Have you ever asked a public service professional “How’s life treating you at the job?” And they give a short sarcastic response something like,
“I’m fine… just living the dream.”
The truth may be that they really need a ‘Lifeline’ thrown to them and that they may not be fine at all. In fact, they may not know how to ask for help. Often our emotions get suppressed below the conscious level that we see, just like the image of the iceberg.
Taking that first step to seek mental counseling can be very hard. It requires the whole agency to be supportive. Extending that simple ‘Lifeline’ and seeking help for the first time, may just save a life from suicide.
Definition of Lifeline: A way of getting help, that you depend on to lead your life in a satisfactory way: For many old people living on their own the phone is their lifeline to the outside world.
This typical response of ‘living the dream’ can be heard by workers inside all public service agencies (Law enforcement, Fire, corrections, 911 operators, Sworn, nonsworn, and civilian staff).
Are we really living our dream to our potential? The month of December can certainly be a month of self-reflection to improving one’s life going into a new year.
For some people in public service, this can be the season for depression. Some of your close friends, coworkers, and peers could be suffering with mental depression. You hear them say, “I’m living the dream,” but really hurting inside.
End-of-the-year depression can include:
- Holiday Depression
- Cold Weather Depression
- Career Cumulative trauma
- Making Bad Decision
- Speaking Negatively Inside Yourself
Helping our peers may just be the lifeline they need. Let’s help each other to strive to make our lives even better going into the new year 2023!
Helpful tips or ‘Lifelines’
- Look for Emotional Intelligence Vital Signs.
- Use your RITE Ladder to check in daily with your emotions. If you find yourself living more at the bottom of the ladder where depression lives then be aware of it and work on climbing back to the top
- Start your Day with RITE’s New Day Technique. Erase any bad thoughts from previous day. … start every new day top of the ladder.
How Bear Bryant used ‘New Day’ to Improve his Football Team’s Attitude
- Follow these (4) steps to changing anything in your life
- Awareness that a change is needed!
- Care enough to make the change!
- Stop and Think how can I change it?
- Practice, Practice, Practice for 21 days or more.
- Reach out to your co-worker, peer support groups, and/or religious leader (i.e. chaplain. Also, most agencies will offer and EAP Program, (Employee Assistance Program – for mental health assistance).Bring in the new year of 2023 by giving yourself the ‘Lifelines’ you need to help yourself and others.Happy Holidays on behalf of RITE Academy.
About RITE Officer Training
RITE Academy provides Professional Workplace Culture Training that includes take away tools to help improve communication, and address misconduct. RITE tools provide an accountability needed to reinforce the professional workplace culture, that the police executives can expect within the agency.
The RITE Ladder Tool teaches EI & SI that builds Career resiliency, improves Department morale, helps Professional workplace culture and reduces police misconduct to mitigate risk.
NEXT Training is January 2023 – LINK to Register
For private classes where we come to you… Contact us below.
