,775
Absolutely, and they're your
signposts for life, right?
789
00:46:54,845 --> 00:46:58,395
I did a lot of work around that
in my work as a psychologist,
790
00:46:58,445 --> 00:47:01,785
and I've absolutely brought that
into the work I do in coaching.
791
00:47:02,155 --> 00:47:06,135
I run a group coaching program for women
business owners, and a part of that,
792
00:47:06,195 --> 00:47:10,586
we talk about, one of the modules in
that is all around values, because it
793
00:47:10,586 --> 00:47:14,449
really does bring you home to yourself,
and it gives you those signposts.
794
00:47:14,680 --> 00:47:18,280
So then when you're making decisions,
you've got something to come back
795
00:47:18,280 --> 00:47:22,020
to that ear of like, okay, what
is important and meaningful to me?
796
00:47:22,230 --> 00:47:25,020
And how does this thing align with.
797
00:47:25,600 --> 00:47:27,960
What is important and meaningful
to me and therefore do I
798
00:47:27,960 --> 00:47:29,440
want to say yes or no to it?
799
00:47:29,740 --> 00:47:31,100
Yeah, it really does.
800
00:47:31,180 --> 00:47:34,770
Look, I think that there's just
so many gold nuggets that you've
801
00:47:34,770 --> 00:47:36,940
been able to share today, Dr.
802
00:47:36,940 --> 00:47:37,330
Hayley.
803
00:47:37,700 --> 00:47:42,870
Is there anything else that you'd like
to share about the work that you do
804
00:47:42,890 --> 00:47:47,590
and you know, just supporting people
that might find themselves grieving,
805
00:47:48,000 --> 00:47:50,470
you know, really in any, any form?
806
00:47:50,850 --> 00:47:55,005
I think the first thing I would
say is Let's all just be a bit kind
807
00:47:55,005 --> 00:47:56,955
to each other and to ourselves.
808
00:47:57,135 --> 00:47:59,145
'cause the world absolutely
needs that right now.
809
00:47:59,385 --> 00:47:59,445
yeah.
810
00:48:00,195 --> 00:48:03,765
Whether you're grieving or not, you know,
we, we never know what people are going
811
00:48:03,765 --> 00:48:08,825
through and people could be grieving
and in workplaces, and if you are a
812
00:48:08,825 --> 00:48:13,115
business owner and you have staff, I
think you know, that flow of compassion
813
00:48:13,115 --> 00:48:18,005
to others is a really important one,
because being sensitive to the suffering
814
00:48:18,005 --> 00:48:22,165
of the people that work for you or
with you is really, really important.
815
00:48:22,555 --> 00:48:24,565
And, you know, that could be a
whole other episode, couldn't it?
816
00:48:24,565 --> 00:48:25,925
Talking about those sort of things.
817
00:48:25,925 --> 00:48:30,245
But I think just being aware that
we don't always know what's going
818
00:48:30,245 --> 00:48:34,185
on for people, go gently with
yourself, go gently with other people.
819
00:48:35,095 --> 00:48:38,995
And honestly, I can't, I can't speak
highly enough about, I am, you know,
820
00:48:39,585 --> 00:48:43,805
I'm so passionate about compassion
because I know the difference that
821
00:48:43,805 --> 00:48:45,665
it has made, not only in my life.
822
00:48:45,680 --> 00:48:49,410
Personally, professionally, but in
the life of so many of my clients,
823
00:48:49,830 --> 00:48:53,170
you know, seeing the difference in
somebody when they start to bring
824
00:48:53,170 --> 00:48:55,190
this into their life is fantastic.
825
00:48:55,810 --> 00:48:58,700
And seeing the difference, the
way we can do things differently
826
00:48:58,710 --> 00:49:03,130
in our business when we have this
lens is really helpful as well.
827
00:49:03,600 --> 00:49:05,926
It's just been an absolute
pleasure talking to you.
828
00:49:05,926 --> 00:49:09,900
And I think the work that you're
doing is so valuable and so needed.
829
00:49:10,580 --> 00:49:14,240
And I hope this has
helped people think about.
830
00:49:14,880 --> 00:49:19,180
you know, having these conversations
with loved ones or work colleagues
831
00:49:19,180 --> 00:49:20,710
or whoever it might need to be.
832
00:49:21,380 --> 00:49:27,080
And that we can do things today that will
help prevent suffering in the future.
833
00:49:27,370 --> 00:49:29,320
That's a beautiful way to end.
834
00:49:29,740 --> 00:49:32,170
Thank you so much for being
with us today, Dr. Hayley.
835
00:49:32,610 --> 00:49:32,940
My
836
00:49:32,950 --> 00:49:33,680
absolute pleasure.
837
00:49:33,700 --> 00:49:34,330
Thank you.
Read Less
Resources
- Listen: Dr. Hayley's podcast
- Welcome to Self®: Time to Thrive Group Business Coaching
- Book: The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion by Chris Germer
- Visit the Website: Dr. Hayley Quinn
- My Loved One Has Died, What Do I Do Now?
- Our guide, ‘My Loved One Has Died, What Do I Do Now?’ provides practical steps for the hours and days after a loved one's death. Purchase it here.
- Support Services
If you're feeling overwhelmed by grief, find support through our resources and bereavement services here.

