Ep 169. The Energetics of Grief, How to Heal and Keep Going, with Jade Donegan
Behind The Smile with Ash ButterssShow Notes
This week, Ash sits down with principal consultant and founder of the Energy Collective Co, Jade Donegan, to explore what it really means to care for your inner world while navigating the demands of work, family, and grief. Jade shares how her spirituality helped her to navigate the profound rupture of losing her dad, a loss that reshaped how she sees life, love, and success.
She opens up about her journey through grief and forgiveness, the unexpected signs she still receives from her father, and the emotional toll of trying to keep going when your heart is somewhere else. Ash and Jade dive into the importance of emotional health at work, the need for accountability in professional spaces, and how understanding our own energy can change the way we lead, collaborate, and show up for the people around us.
Throughout their conversation, Jade reflects on the transformative power of practices like Reiki, and how they’ve helped her build self-awareness, soften self-judgment, and create workplaces where wellbeing is taken seriously. Together, they talk about moving through emotions rather than getting stuck in them, and the courage it takes to let yourself feel everything without shutting down.
At its heart, this episode is an invitation to meet yourself with empathy whether you’re sitting in grief, in transition, or in growth. You’ll walk away with insights on how to build a life and career that honour both your humanity and your healing.
Episode Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Retreats and Personal Growth 01:51 Meet Jade Donegan: A Journey of Transformation 04:04 Daily Life and Finding Joy in Learning 08:10 The Move to New Zealand: A Family Adventure 11:32 Hiding Behind a Smile: The Impact of Grief 19:06 Navigating Grief: A Personal Story of Loss 23:44 Navigating Numbness and Helplessness 24:26 The Journey of Forgiveness 25:55 A Life-Changing Accident 28:20 Empathy and Forgiveness in Grief 29:36 Signs from Beyond 36:50 The Power of Reiki 43:03 Workplace Wellbeing and Accountability
You can connect with Jade using the links below: http://www.energycollectiveco.com.au/
Follow and connect with Ash on: Instagram @ashbutterss TikTok @behindthesmilewithashb Website www.ashbutterss.com
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