Making The Big Move - 3rd Edition: How To Transform Relocation Into A Creative Life Transition

By Cathy Goodwin

Book Overview

Why most people find moving stressful (and you don't have to) Most relocation guides tell you how to pack a box. But the most expensive part of a move isn't the moving van. It's what happens when you realize you've made a mistake and decide to move back. At the time you most need to make critical decisions, you're usually cut off from familiar friends, family and resources. Mistakes can be costly in both money and emotion. This book helps you avoid these mistakes from the moment you first consider a move, to the moment you watch your possessions disappear into a moving van, to the first six months and one year after you move. You'll discover why you need special consideration when you're moving as a corporate executive, a family member, or a single person. You'll even find tips to move overseas. Making The Big Move includes exercises that to help you along each stage of the process. You'll gain new insights from the Witness Protection exercise, the Energy Map, the Fire Drill, the Anthropologist exercise, the Emotional First Aid Kit, and many more. The author of Making The Big Move, Cathy Goodwin, has lived all over North America, including Alaska and Canada. She's made dozens of moves - some more adventurous than others. She's also studied the psychology of moving and listened to stories of people who made all kinds of moves. You'll benefit from her research and experience as you make your own move. What you'll discover from reading this book -how moving disrupts the 3 components of your identity -research-based insights about making new friends and becoming part of a new community (and how to avoid the most common, potentially fatal mistakes) -how the most common myths about moving can create unnecessary frustration and stress -little-known questions to ask before you settle on a destination -how to avoid feeling overwhelmed when you're looking for a place to live (especially if everything seems unbearable or unavailable) -how to create a support system when your old friends aren't there and you haven't made new ones yet -what psychologists say about moving as a loss (and how to manage grief when most people won't understand what you're experiencing) -what to do when you realize you've made a big mistake -what to expect after you've moved (and how to make the most of your first year) -and much, much more This book fills a need. You'll find support for bereavement, divorce and many kinds of life disruptions, but little advice on the dealing with the psychological aspects of moving. Most books on moving will help you pack a box. This book shows you how to pack your life. A reader of a previous edition wrote, "I kept this book with me during my move. I read a little each night as we were on the road." That's what this book offers: a companion to take with you, an ongoing source of support, as you embark on what hopefully will be a memorable, joyful journey. Why go alone?

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 173244000X
• ISBN13: 9781732440005
• Release Date: July 2018
• Publisher: Ninth Life Publishing
• Length: 268 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Removes the isolation

As a person affected positively and negatively by several moves I was looking for help in making a decision about a "big" move. This book opened me up to many of the ways in which "place" is so important. There's more to think about than packing boxes. I've read it more than once and am still working with the questions she raises. If you're undecided about moving somewhere...read it. Definitely a unique look at the interaction between people and their environment.

A Must Read For Movers With Kids

This book is extremely helpful when you're planning on making a move and have children in tow. Everything from when is the ideal time to make a move to how to help the children adjust is covered. There's some great stuff in there for Mom and Dad, too, on how to adjust to your new surroundings. I wish I'd bought it before we even bought the house, but it's still extremely helpful in dealing with the implementation stage.

What a relief

A must read for dealing with all the "extra" headaches that come from moving. I was relieved to learn I wasn't going crazy but, experiencing many of the same emotional ups and downs as many other people who've moved across country. When ever I move again I will be much better preparded. Very well organized, no need to deal with issues around moving a family if you're moving by yourself, you can go directly to the section that fits your particular situation.

Well written, clear and creative book .

As a counselor of relocated family members, I can highly recommend this book as an articulate, and creative look at the difficult stages of transition. Goodwin writes about both the practical issues (how to find what where) and the emotional/psychological issues (how moving affects your identity in three different ways) creatively and with an upbeat tone that is supportive, informative, and fun to read.

Eases the nerves of people moving cross-country

I normally avoid self-help books, but this easy-to-read book is easing my anxiety from a cross-country move. I appreciate tips that I never before heard or considered -- such as how to put together an "emotional first aid kit" (including favorite photos) to help cure homesickness, or starting a new daily ritual (like getting coffee at a coffee shop) to make me feel at home in this foreign place. This book is straight-forward, peppered with anecdotes and research... and makes sense. It has been a good investment in happiness.