We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dr. Julie Shaw a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Dr. Julie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.
My sister died. That is my defining moment. This changed everything and I know for so many others that have experienced loss like this may understand how a loss like this not only changes your career, but most importantly your life. In February of 2020 my life did just that. It took a huge turn that made me reflect and think about how I wanted to move forward, while carrying my grief and still live my life. this led to me reevaluating my job which was a jo I had dreamed about, working in the NBA. When my sister got sick and there were countless drives back and forth to the hospital and when I realized that death was a possibility, I left my job. As I was grieving I knew I did not want to get stuck. So I immersed myself into the world of death and grief to learn all I could about what I was experiencing. I discovered a new world where others could empathize with me and a world where I saw the need for others to be supported. I knew I wanted to help and turn this pain into purpose.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Hello I’m Grieving has evolved and will continue to. What started out as a simple instagram page has now turned into live in person events, virtual events, collaborations, a podcast, and facilitated sessions for businesses and organizations. Soon to be launched is the Hello I’m Grieving Club, which is a community for members to gain access to events, get support, education, and the peer to peer connections that is needed as you grieve. What sets Hello I’m Grieving apart from other grief support is that it is inspired by the grief community and also welcomes in and challenges how we view and/or process grief. It is an inclusive space where we are able to celebrate, cry, have fun, share tough moments, and truly connect. Grief is in everything we do in life and is imminent. We validate that grief is not just about death. It shows up in divorce, friendships, addiction, career loss, parenthood, etc. How we will continue to evolve to curate creative spaces and interactive events that help people connect and process their grief through different modalities. I am honored that people seek me out to work with them and guide them through their grief as well as feel safe to share their stories with me. I simply want people to know they are not alone and to validate their grief.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
You can’t be fake when it comes to grief. Especially if you are doing this type of impact work. Understanding this and being authentically me has been my super power. I often ask people why me? Or why they feel comfortable, or why they felt they could talk so openly about their grief with me or in our community. The consensus that I have received is that Im real. I’m a real person who shows up how I present myself on social media (which is not too common these days) and when they hear me speak they can tell I am passionate as well as educated on the topic. One thing I also want to call out is my identity in this space and why I stand out and have built a uniques reputation. Is because I am a Black, Filipina Queer woman. So it is important that I build an inclusive space. That I also address the cultural dynamics of grief and that people truly feel seen. The other thing is, our society makes it hard to talk about grief or people tend to think it is always going to be a very sad, dark experience. One that we have to talk in hushed tones and be super gentle with people. Yes there is space for this, however, my belief is that grief contains so much more that that. It allows you to explore and experience every emotion possible, and those emotions can include joy, happiness, excitement, etc. So I think what also separates me and Hello I’m Grieving is that I bring the light to the dark spaces of grief and want others to experience this.
Can you talk to us about how your funded your firm or practice?
To be honest, Hello I’m Grieving has been self funded as I continue to grow. I started small and actually started out selling apparel to signal to people that they are not alone in their grief and a way they could start the conversation. Which I still sell on my website today. One of the hard parts I have discovered doing grief work is actually communicating the value. Here are some quick stats on just how important this work is: 74% of people who experience high or severe vulnerability in grief do not access formal bereavement services or mental health support. 78% of BIPOC individuals are more likely to seek grief help when services are community-based and culturally informed. People who participate in peer-led grief support groups report a 72% increase in emotional resilience and coping skills. 57% experienced major loss in the last 3 years. With these stats, and several more that showcase the importance, I do want people to invest in their well being. I want partnerships and sponsorships to be knocking on my door to see how we can collaborate. Because community is key and we heal in community. I think more folks should put their money behind Hello I’m Grieving and other grief support because it takes a lot to hold space for grievers and this work can make a lasting impact on mot only how you show up for yourself, but others around you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.helloimgrieving.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helloimgrieving/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Hello-Im-Grieving-100068299997445/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjulieshaw/?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Twitter: https://x.com/helloimgrieving
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@helloimgrieving?app=desktop
