Making Work Better

‘The ultimate act of gratitude is to live the wisdom they have given us from that moment forward.’

Dr Kerry Howells explains gratitude as a process that connects us to the world through giver, receiver, and gift. She encourages us to notice what we have received and the importance of expressing our thanks – in some way - so that gratitude can flow in the world. Listen as Kerry explains how building gratitude in some areas of life can protect us going through adversity like grief.

Kerry says it’s not about trying to cover grief with gratitude, ‘it’s respectfully accepting that grief is there, and that gratitude can help us move through the grief’.

Broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - oar.org.nz

“I wasn’t running away from grief, I was running with my grief”.

Denise talks to Julie Zarifeh, clinical psychologist about life after the heart-breaking loss of her husband and son in 2017. Julie shares her experience of active grieving which she says was not running away from grief, but running with her grief. She shares the strategies that worked for her including: deep emotional connection, helping others, learning, and focusing on the good.

Listen to how Julie ran with her grief through a marathon, a 1000km hike and a country-wide bike trip.

Broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - oar.org.nz

‘Surrender is not giving up, rather it is opening up to the emergent to what is unfolding’.

Denise talks to Dr Neena Verma about the learning and growth that can occur when we are able to accept what is unfolding in our lives, even when that’s hard. Neena talks about her own challenges and personal loss and how she has learned to ‘be present to what life is presenting’. A long-standing practitioner of Appreciative Inquiry, she has been a pioneer of turning this appreciative focus to the shadow side of our lives and using it to find acceptance and growth through challenge.

Broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - oar.org.nz

Denise talks to Mairie Cregan, co-founder of the Feileacain, the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Association of Ireland about the silence around the loss of her two babies that led to her setting up the organisation. Determined to provide acknowledgement and support to bereaved parents, Feileacain now offers rituals including hand and footprints of the baby, memory boxes for parents to fill, and remembrance services where every parent says their baby’s name out loud.

Listen to Mairie describe why hearing their baby’s name may bring a tear to the eye of a bereaved parent, but also brings music to their heart.

Broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - oar.org.nz

Denise talks to Rob Fazio, founder of Hold the Door, a not-for-profit that helps people coping with significant loss or adversity. Learn how Hold the Door is Rob’s way of honouring his father’s memory and keeping his legacy alive. Committed to the idea of helping people grow and grieve, Hold the Door’s strategy is one of connecting and caring with those involved, and then offering challenge to grow – in whatever way is appropriate. Rob says we all need ‘hope and a plan’ and this is what they offer through their service.

Broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - oar.org.nz

Denise shares part 2 of her discussion with renowned grief expert Dr Bob Neimeyer. Bob explains why grief is so personal and why we each need to find our own GPS (Grief Positioning System!) to help us live in the world again. He shares strategies that many people have found helpful when rebuilding their lives after difficult losses.

Anyone who has found themselves at a loss for what to say to the bereaved will appreciate the simple but beautiful questions Bob uses to help the grieving open up and share stories of their loved ones.

Broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - oar.org.nz

After great loss, the grieving have to re-define who they are, make sense of what’s happened, and find meaning and connection in a world that is significantly changed for them. Dr Robert Neimeyer, grief researcher and therapist, discusses with Denise the important role that meaning plays in helping us adapt to and cope with significant loss and change.

Listen as Bob explains why grief is such an individual experience: ‘it matters who we are, who we lose, and how we lose them’.

This episode is part 1 of a 2-part conversation with Bob Neimeyer. Join us again for part 2. Broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - oar.org.nz

How do positive emotions help us cope with our most challenging moments including caregiving for people facing life-threatening illness or bereavement?

In this podcast, Prof. Judith Moskowitz, social and health psychologist, shares how activities that generate positive emotions can help people respond to significant life stress in a healthier way. Her ground-breaking work has shown the difference simple activities like re-framing, mindfulness, kindness, practising and benefit finding can make to the bereaved, people living with stroke, dementia, HIV-Aids, Stage IV breast cancer, and their carers. Importantly, Judith’s work shows that we can all learn these strategies and reap the benefits.

Listen to how talking about the positives, even in the most challenging times, can help psychologically and physically.

Broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - oar.org.nz

Denise shares part 2 of Dr Lucy Hone’s conversation with renowned grief expert Dr Tom Attig. Tom offers advice on what to say to the bereaved, the value of rituals for grieving, and the difference between a grief reaction and a grief response. Tom encourages us to develop what he calls ‘sorrow friendly’ practices, so that our cultures can be more supportive of grieving.

Broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - oar.org.nz

Denise shares Part 1 of a conversation between Dr Lucy Hone and renowned grief expert, Dr Tom Attig, who explains the flaws in the stages model of grief. He shares how significant loss shatters our world and requires us to re-learn how to live in the work, and to rebuild our connections in new ways. He encourages us to pay attention to the resilience most people still display even at their lowest ebb.

Listen as Tom discusses ‘loving in separation’: keeping bonds and connections with loved ones who have died.

Broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - oar.org.nz