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My guest today is Christina Rasmussen who is an acclaimed grief educator and counselor. She is the bestselling author of Second Firsts, Where Did You Go? And her new book Invisible Loss is the focus of our conversation today. Now you might be wondering why I’m talking to a grief counselor on a podcast about optimization. But you’ll quickly realize that living a fulfilling and rewarding life is hindered by “invisible losses.” These unrecognized losses leave us feeling like we’re not living the life we’re meant to live.

Christina and I delve into the concept of the 'Thriver Self,' the part of us that's unhindered by fear, eager to try new things, looking for opportunities, and ready to take action. She argues that through an invisible loss, we lose our connection to our Thriver Self thus hindering our ability to move forward.

You will hear Christina put me on the hot seat as the tables turn and I get vulnerable about the circumstances of my life over the last year and a half. Christina helps me connect to my Thriver Self and identifies a simple step I can take to restore what was lost. This practical approach that she calls Life Reentry, is a process that will help us move on and thrive in our new reality.

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Here's What You'll Learn:

Christina's origin story of why she chose to become a grief counselor (she didn't lose anyone yet)
Why Zack calls the COVID pandemic, The Great Correction
Why Zack decided to make a career transition
The (untold) Christopher Rush story
How Christina discovered invisible loss
KEY TAKE AWAY: Invisible losses can be more catastrophic than recognized loss
What is Mental Stacking and how is it done
The Survivor Self and Thriver Self and why it's important to distinguish themMental stacking with Zack - finding and recognizing an invisible loss
What's a 'plug in' and how can it help to reconnect with your Thriver Self

Useful Resources Mentioned:

I Was Tired of Putting My Kids to Bed via FaceTime Every Night. Here’s What I Did About It

GO FAR: The Christopher Rush Story

The Invisible Losses Library

Invisible Loss book

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Guest Bio:

christina-rasmussen-bio Christina Rasmussen

Christina Rasmussen is an acclaimed grief educator and bestselling author of Second Firsts (Hay House, 2013), Where Did You Go? (Harper One, 2018), and Invisible Loss (Sounds True, 2024). In 2010, four years after her thirty-five-year-old spouse passed away from Stage 4 colon cancer, she created the Life Reentry process, which launched her on a mission to bring compassion, grace, and validation to thousands, while simultaneously establishing an exit from what she termed the Waiting Room.

Christina holds a master’s degree in guidance and counseling (University of Durham). She is currently finishing her master of fine arts degree in painting and drawing (Academy of Art). Her grief work has been featured on ABC News and in Women’s World, the Washington Post, and the White House Blog.

In her spare time, she is learning to play the piano and planning her first trip to the edge of space. She works and lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband, Eric, and their two dogs.

Show Credits:

This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared by Debby Germino and published by Glen McNiel.

The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Joe Trapanese (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet).

Ep256: Overcoming the Grief of "Invisible Losses" (Including Losing Your Job), and Getting Out of "Survival Mode" | with Christina Rasmussen

The Zack Arnold Podcast