Blaze Coaching

26/10/2024

Like many people, I too found healing through writing poetry throughout my grief journey. In the Year of the Dragon, it seems fitting to share this personal piece with you.

Fire Dragon Alights

Golden light on wings alight,
Fire-lit heart and soul in flight.
Tongues of inspiration spark,
Guiding her way through shadow and dark.

In courage, grief, and soulful prayer,
Joyful tears of healing care.
Compassion blooms, nurturing grace,
Transforming wounds, filling space.

Dreams rise, clear and bold,
Rebirth shines in hues of gold.
Love and fear entwined embrace,
Fiery spirit finds its place.

Trust in self and spirit’s call,
To reap, to sow, to rise, to fall.
To change, to grow, to feel, to heal—
The journey unfolds, steady and real.

Helping hands, strength and might,
Flying on wings through day and night.
Dragon’s breath and searching mind,
The heartstone’s warmth in gold entwined.

Protector, wise and bold within,
Love’s deep roots, where all begins.
Passion flows, her spirit knows,
Through blazing fire, the soul now grows.

- Amanda Lee

Daughter of Roger, and Granddaughter of Verna, George, Millie and Bert.

15/10/2024

Was so great to meet some wonderful ladies tonight at the Manna Gum Community House to facilitate a session on mental wellness and empowerment. Thanks so much to Kylie for the introduction and opportunity to be part of this community and hear them share their stories so bravely.

There’s so much power when women support women.

Looking forward to my upcoming Christmas Grief Workshops starting in November. There are limited places available. If you, or someone you know may need a supportive environment to help them work through some major life changes, please pass on the details .

https://www.blazecoaches.com/event-details/christmas-grief-workshops-2024-2024-11-12-19-00-1

12/10/2024

Grief affects more than just emotions; it impacts our confidence, cognitive function, and even how we perform at work. From personal experience, I know how the effects of grief ripple into the workplace—whether it’s memory loss, fatigue, or feeling disconnected from your abilities.

🧠 Psychological Impact: Grief can shake your self-confidence and lead to self-doubt, as you may question your competence and struggle to keep up with expectations.

⚡️ Cognitive and Physical Effects: Grieving employees often experience cognitive overload, memory issues, and fatigue, all of which can affect decision-making and performance.

🌐 Social Withdrawal: Grief isolates us from colleagues, making it hard to engage in teamwork or ask for support, further harming workplace dynamics.

🔄 Overworking as a Coping Mechanism: Some use work as a distraction, but this can lead to burnout and erode confidence further in the long run.

It’s crucial for leaders to recognise these challenges and provide compassionate, flexible support to help employees through grief, offering mental health resources, flexible work arrangements, and an understanding work culture.

🔗 Full article here: https://wix.to/86f3zJq

Grief in the workplaceGrief, as an emotional response to loss, has a profound impact on an individual's ability to maintain confidence and perform at the same standard in the workplace. This is not only due to the psychological toll of grief but also the physiological and cognitive changes that acco...

10/10/2024

Today I signed up as an Associate Member of Su***de Prevention Australia. Having lived experience of being bereaved by su***de, I have a strong interest in this area. It's partly what drove me to become adept in supporting those that are grieving. But the reason I signed up, was the alarming data shared in their media release today - World Mental Health Day.

Did you know that the leading cause of death in children aged between 5 - 17 is su***de? It has taken over the #1 spot over vehicle accidents. We need to do more, and we need to do it better as their paper states. The time for urgent action is now.

Not surprisingly, the data also puts a spotlight on an often overlooked conversation in the media, which is related to su***de increased rates in women between 50-54. Females 50-54 had the highest age-specific su***de rate (10.7% of all female su***de deaths) and between 2022 and 2023 females aged 50-54 years had the largest increase in age specific su***de rates. As the conversation around perimenopause and menopause become more normalised and access to better health treatments and options increase, hopefully this number will decrease. To read their media release click here: https://lnkd.in/gPwsmvuV

So for my 4th year, I'm supporting the Black Dog Institute and their One Foot Forward campaign to raise funds to let people know that we're in this together. Funds raised will help their ground-breaking new mental health treatment, education and digital services into the hands of those that need them most. If you're able to make a small donation that would be amazing: https://lnkd.in/gKy5_b-n. Thank you to all my generous donors this year and over the years.

Thank you to Griefline for sharing important information about making meaningful connections, not just today, but everyday. Griefline is here to help. Call their helpline on 1300 845 745 from 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week (AEST/AEDT), to connect with a caring volunteer.

And also to StandBy Support After Su***de for sharing their heartbreaking, yet supportive post promoting the advocacy call of support from Government about su***de. As they compassionately acknowledge: "We caution that due to the sometimes distressing nature of su***de reporting, we recommend those bereaved and impacted take measures to look after their own wellbeing in response the data release, and take time out from media and social media if required. We remember that su***de is a complex issue and is often not preceded by a single event or condition. Accurate information about su***de is important in order to identify those who may need more support and to debunk common myths about su***de."

To reach out for support to StandBy on 1300 727 247

My Christmas Grief Workshops 2024 may also provide some support and solace for people in need.


Lifeline Beyond Blue Blaze Coaching Grief Speaks Out Grief Speaks Surviving Grief

08/10/2024

🌿 Navigating Living Loss: Coping with Ambiguous Grief 🌿 Grief isn't always about death. Sometimes, it's about the profound loss of what could have been—relationships left unresolved, loved ones still alive but emotionally or physically distant, or an injury that alters life forever. Whether it’s through divorce, dementia, estranged family, or even incarceration, the grief is real—but society doesn’t always recognise it.

This is Ambiguous Grief, or what I like to call: Living Loss—a form of grief that exists without clear closure, often leaving us in a state of uncertainty.

Today I explore how to manage ambiguous grief and the powerful ways we can support ourselves through these types of loss. Through validation, rituals, and self-compassion, there is a path forward.

https://lnkd.in/gkaP7fR6

If you need help, then please consider joining us for our Christmas Grief Workshops 2024

hashtag hashtag hashtag Blaze Coaching Amanda Lee https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7249332060870361089

🌿 Navigating Living Loss: Coping with Ambiguous Grief 🌿 Grief isn't always about death. Sometimes, it's about the profound loss of what could have…

06/10/2024

When I entered the workforce, I was shocked by how little time employees were given to process the death of a loved one. I saw colleagues return to work after just two days of bereavement leave, struggling to function emotionally and mentally.

But there are some companies that are rethinking this, offering extended bereavement leave to provide real support in difficult times.

This article ranks the top 16 global companies offering the best bereavement leave policies, including Bank of America, Airbus, and SAP, which lead the way in supporting employees through their grief. Discover how these companies are setting a new standard for compassionate leave policies, helping employees cope with loss while enhancing workplace well-being and productivity.

When I entered the workforce, I was shocked by how little time employees were given to process the death of a loved one. I saw colleagues return to work after…

05/10/2024

"i still find myself
wanting to go back.
to stay with you.
bookmarked.
in the part of my life
where you are still living."

- sara rian 💔❤

04/10/2024

Dr Dr. Daniel Amen offers a simple and clear view into how our brains work! If you haven't yet discovered his work, check it out.

Emotional regulation and resilience are two essential skills that help us navigate the challenges and stresses of life with greater ease and stability. We all experience emotions—both positive and negative—and the ability to manage those emotions effectively is crucial to maintaining our mental ...

29/09/2024

🎄 Christmas Grief Recovery Workshops 🌟

Do you struggle through the holiday season due to grief and loss? Whether it’s the passing of a loved one, a pet, a divorce, redundancy, or even long-term unaddressed grief, we’re here to help you find peace and healing.

This workshop is for you if you are dealing with:

- Bereavement or the first-year anniversary of a loss
- Long-term grief that has been left unresolved
- Serious medical diagnoses or caring for someone in distress

In this supportive and caring environment, you’ll develop a Personalised Grief Recovery Toolkit through:

🧘‍♂️ Meditation & breathing techniques to manage grief
📊 Grief Mapping to prepare for your triggers
🖋️ Thought management & creative writing
💎 Mind-body-spirit balance through colours, crystals, and animal guidance

📅 Dates: Tuesdays: Nov 12, 19, 26 & Dec 3, 10, 17
📍 Location: Cranbourne West Community Hub
🎟️ Tickets:

- Pay and register for your first session by 31 October and only pay $50 per session.
- Pay and register before October 31 for all sessions and receive a discount, paying only $230 for the 6 sessions
- Pay as you go (per session): $65

Give yourself the gift of healing this holiday season. 🌟

Limited spots available – Book now!

https://www.blazecoaches.com/event-details/christmas-grief-workshops-2024-2024-11-12-19-00-1

10/04/2022

If you have a coach - what does their own ongoing personal and professional development look like? Who are they listening to? How do they keep learning?

I am a great fan of Carl Ransom Rogers (1902 – 1987). He was an influential American psychologist and among the founders of the humanistic approach (or client-centered approach) to psychology. In a study by Haggbloom et al. (2002) using six criteria such as citations and recognition, Rogers was found to be the sixth most eminent psychologist of the 20th century and second, among clinicians, only to Sigmund Freud.

Rogers is widely considered to be one of the founding fathers of psychotherapy research and was honored for his pioneering research with the Award for Distinguished Scientific Contributions by the American Psychological Association (APA) in 1956.

The person-centered approach, his own unique approach to understanding personality and human relationships, found wide application in various domains such as psychotherapy and counseling (client-centered therapy), education (student-centered learning), organizations, and other group settings.

For his professional work he was bestowed the Award for Distinguished Professional Contributions to Psychology by the APA in 1972.

Carl Ransom Rogers (1902 – 1987) was an influential American psychologist and among the founders of the humanistic approach (or client-centered approach) to ...

06/04/2022

Awarded the Best Su***de Prevention Organisation of 2022, I recently undertook the free Calm Su***de Safety 1 hour course with Su***de Programs (Australia).

There's always new information, something to learn. When the information shared is free and it could help you help someone close to you, then take the time to see if it is of any value. If there's one thing you pick up, then it's worthwhile.

If you are su***de survivor, this type of course may also help you in your healing journey.

If you need a calm conversation, then please reach out.