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Is A Better Job Worth Moving Across Country?

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Is a Better Job Worth Moving Across the Country? Use the Quality-of-Life Checklist before calling U-Haul.  by Dwight Bain, LMHC & Certified Leadership Coach Leaders faced with the decision to advance their career often struggle with uprooting their family to make the move. Listing all the financial benefits of the right job may not really matter after they factor in the 25 elements that shape quality of life, (QoL). Consider – Trying to not make a major mistake can sometimes lead to making more. Becoming a road warrior to try and balance both sides leads to exhaustion. Staying frustrated in a struggling organization can lead to impulsively jumping at any new opportunity to escape. Basically, jumping off a ‘sinking ship’ by leaping over to an unknown, and potentially leaking organization. You can’t sail to new places when you’re busy bailing old problems from a different cubicle. Wisdom is to measure what matters before taking the new job and then calling U-Haul. Mapping

Jumping Jobs? - 15 Questions to Make a Strategic Career Move

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15 Questions to Help You Make a Strategic Career Move by Dwight Bain, LMHC & Certified Career Coach Why are people quitting jobs in record numbers? Did they find a better opportunity or is it because they are sick of working a dead-end job with a bully boss? The Department of Labor data showed for every unemployed worker, there were 1.2 job openings. Some industries are offering much higher wages, but still can’t find or retain workers. If you are ready to jump jobs, you are not alone. Before you quit your job, think about this comparison. Most travelers can relate to being on an uncomfortable, crowded, and bumpy flight, but few would jump out midair. They endure the miserable conditions to safely arrive, while considering flying on a different airline in the future. They would never jump out without a parachute or a without a plan. A better approach before you try to jump to a better job is to see if you are ready to make the jump. Make sure you are ready to move on to a better

The Valentine's Day Fail Process

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  The Valentine's Day Fail Process by  Dwight Bain, LMHC It’s the worst day of the year for millions. No, I’m not talking about April 15 th  when Income Taxes are due- I’m referring to Valentine’s Day. Turns out this ‘romantic’ holiday has become one of the loneliest and least popular holidays according to the National Retail Federation. Here’s how American’s listed out their preferences for special days– 93% - Christmas/Hanukkah   87.8% - July 4 th 83% - Mother’s Day 82% - Easter 77% - Father’s Day 60% - Valentine’s Day 54.2% - St. Patrick’s Day With all the promotions on TV you might think Valentines is more about money than it is about love since the average guy will spend $169 on jewelry, clothes, perfume, flowers or dining out…  (twice as much as women will spend according to the National Retail Federation). The Greeting Card Association reports that people will send about 150 million cards to show their love, in all American’s will spend $17.6 billion dollar

5 Ways Codependency Gets Confused With Love

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  5 Ways Codependency Gets Confused With Love by Megan Brewer, LMHC “If I just love him enough, he will stop his self-destructive behavior.” “I can’t say no to her because I don’t want her to think I don’t love her.” “I know I need to get out of this unhealthy relationship, but I can’t leave because I love them too much.” If these phrases sound familiar, then you may be confusing love with an unhealthily enmeshed and enabling relationship. It can be difficult to distinguish the difference between love and codependency because codependency can often be a distortion of love’s true components.   Below are 5 ways codependency parades as love:   1.      Love does not enable bad behavior.  Love does not excuse the destruction of the beloved. It is difficult to navigate care for someone who is hurting themselves, others, and us. Often, we don’t realize that our attempts at loving someone can be contributing to their destructive behavior. For example, we may try to provide for the emotiona

Psychological Strategies to Rebuild Your Life After Natural Disaster

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 By: Dwight Bain, Nationally Certified Counselor & Critical Incident Recovery Expert Natural disasters change people forever. Most people know to prepare ahead of time by keeping a watchful eye on tracking the storm or stocking up on resources. What we usually don't know is how to deal with the devastating psychological reactions that come after a natural disaster strikes.  Emotions like stress, anger, worry, depression, trauma, rage, confusion, anxiety, and panic are common and can build up to dangerous levels after a major critical incident which can lead to disastrous and self­ destructive behavior.  The more you know about how to survive after the storm, the faster you can take positive action to get your personal and professional life back on track. Warning Signs of "Storm Stress Syndrome" Stress from storms and natural disasters affects everyone. However, it becomes dangerous to our health when it goes on for an extended period.  Storm Stress Syndrom

A Red Head, A Blond, and A Brunette: What Do We Have In Common?

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 By: Elizabeth McKeehan, LMHC 1990 Basketball Homecoming Content Warning : This article contains discussion of suicide  Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (Call or Text): 988     Three classmates, 30 years ago in a glamorous, albeit staged, high school photo, capture a carefree time in our lives where the future was exciting and unknown.   We never dreamed that suicide would be a tie to bind us.   Holly Maupin, Holly Coleman, and I had been classmates for the previous 12 years leading up to this senior year picture.   We lived in Princeton, KY, a small rural town in western Kentucky.   Holly Maupin (red head) and I had the same angry 1st grade teacher, yet Holly’s motto was always to treat others like you want to be treated.   She asked me one day in class, “Are you saved?” I wasn’t sure what she meant, so I had to ask more questions.   She helped me to think as a 7 -year- old about death and life after death. She had depth, but also a light-hearted humor.   She always made me and o