SHINE’ing the Spotlight on…
Rachel Pope

Highly admired for her positivity and work as a grief specialist, Rachel inspires people to recreate a life of gratitude, growth, and adventure, beyond loss.

Well known as one of Australia’s heartfelt and motivational speakers, Rachel engages her audience with lived experiences, compassion and grace.

Having spoken for many groups, Rachel leaves her audience feeling empowered to take action and make positive changes in their life, while still honouring their grief.

Rachel is a thought leader, an encourager, and a survivor. She is an author, inspirational speaker and grief recovery coach.

As someone who has experienced compounded loss in her life, Rachel’s personal mission is to lift the lid on grief, one conversation at a time. She has lived it, survived, and resurfaced, with a proven track record to help people grow through grief, and recognise the gifts within their story.

Her unique workshops, courses, book, and motivational speaking events, have transformed the lives of thousands who have now found a new purpose, beyond the pain of loss, through Rachel Pope’s message.

What motivated you to write Gifts From Grief and why did you think it was important?

Following years of compounded grief with the loss of my Dad, brother and husband, being widowed at 38 years old with 2 small children, I went looking for resources on navigating grief. I found a lot of clinical self-help books that just didn’t speak to me on what I had been experiencing in the early years of my grief journey. So I started journaling and publicly sharing my work on social media. From there my book was born and published in 2019. It was important for me to lift the lid on conversations around grief, one of the most least talked about topics in our society.

What was your biggest learning curve and how did it make you a better person?

My biggest learning curve was to allow myself to embrace my personal growth and change beyond loss. That it did not mean that I was forgetting or “moving on” from 3 of the most significant people who had shaped my life. Letting go of the pain allowed me to “move forward” and cross the bridge from pain to purpose, while still honouring them, saying their name, and recognising the gifts they gave me. I have become a better person for having known them but also for taking responsibility for my own healing.

Tell us about your new programs, and how these will help others and what people can expect?

In my grief studies following the release of my book, I went on to become a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist through the Grief Recovery Institute Australia in WA. I run 1:1, 7wk programs, including Helping Children with Loss courses, online worldwide via zoom. Using the Grief Recovery method I guide people through a series of small action steps to help them regain a purposeful and productive place in their life, with a new found capacity for happiness and wholehearted living beyond loss.

What decision changed your life?

Often it takes people a “rock bottom” moment in their life to change their directory and get up and take control. For me this was 3 years after losing my husband Ray to cancer in 2012. I had to make a choice- to lie down and live in survival mode, OR  to stand up and take responsibility for my future and the future of my 2 children. The decision to get up and take control was the biggest and hardest one I’ve had to make. Our life now is lived with gratitude and a new perspective, recognising the gifts within our story.

And what’s next on the agenda for Rachel Pope?

I have lots of new projects on the go. Continuing to reach more people around the world with grief recovery. National Speaking events coming up with Camp Widow, and my Gifts from Grief half day workshops across the east coast. My goal to roll out the Helping Children with Loss programs for teachers and caregivers in early learning and schools is coming closer to completion. A much needed toolkit for helping guide our children through all kinds of loss. Another book? maybe, we will see what 2022 brings!

Most interesting person that you have met?

Samuel Johnson: His relentless passion for vanquishing cancer through his Love Your Sister Charity is beyond measurable. He is a remarkable human.

Favourite movie?

Top Gun- as a former trained Private Pilot, aviation was a passion of mine in my younger years.

What do you love most about your job?

I am truly grateful everyday for having stepped beyond my story for the sole purpose of helping others. The gifts I receive witnessing the life changes in my clients is so rewarding.

To find out more about Rachel and Gfit from Grief head to:

Webpage
https://giftsfromgrief.com/

Facebook
@giftsfromgrief