| How to Seek a Voluntary Dismissal Posted: 26 Sep 2016 05:00 PM PDT You might want to voluntarily dismiss a lawsuit for a variety of reasons. For example, you might have settled the dispute, or you might want to sue in a different court. In these situations, you can seek a voluntary dismissal by filing a legal document with the court. Depending on your circumstances, you may have to attend a hearing where you explain why you want to dismiss the case. A voluntary dismissal is not available in all situations, so you should read your court's rules of civil procedure to check. EditChecking Whether Voluntary Dismissal is Possible - Read your Rules of Civil Procedure. Each court has rules of civil procedure which explain when you can dismiss a lawsuit voluntarily. You should find your relevant rule and read it. It will explain the situations when you can seek dismissal.
- If you are in federal court, then read Federal Rule 41. It is available online.[1]
- If you are in state court, then find your state's rules of civil procedure, which should be online.[2] If you can't find your state's rules online, then check with a law library, which might be at your courthouse or at a nearby law school.
- Check whether the defendant has answered the lawsuit. According to the federal rule (and many state rules), you can only seek voluntary dismissal if the defendant hasn't answered your lawsuit or filed a motion for summary judgment.[3] Go through your papers and check if the defendant has answered the lawsuit in any way.
- A defendant can answer the lawsuit by filing an "answer" or a "motion to dismiss."
- Come to an agreement with the defendant. If the defendant has answered your lawsuit, then you can still get a voluntary dismissal so long as the defendant agrees to dismiss the lawsuit. This is called a "stipulation."[4]
- You should contact the defendant and explain why you want to dismiss the case.
- Be careful with what you say. You shouldn't say, "I want to dismiss the case because my evidence is weak." However, if you settle the lawsuit, for example, then you can agree to dismiss the lawsuit as part of the settlement.
- Check if the defendant filed a counterclaim. You can still get a dismissal even if the defendant has answered your complaint and even if the defendant refuses to agree to dismiss the suit. In this situation, you need to file a motion and get the court's approval. However, the defendant might have pled a counterclaim when he or she answered your complaint.
- Check the answer the defendant filed. See if there is a counterclaim listed.
- If there is, then the judge will only dismiss the lawsuit if the counterclaim can stand on its own.[5] This means that the counterclaim is factually independent from the lawsuit you want dismissed.[6][7]
- Decide whether to dismiss "with prejudice." If you dismiss a case "without prejudice," then you can file it again at a later date. However, when a case is dismissed "with prejudice," you cannot refile it later. You should seek a voluntary dismissal "with prejudice" only in the following circumstances:[8]
- You have resolved the dispute. For example, someone might have owed you money. If he or she paid you in full, then you can dismiss the lawsuit "with prejudice."
- You reached a settlement. As part of a settlement agreement, you will agree to release the defendant from further liability. Accordingly, you may agree to dismiss the case "with prejudice."
- You sued the wrong person. You might realize that you named the wrong person as a defendant. You should be 100% sure that the person is not the right defendant before seeking to dismiss "with prejudice."
- Pay attention to your statute of limitations. A "statute of limitation" tells you how much time you have to bring a lawsuit. Generally, the clock starts running from the date of the injury. For example, "breach of contract" is a cause of action which in California has a four-year statute of limitation (if the contract was written).[9]
- The statute of limitations will differ depending on the cause of action and on your state.[10]
- If you dismiss, remember that you have to refile before the statute of limitations period ends. If the period has already expired, then you won't be able to refile. You should always pay attention to the statute of limitations period.
- Consult with an attorney if you have questions. This area of law is complicated. Each rule of civil procedure has wrinkles that you might not be aware of. For example, the federal rule states that if you seek voluntary dismissal for the same claim twice, then the second dismissal is "with prejudice" and you can't refile.[11] You should always talk to an attorney if you have questions.
- You can get a referral to an attorney by contacting your local or state bar association.[12]
- Call the attorney and schedule a consultation. Ask ahead of time how much he or she charges.
EditFiling a Notice of Dismissal - Find a notice of dismissal form. You can file a "notice of dismissal" if the defendant hasn't answered or if the defendant agrees to dismiss the suit. Your court may have printed, "fill in the blank" forms you can use to seek voluntary dismissal.[13] You can stop in and ask the court clerk or check the court's website.
- You can't file a "notice of dismissal" if the defendant has already answered your complaint and refuses to agree to the dismissal. In this situation, you need to file a "motion for dismissal" with the court.
- Format your document. If there is no form, then you will have to draft your own. Open a blank word processing document and set the font to a legible size and style. Times New Roman or Arial 14 point works for most people.
- Read your court's local rules for more formatting requirements.[14] You should have picked up these rules before filing your complaint. You can usually get them from the judge's clerk. They are often posted on the court's website as well.
- Insert the caption information. At the top of the page, you should insert the caption. The caption contains the name of the court, the names of you and the defendant, and the case number. Check your complaint, which should have this information.
- Title the document. You should title it "Notice of Voluntary Dismissal Pursuant to [insert the relevant rule of civil procedure]." Make the title all caps, in bold, and center it between the left- and right-hand margins.[15]
- For example, if you are seeking dismissal in federal court before the defendant has answered, then your title would read "Notice of Voluntary Dismissal Pursuant to F.R.C.P. 41(a)(1)(A)(i)." "F.R.C.P." is the abbreviation for the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
- By contrast, if you are seeking dismissal in federal court after the defendant has answered—but the defendant has agreed to the dismissal—then your title would read "Notice of Voluntary Dismissal Pursuant to F.R.C.P. 41(a)(1)(A)(ii)" since this is the part of the rule that provides for the parties to agree to a dismissal.
- Add the body of the notice. The body of your notice can be simple. You should state what rule of civil procedure gives you the right to seek voluntary dismissal and also state whether the dismissal is "with prejudice" or "without prejudice." You do not need to go into greater detail as to why you are seeking to dismiss the case.
- For example, sample language could read: "Pursuant to F.R.C.P. 41(a)(1)(A)(i) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the plaintiff Michelle Jones hereby gives notice that the above-captioned action is voluntarily dismissed, without prejudice against the defendant Acme Corporation."[16]
- Sign and date the notice. If the defendants have to agree to the dismissal, then include signature lines for them as well and ask them to sign and date the Notice.
- Serve a copy on the defendant. You should mail or hand deliver a copy of the notice of dismissal to the defendant. Whoever serves the defendant may have to complete a "proof of service" form, which may be attached to the notice.[17] If not, then you can get a proof of service form from the court clerk.
- You can't make service. Whoever does make service should sign the proof of service and return it to you. Keep a copy for your records and file the original with the court.
- File your notice. You should take the completed Notice of Voluntary Dismissal to the court clerk and file it. The clerk should stamp your copies with the filing date.
EditFiling a Motion for Dismissal - Find a form. If the defendant has answered and won't agree to dismiss the lawsuit, then you need a judge to grant a motion to dismiss the lawsuit. You will need to file a motion. Your court may have "fill in the blank" forms you can use. Check with the court clerk or look on the court's website.[18]
- You cannot use the "notice of dismissal" form. Instead, you are filing a motion for a judge to rule on.
- Format your own motion. Your court might not have a form you can use. In this situation, you will need to draft your own. Open a blank word processing document. Set the font to a comfortable size and style.
- Times New Roman or Arial 14-point font is standard.
- Insert the caption. Look at your complaint. At the top should be the following information: the name of the court, the names of the parties (you and whoever you sued as the "defendant"), and the case number.[19] You need to put this information in your motion for voluntary dismissal.
- Add a title. You can title your motion "Motion for Voluntary Dismissal Without Prejudice" or "Motion for Voluntary Dismissal With Prejudice."[20] You can add the title right below the caption.
- Insert an introduction. You should introduce yourself and identify the rule of civil procedure that allows you to seek a judge's order for a voluntary dismissal. If the defendant filed a counterclaim, then briefly explain why the judge should dismiss the counterclaim or why the counterclaim can stand on its own.
- Sample language could read: "Plaintiff, Michelle Jones, moves pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(2) for leave to dismiss its complaint and terminate this action for the reasons that the claims are moot. Plaintiff also moves, pursuant to rule 12(b)(6), to dismiss the counterclaim filed by Defendant on the grounds that it is not a proper counterclaim."[21]
- Provide background facts. The judge is looking for key information in order to decide whether to grant your motion. Make sure to include the following information in complete sentences under the heading "Factual Background":[22]
- The date you filed the lawsuit.
- The date the defendant answered the lawsuit and when you received the answer.
- Whether a hearing has been held.
- Explain why you want dismissal. Under the heading "Plaintiff's Reasons for Seeking a Voluntary Dismissal," you should explain why you want to dismiss the case. Go into sufficient detail so that the judge understands your reasoning.
- For example, you might want to bring suit in a different court that is more convenient. You might have sued in regular civil court but want to refile in small claims court. In this situation, you would want a voluntary dismissal "without prejudice" so that you can refile in the small claims court.[23]
- Argue that the defendant will not be prejudiced. You don't have an automatic right to get the case dismissed "without prejudice." Instead, you have to convince the judge that dismissing the case will not prejudice the defendant. A court will generally look at four factors, so give a reason why all four work in your favor:[24]
- How far along the case has progressed, including how much time and money the defendant has spent preparing for trial. If you are seeking dismissal shortly after the defendant answered, then you are more likely to get a dismissal "without prejudice." For example: "Plaintiff has timely filed this motion for voluntary dismissal, as the action has been pending for only four weeks."
- How diligently you have been pursuing your lawsuit. The lawsuit might have been pending for a year, which is not necessarily bad if you have been diligently working toward trial. If so, explain what you have done.
- How expensive it would be to pursue the lawsuit if it is refiled. If you filed your motion for dismissal early, then the defendant shouldn't have spent much money defending the suit.
- How adequate your explanation is for seeking dismissal.
- Argue that the counterclaim doesn't prevent dismissal. If the defendant didn't file a counterclaim, then you don't need this section. However, if there is a counterclaim, then you need to argue one of the following:
- The counterclaim isn't valid to begin with and should be dismissed or struck. For example, the defendant might not have made a valid legal claim in your state.
- The counterclaim is valid and can stand on its own. This means that the defendant's counterclaim doesn't arise from the same transaction or occurrence as your lawsuit.[25] For example, you may have sued the defendant for negligence for crashing into your garage. However, he may have countersued for a debt that you owe him. Because the debt doesn't arise from the same occurrence (the crash) as your suit, you can argue that you are entitled to voluntary dismissal.
- Add a conclusion. Your conclusion can be brief. You can simply repeat your request: "Plaintiff asks that the action be dismissed without prejudice."[26]
- Underneath the conclusion, insert the words "Respectfully submitted" and then a signature block underneath. Sign your motion.
- Create a certificate of service. You need to tell the judge that you gave the defendant notice of your motion. On a separate sheet of paper, type "Certificate of Service."[27]
- The body of the certificate could read: "I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing Motion for Voluntary Dismissal was furnished by United States Mail, postage paid, this [enter mailing date] to [insert name of defendant's attorney]." Then add a signature line and sign.[28]
- Serve notice on the defendant. You provide notice by sending a copy of your motion. You should serve notice using the delivery method stated in your certificate of service. If the defendant has an attorney, then serve the attorney instead of the defendant.[29]
- You generally can't serve notice. Instead, you need someone 18 or older, unrelated to the lawsuit, to serve the notice.
- In some courts, your server must fill out a "proof of service" form. You can get this from the court clerk and give it to your server. He or she completes it, signs it, and returns it to you. You then attach the completed form to your motion.
- File your motion with the court. Make several copies of your motion and take them to the court clerk. Ask to file.[30] Depending on your court, you may have to file copies along with the original. Remember to always keep a copy for your records.
- You may have to pay a filing fee, which will vary by court. Ask the court clerk for the amount and acceptable methods of payment.
- Prepare for the hearing. The judge might hold a hearing on whether to dismiss the case, although in some courts the judge will decide the issue by reading your motion. You can prepare for the hearing in the following ways:
- Read the defendant's response. The defendant might file a motion opposing the dismissal. You should read it carefully so that you understand the arguments made.
- Write out a list of bullet points. You might not get a lot of time to talk to the judge. For this reason, you should plan on making your strongest three or four points.
- Practice making your argument. At the hearing, you will go first. You can practice making an argument with friends. Try to simulate a real hearing. Call the judge "Your Honor" and practice answering questions.
- If you settle a class action lawsuit in federal court, you need the judge's approval, even if all parties are in agreement. You cannot file a Notice of Dismissal.[31]
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| How to Bottle Feed a Baby Lamb Posted: 26 Sep 2016 09:00 AM PDT Sometimes, you might need to bottle feed a baby lamb. Lambs may be orphaned if the mother dies in birth or, on occasion, if a mother simply rejects a baby for no discernible reason. You need to begin bottle feeding as soon as possible to make sure the lamb survives. There is certain protocol you need to follow while feeding a lamb. EditPreparing the Formula - See a vet. If you need to bottle feed your lamb, you likely found a lamb orphaned or had one of your ewes reject a lamb. You should take the lamb to the vet's first before attempting to treat the lamb yourself. The vet will be able to tell you exactly what the lamb needs in terms of care and help you find the proper milk and colostrum replacers to feed your lamb and assure she gets all the vitamins and minerals she needs.
- Obtain colostrum replacer. Colostrum is the first type of milk a ewe produces after giving birth. It's vital to the health and well-being of a lamb.
- Colostrum is important because it contains high levels of nutrients and also protects against a variety of infectious agents. Lambs do not carry antibodies at birth, so they need colostrum to help them develop antibodies and combat potential infections.[1]
- Lambs should receive 10% of their body weight in colostrum after birth. That means a 10 pound lamb should consume 1 pound of colostrum during the first 24 hours of life. If your lamb has been abandoned or rejected by her mother, get her colostrum replacer as soon as possible. In fact, if you raise lambs, it's a good idea to have colostrum replacer on hand at all times in the event of an emergency.[2]
- Colostrum replacer should be sold at most places that sell livestock feed and equipment.[3]
- Buy lamb milk replacer. Your lamb will need milk replacer for roughly the first 13 weeks of life.
- Lamb milk replacer can also be purchased at a store that sells livestock feed. Once opened, keep it in a sealed gallon jar. Placing a few bay leaves on top of the jar can prevent insect infestations.[4]
- Make sure the milk replacer is specifically for lambs. Do not try to substitute milk replacer with products for cows as these have different nutrients and vitamins and will not keep a lamb healthy.[5]
- Make your own formula, if necessary. If you cannot find milk replacer or colostrum replacer, you can make your own at home. It's recommended you try to find store bought brands first, as they're more likely to have the proper nutrients, so only resort to homemade products as a last resort.
- Colostrum replacer can be made by mixing 740 milliliters of cow's milk, one beaten egg, a teaspoon of cod liver oil, and a teaspoon of glucose together. It can also be made with 600 milliliters of cow's milk, a teaspoon of castor oil, and one beaten egg.[6]
- Milk formula can be made with a teaspoon of butter, a teaspoon of dark corn syrup, a can of evaporated milk, and oral and liquid baby lamb vitamins you can purchase at a feed store.[7]
- Prepare the bottle. A lamb should be fed with an 8 ounce baby bottle with a rubber nipple.
- Initially, you should fill the bottle with 10% of the baby lamb's weight in colostrum and feed this to the lamb within its first 24 hours. Feed the lamb every two hours, if possible, during this timeframe.[8]
- After the initial colostrum feeding, your lamb will need 140 milliliters of milk replacer. Measure out the proper amount into the bottle and heat the bottle until it's warm to the touch but not scalding, much like you would heat a baby's bottle.[9]
- Sterilize the bottles and nipples regularly with Milton sterilizing solution or a baby's steam sterilizer.[10] Any milk residue is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. Do not use bleach because it will ruin the nipples.[11]
EditFeeding the Lamb - Form a feeding schedule. Once you get past the initial 24 hour period, you should set and follow a feeding schedule for your lamb.
- For the first 24 hours after receiving the colostrum, lambs should be fed 140 milliliters every four hours. After this, feed your lamb 200 milligrams four times a day. Your lamb should still be fed about every four hours. Keep track of what times you feed your lamb and make sure to get a feeding in at the proper intervals.[12]
- Once 2 weeks pass, you can begin gradually upping the amount of milk you feed your lamb.
- As previously stated, heat the milk replacer first so it is warm to the touch without being scalding.[13]
- Hold the lamb's head up, allowing her to stand, and let her feed. Once you have the milk measured and prepared, you can feed your lamb.
- Lambs should feed standing up. Do not cuddle or hold your lamb while bottle feeding as this could result in a clot in her lung.[14]
- Most lambs will suckle instinctively. If your lamb is not suckling, pressing the bottle's nipple against her lips should encourage her to feed.[15]
- Add fresh water, hay, and grass after the first week. After a week of bottle feeding with colostrum and then milk, your lamb should have some solid foods in her diet.
- Give the lamb fresh water, hay, and grass. Let her eat and drink as she desires.[16]
- If she's strong enough, let her out to graze with the rest of the flock so she can begin socializing with other sheep.[17]
- Increase the feeding amount every two weeks. You should increase the amount of milk your lamb gets as she grows.
- After two weeks of feeding her 200 milligrams four times a day, gradually build her up to 500 ml four times a day.
- After another two weeks, gradually increase the feeding amount to 700 ml a day four times a week.[18]
- After 5 or 6 weeks, begin decreasing the amount of milk. Cut back to 500 ml grams a day only two times a day.[19]
- Make sure your lamb is weaned off milk by 13 weeks. By the time your lamb is 13 weeks old, she should be completely free of milk and transitioned into a diet of hay, feed, grass, and water. Make sure you keep track of time and stick on your schedule to gradually decrease feedings starting at 5 to 6 weeks.[20]
EditPreventing Problems - Monitor a lamb after a meal to make sure she's gotten enough to eat. You need to make sure your lamb is not being over or under fed. There are several ways to make sure a lamb has received an adequate meal.
- At the end of a meal, a lamb's sides should be straight from the hips to the rib. This is ideal, as it means your lamb has had an appropriate amount of food.[21]
- If you notice your lamb's sides are puffed out after feeding, reduce the amount of milk in the next meal as you likely overfed her.[22]
- Take measures to prevent hypothermia. Lambs are often bottle fed because they're orphaned or abandoned. If a lamb cannot rely on the body heat of a flock, her body heat might become dangerously low and hypothermia could result. There are measures you can take to prevent hypothermia.
- A lamb in the beginning states of hypothermia will appear weak, gaunt, and will probably be hunched over. A rectal thermometer can be used to confirm a low body heat. A normal lamb will have a body heat of 102-103 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything lower than this can be a sign of a problem.[23]
- Wrap your lamb in a towel to warm her. You can also use a hair dryer to warm a lamb. You can also buy a lamb jacket, a device meant to stay on a lamb's body overnight. Heat lamps are not advised as they can cause fires in a barn.[24]
- Keep your barn free of drafts, especially in the winter months.[25]
- Guard against pneumonia. Pneumonia is a common problem in lambs, especially those that need to be bottle fed as they do not always get the proper antibodies to fight off bacteria even with colostrum replacers.
- Pneumonia is marked by respiratory problems, an increased heart rate, and fever. Lambs suffering from pneumonia might not want to nurse.[26]
- Drafts and dampness are the primary causes of pneumonia. Keep a clean, dry barn free of drafts to prevent pneumonia in your lambs.[27]
- If your lamb develops pneumonia, get antibiotics from a veterinarian and administer them as soon as possible.[28]
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| How to Begin a New Life Posted: 26 Sep 2016 01:00 AM PDT To begin a new life, you must envision what it is you want to begin again. Are you starting over after a newly ended relationship or marriage? Have you moved to a new city or country? Perhaps you are starting a new career or lifestyle. Or maybe, you've lost your home because of a fire or natural disaster. In any case, starting a new life will involve making changes. Doing something new is often scary, because it is different and unfamiliar. Beginning a new life takes courage and determination.[1] But, with some hard work and dedication, you can do it. EditPreparing for Your New Life - Decide what you want. You might be starting a new life because you want to make a change. Or, you might be starting a new life because you have to. Some personal tragedy may have destroyed your home, job, or relationship. Either way, the first step in starting over is knowing what you want from life.
- Even if you are not happy with beginning a new life, prioritizing what is important for you to do in this new life is helpful. Having clear goals and determining what you need to do to achieve them will help you feel more confident and optimistic about building your new life.[2]
- Taking the time to determine exactly what you want will get you thinking about the business items you need to take care of, as well as clarify what changes you are able to influence.
- Consider the consequences. If the life changes you are considering are of your own choosing, it is a good idea to spend some time thinking about the consequences your actions may have.
- Major life changes can be hard to undo. Spend some time considering what you will gain, and what you might be giving up by starting a new life.[3]
- For example, perhaps you are contemplating selling your home and moving to another city. This new city may have much to offer, but once you've sold your existing home, it is unlikely you'll be able to get it back.
- Similarly, breaking off relationships with long-time friends or family members can create rifts that are very hard to mend, should you decide you want those people back in your life.
- The point here isn't that you should not begin a new life or make major changes. But, these decisions should be made only after careful consideration.
- Assess the obstacles. If beginning a new life was easy, people would do it all the time. The reason they don't is that there are many obstacles that can make major life changes difficult. Take some time to think about what might hold you back, so that you can plan for it.
 - Perhaps you want to move and begin a new life in a different city or country. Determine what parts of your life will be affected. If you are moving far away, will you mind leaving your present community, friends and established patterns of coming and going? Compare the cost of living where you live now to where you want to go. Is it affordable? Are jobs in your field available? A move to an international location may take more thought and planning than a move elsewhere. Find out whether you must obtain permission to move to or work in your chosen destination. Likewise, finding housing, negotiating currency, banking and transportation will be much different from your current situation.
- If you do not have the funds to quit your job and start a new life surfing on the beach (or whatever your dream), you'll need keep your day job. This doesn't mean you have to give up your dream of surfing, but this is an obstacle you'll need to consider. You want to be sure your plans are as practical and realistic as possible.
- Make a plan. Consider what it is you'll need to do to achieve your goals and start your new life.[4] It's a good idea to sit down with some paper and a pen and write this down. You'll probably go through several drafts as you consider and reconsider different approaches.
- Divide your life into the major areas in which you intend to make changes. For example you might want to change your career/job, location, significant other, friends, etc.[5]
- Next, as you list the changes in each area, prioritize them. Narrow down to the most important aspects of your life plan.
- Think about the practicality of beginning a new life. Consider the steps this will take and whether you have the funds, the support of others in your life, and the energy to undertake the changes necessary.
- For example, if you want to change careers, determine the steps you'll need to take and the parts of your life this will affect. Family, friends, education, salary, commute time, and hours worked are likely to be variables that change in your new life. Try to anticipate, as much as possible, how the changes you want to make will impact the different areas of your life.
- Take some time, then revise your plan. You'll probably need to create your "life plan" over a series of planning sessions. After you take some time away from your plan, other things to add will come up, and you may wish to eliminate items from the initial plan.
- Do not rush the process. As you add, subtract and prioritize your life areas, you break down a potentially overwhelming project into smaller, more manageable pieces of information and tasks.
- Throughout the process of building your new life, review the plan often, and make additional revisions as they become necessary.[6]
EditCreating Your New Life - Take care of the business. In most cases, starting a new life will require spending some time organizing your finances. This often means calls or visits to your financial institutions. No one looks forward to dealing with these issues, but taking care of them early will make everything that follows easier.
- For example, if you're starting over because you've lost your home in a fire, you'll need to contact your insurance company right away to set wheels in motion for receiving compensation.[7]
- If your plans involve an early retirement, you'll need to contact the company that runs your retirement plan to see what options they have for you.
- If you've lost your job, you'll need to look into getting unemployment and/or food stamps while you work on developing your new career.
- None of this is glamorous or particularly fun, but all of these actions are important for making sure you have the resources you need for your new life.
- Start a new routine. Next, set about making a fresh routine for yourself that will help you fulfill your plan. Understand that this will unfold as you incorporate different behaviors in your new life.
- For example, you may now become an early riser. Perhaps you work from home instead of commuting. There is almost an infinite number of variables and changes one could make in beginning a new life.
- Some change are determined by the choices you make in where you live, what you do, whether you have returned to school, if you have children or a partner, and ultimately, by the kind of life you wish to lead.
- It takes about three to six weeks to build a new routine that displaces your old one. After this period, your new routine will be a habit.[8]
- Keep your focus on yourself. Do not compare yourself to others. Your journey is your path and yours alone.
- Focusing on what you don't have, or what others have achieved will only make you miserable and self-critical.[9] Do the best to work with what you have to begin a new life.
- Spending time comparing yourself to others will only distract you from what you need to do to achieve your goals.
- Seek help. Starting a new life is a major task that will be made easier if you have the support of others. Whether your new life is one you've chosen or one that circumstances have forced upon you, a social support structure will be important.
- Having the emotional support from family, friends and others in the same or similar situations can help beginning a new life less stressful.[10]
- Especially if you are starting over because of a loss or tragedy, it may be a good idea to seek the help of a mental health professional. The help of a competent and compassionate therapist can help you heal.[11]
- Even if you've chosen to change your life, by moving to a new city for example, a counselor can help you adjust if you're having difficulty. You may be experiencing significant stress, a sense of being overwhelmed, or worries about how to manage in your new life. Mental health professionals are trained to listen, to be empathic and to help you find comfort in your present situation.[12]
- Be patient. A new life is not created overnight. Understand that change and doing things differently is a process. Some parts of this process you will be able to control, and others you will not.[13]
- Time is an important factor in adjusting to your new life. If you are willing to trust the process, your new life will unfold, and you will adapt.
- As in many things, figuring out what you want and how to enact your plan is the best way to begin a new life. It is similar to running a marathon. You don't decide to run a marathon and go out the next day and run . You plan, and gradually increase the distances you run each week.
- Be flexible. If you feel it isn't working out, don't give up. Change the things that aren't working, revise your plan, and move on.
- Think carefully before making major life changes. If you burn your bridges, you may not be able to rebuild them.
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