The Law of Balance: Finding Balance and Fulfillment as a Lawyer (Part 3 of 7 - Positive Thinking)

Positive Thinking

 

“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”

                                                                                                                        -Winston Churchill

            Did you know that law is the only discipline in which pessimists outperform optimists? In a 1990 study, the entire entering class of the Virginia Law School was tested with a variant of the optimism-pessimism test[1]. Students were then followed throughout their law school careers. In contrast with the results of studies in other areas, the pessimistic law students on average performed better than their optimistic peers on the traditional measures of achievement, such as grade point averages and law journal success[2]. That measure of success is carried into practice.  Pessimism is valued in the profession, because viewing troubles as pervasive and permanent is part of what the profession deems prudence[3]. But, while pessimism might be good for the success of our careers, it is not conducive to our well-being.

            Albert Einstein once said that the most fundamental question we can ever ask ourselves is whether we live in a friendly or hostile universe. Whichever way we answer the question, we are correct. He understood that reality is what each of us makes it. If we believe that the world is a fundamentally positive, happy and loving place, our experience reflects that belief. Difficult times are the exception to the rule and they don’t last long. On the other hand, those who believe the world is generally a negative, unloving and cold place, tend to come across, notice and feed into negative situations that confirm that belief. In a very literal sense, each of us is continuously creating our reality with every thought that we have. Viewed this way it should be clear how important it is to take care of our thoughts just as much as we take care of our actions. Positive thoughts lead to positive beliefs. And positive beliefs lead to a positive reality and life.

            Go to your favorite online news source and read the top ten headlines. I bet the overwhelming majority of those headlines involve war, fires, floods, death, shortages and other negative messages. You can start to see the not so subtle way we are influenced to think so many negative thoughts. But once we are conscious of all the negative content that is in circulation and we become aware that it doesn’t reflect reality any more accurately than positive messages, it becomes much easier to simply “tune-out” the negative.  Be more conscious of your thoughts and the influences you expose yourself to. When you realize you are thinking a negative or undesirable thought, watching a negative TV program or having a negative conversation, simply stop it, release the thought, change the channel, stop the conversation. You don't need the negativity. It has no objective reality and it serves no positive purpose for you. Simply, dispose of it. Replace it with a positive thought or the stillness of no thought at all.

            Many people believe that if they do not face the negative aspects of life they are not living "realistically". But living a positive life is just as realistic as living a life full of negative thoughts and influences.  As you develop this practice you will find you don't miss the negativity. In fact, the more positively you live your life the more sensitive you become to negative thoughts, situations and information. You will become less tolerant to having negativity as part of your experience.

"Reach for the Best Feeling You Can”[4]

            Of course there will be times in which your thoughts are not in a good place or you have ‘lost the thread’ as to how to feel positive about a given situation. In these instances, try to determine the negative emotion that you are feeling. Then try to improve it by reaching for the best feeling you can and staying with it. So, at a particular moment if you are feeling overwhelmed or anxious about work, it won’t be realistic to instantly change your feelings to those of feeling inspired and passionate about work. But, you may be able to connect with a feeling of contentment that you are going to do the best you can to be productive and perform the best you can, get a good night’s sleep and start again tomorrow. If you reach for a feeling that is too far separated from your starting point, it will not “stick” and you will wind up back where you started or in an even worse emotional state. The important thing is to keep moving in a positive direction emotionally.  You know you are moving in the right direction if you feel relief from the negative emotion. Even if the relief is slight. If the negative emotion is intensifying try to release it and replace it with the most positive emotion you can muster and actually feel at that moment.  This process may seem like common sense but it requires awareness on your part for it to work. You need not only to be conscious of the negative emotion you are feeling but then also to release that negative emotion and replace it with the most positive one you are able to feel at that moment.  Like most of the tools in this article, “reaching for the best feeling you can” takes practice.

Positive Thinking in Action

            Sit with pencil and paper or at your computer and spend fifteen minutes writing all the things in your life you appreciate[5].  You can start with the obvious things you are happy about. For example. “I appreciate and am happy about the vacation I have planned for later this month” or “I am happy about the raise I got last month.”  Then focus on more subtle, even silly, things you might normally take for granted (e.g.- “I appreciate that my socks are keeping my feet warm at this moment” or “I appreciate that my body wakes me up in the middle of the night when I have to go to the bathroom.”) Once you have built up some momentum, try finding some positive aspect of a circumstance that you have, up until now, viewed as negative. For example, “I appreciate that even though I wasn’t able to go away this weekend as planned because of a snowstorm, it allowed me to catch up with some chores I had been putting off at home and get some work done at the office.”  Keep writing for as long as the ideas are flowing and it feels natural. The point of the exercise is to move your perception and perspective about different aspects of your life in a more positive direction.  When you are finished, your mood and energy level will have improved.

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[1] Id.

[2] Id.

[3] Id.

 

[4] The concept of “Reaching for the Best Feeling You Can” is discussed in detail in “Ask And It is Given”.

[5] This process is known as a “Rampage of Appreciation” in the book “Ask And It is Given” by Esther Hickes/ Abraham, an Abraham Hickes publication.

The Law of Balance: Finding Balance and Fulfillment as a Lawyer (Part 2 of 7 - Present Moment Awareness)

Present Moment Awareness

 

 

“The mind is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master.”

                                                                                    - Proverb

            Consider this statement: The only moment that truly exists is this exact moment in time. It may sound highly philosophical and of little practical relevance, but not only is the statement a fact, recognition of it as a fact can greatly improve your life. The past no longer exists and the future has not yet occurred. Therefore, only the present moment in time exists. “So what?” you ask. “How can that improve my life?” This is how: The vast majority of suffering and unhappiness in people comes from their negative and self-limiting thoughts about the past and the future.

            We regret things we have done or didn’t do in the past. We resent others for things they have done to us or should have done but didn’t do for us in the past. And we limit our self potential based on how we have acted or performed in the past. But there is literally nothing we can do to change the past. It is irrational and counterproductive to spend time creating negative thoughts and emotions about it.

            Similarly, we preoccupy ourselves with thoughts of worry about what might happen in the future- “What if I get a call on Friday afternoon from a partner to work over the weekend?” “What if I don’t make partner when it’s my time to be considered?” “What if I don’t collect enough fees from clients at the end of the year to satisfy my partners?”  In the same way, many of us spend time and energy looking forward to some future point in our lives where everything is perfect and we are happier, richer, thinner or healthier. As with the past, the future does not exist. Therefore creating negative emotions around what is essentially a fictitious story we have created in our minds, serves little to no healthy purpose. But it is this type of mental chatter- these worries about things that do not exist- that create stress, sap our energy and ultimately keep us from feeling balanced, fulfilled and happy.

Present moment awareness, also known as mindfulness, is the cure to this condition, which causes so much of our worry and mental suffering. Mindfulness is focusing on and thinking only about exactly what it is that you are doing at this moment without judgment. It is not allowing your brain to give any attention to the persistent thoughts of worry about the past and future that plague the vast majority of people. Similarly, mindfulness is the act of experiencing the present without passing judgment about it. For example, when you are eating an apple, you are focused on the sweet taste, its crisp texture and its juiceyness.  You are not thinking about anything other than that apple. And you are not categorizing your experience of eating the apple as good or bad. When you are in a work meeting, you are intently focused on the person or people with whom you are meeting and the content of what is being discussed. You are not thinking about your weekend plans or how many more days are left until your next vacation.

            Mindfulness is a discipline. It takes practice and persistence to see results. But as you develop the discipline, you will find the fog in your mind caused by the swirl of so many thoughts, many of which are negative, start to lift. You will gain clarity when there are not so many thoughts and judgments swimming around in your head, the level of anxiety you experience will decrease and more joy will flow in.



            When applied to your life generally, being in the present moment means enjoying and appreciating your life today. It may be cliché, but it is true that “happiness is a journey, not the destination.”  Learn to appreciate your life exactly as it is right now. It will never be perfect, but even on the worst days, all of us have countless things to be grateful for.  This does not mean that you shouldn’t have goals and aspirations.  It only means, at any given moment, “be where you are at”. When you train your mind to be present, your world becomes free and fun again. A day spent in the park with your child will remind you of when you were a carefree child. It doesn’t matter that you may have a brief due or an important client meeting in the morning. Each event in your life is given attention in its own proper time and place. Being present maintains the boundaries between events and allows you to appreciate the uniqueness of each event.

Present Moment Awareness in Action

            A related tool for eliminating worry and bringing clarity to your mind is meditation. It can significantly reduce stress and fatigue while helping to bring clarity and focus to your thoughts. Try it by sitting in a quiet space that is not too hot or cold. Wear comfortable clothing. Or if you are wearing business clothing, make yourself as comfortable as possible by undoing the top button on your shirt and/or slipping off your shoes. It doesn’t matter if you sit in a chair, on the floor or even lie down. The key is to be comfortable but not fall asleep. Next, close your eyes, relax and take a slow, deep breath in. Focus only on the act of breathing. Clear your mind of any thoughts other than how it feels to be taking in that breath of air. Comfortably release your breath and continue to focus only on the act of breathing. Because our minds are trained to constantly be busy, thoughts will invariably enter your mind. Each time one does, imagine releasing the thought as if it were a helium balloon floating off into the distance. Gently but firmly steer your attention back to your breathing. The key is to be patient with yourself yet persistent in your effort not to ponder or build on any thought that comes along. Always return your focus to your breathing. In the beginning, 5 to 10 minutes of meditation will be a challenge. Through time you will develop the ability to hold your mind silent for longer periods. As this happens you will look forward to and even crave the next time you take a break from all the mental chatter to meditate. One further comment about meditation- There is no minimum amount of time you must do it for it be effective. Even if you only have 5 minutes between client calls or 45 seconds until the stop light turns green, clearing your mind of thoughts and focusing on your breathing is a very effective way to reduce stress and anxiety.

Reality Check?

            Now that you are starting to get a feel for what the 7 P’s of Prosperity are about, allow me to take a brief detour to address a thought that is probably running through your mind. You are thinking, “These concepts are fine in theory but unrealistic in real life.” In response, I would say the following two things: first, the 7 P’s of Prosperity are ideals to work towards. Of course, no one will ever be able to achieve them perfectly at all times. We all have moments where life overwhelms our plans, goals, efforts and intentions. And sometimes we are just not in the mood to act healthy and balanced. This is real life and we are human. But, that does not mean that we shouldn’t set our goals and make progress towards them. The 7 P’s of Prosperity are not an all or nothing proposition. Any time you are practicing them, even if it is just for a minute or two, you are improving the quality of your life. Second, if there is only one thing that you take away from this article, let it be this: “In order to change your life, you must change the way you think." So, if you think that the 7 P’s of Prosperity are unrealistic, that is precisely the trap this article is intended to prevent you from falling in. “Unrealistic” is what the logical voice coming from the left side of your brain is saying about you taking time out of your busy life as a serious lawyer to focus on frivolous things like the 7 P's of Prosperity. But, that voice (a/k/a your Ego) is not interested in your happiness. It is not concerned about helping you live a more balanced and fulfilling life or your long term success as a lawyer and person. It is only interested in its survival and keeping you safe from embarrassment and the uncertainty of leaving your logical world. But if you are ready to dismiss that voice, or at least set it aside for a while each day, you will soon begin to understand that "realistic" is whatever you decide it to be. In other words, if you are going to make a meaningful change in your life, you are going to need to redefine what you consider to be “realistic”. If you can do that, it is then that the 7 P's of Prosperity will start to make a positive difference in your life.

 

 

“I know but one freedom and that is the freedom of the mind.” ~Antoine de Saint-Exupery

 

The Law of Balance: Finding Balance and Fulfillment as a Lawyer (Part 1 of 7 - Passion)

Let’s face it. As a group, lawyers are not the most well rounded people in the world. In a profession that values meticulous attention to detail, the constant use of logic to solve complex problems and the ability to synthesize large amounts of information in a short time, it is no surprise that attorneys tend to be intellectual overachievers. While by itself that is not such a bad thing, the downside of having a personality so intellectually slanted is that attorneys tend to neglect the creative and intuitive aspects of their personality. The world begins to look like one big law school exam that can be mastered purely by hard work and logic. But when our lives lack creativity, passion and purpose, the lack of balance between our intellectual and creative aspects surfaces, often in the form of fatigue, discontentment, anxiety, compulsiveness or depression. According to one study, lawyers are suffering from depression at a rate higher than any other occupation and more than 3.5 times higher than employed persons generally[1]. Lawyers also suffer from alcoholism and illegal drug use at rates far higher than non-lawyers[2]. The divorce rate among lawyers also appears to be higher than the divorce rate among other professionals[3]. As a result many attorneys retire early, leave the profession altogether or resign themselves to living with the lack of joy and fulfillment that comes along with a life being lived severely out of balance.

            As desperate as the situation may sound, there is good news. Achieving balance and joy in your life is completely within your reach. And even better, doing so doesn’t depend on working for less demanding partners, representing more reasonable clients, reducing billable hours or leaving the profession. In fact it doesn’t depend on any source other than you. Only you can make the decision to be happier and more fulfilled in your life. But I can help.

            What follows is a set of tools and techniques that, if you allow them to, will bring more balance to your life. The “7 P’s of Prosperity”- Passion, Present Moment Awareness, Positivity, Picturing It, Physical Health, Playfulness and Practice are tools that help you to see that no one, other than yourself, has the ability to bring you joy or sadness. It’s ultimately only you that decides whether your life will be blissfully happy, tragically sad or somewhere in between.  The 7 P’s of Prosperity provide a road map for bringing more joy and fulfillment into your life by constructing a path of personal balance, discipline and purpose. They are not a quick fix to get rich, lose weight or instantly solve your problems. But, when they are consistently and earnestly applied, you will begin to experience your life as it was meant to be experienced, as wondrous, exciting and, most importantly, fulfilling. It is my wish to share these tools with you so you can begin today to experience their benefits. There’s no better time than the present to begin leading a life that brings you joy and fulfillment.

 

Passion

 

 

“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who are alive.”

                                                                                                                        – Howard Thurman

            People who are passionate about their work don’t view it as work. They say time goes by too fast. They get really excited about what they do and can’t wait to wake up in the morning to do it. If you think you could never be one of those people, think again. Not only can you follow your dreams and do the things in life that inspire you. If you want more joy and fulfillment in your life, you must learn to identify your passions and pursue them. You may tell yourself that you are too busy or can’t afford to be inspired. But time and money really aren’t the issue. When you find a way to get inspired, you are happier, more productive and better at what you are doing. So, not only do you benefit, so do your clients, employees, employer, friends, family and others you come into contact with.

            Author Gay Hendricks has coined the term “zone of genius”. It is only when we are doing the set of activities we are uniquely suited to do that draw upon our special gifts and strengths (our “zone of genius”), that we are reaching our full potential. Only in the “zone of genius” can we live truly fulfilling, inspired, creative lives. Moving into the “zone of genius” can be scary because many times it involves going beyond the limits we have established for ourselves. But once we gain the courage to listen to what our hearts are telling us, we realize that the fears and doubts we had were unfounded. And the rewards become great.

            What gets you excited? What gives you chills when you think about doing it? What is your secret dream life? Is it the idea of winning a major court case that will help stop victims from continuing abuse? Is it the idea of closing a multi-million dollar transaction in which you are recognized as the individual without whom the deal never would have occurred?  Or do you dream about the success fee more than the recognition? Maybe what inspires you isn’t related to law at all. Do you get goose bumps imagining yourself travelling around the world visiting exotic cultures and meeting interesting people? Maybe you are passionate about being the most amazing parent you can imagine.  It doesn’t really matter what inspires you. But you must know yourself well enough to identify the things in your life you are passionate about and then find ways to integrate those things into your life.

            To begin to unearth the things that really inspire you, start taking some risks in your life and move beyond your comfort zone. Start doing things you have always wanted to do- things you have only dreamed about doing, but never had the time or courage to do. Try life out. That’s what it is there for. Don’t be surprised if you hear a voice in the back of your head telling you that the dreams you want to pursue are silly or frivolous or that you will look ridiculous when people hear what you do in your spare time. That is the left side of your brain talking and probably the reason why you have not pursued your passions already. We, as lawyers, are good at being logical and practical. What is more difficult, but just as important, is to learn to listen to our intuition and find a way to work into our lives the things that inspire us, excite us and fulfill us- whether those things are practical or not.

            One of the most inspiring things you can do is to serve others. By helping others, you rise above having a narrow and self-centered point of view. Serving others changes your perspective from one of separation to that of connectedness. It improves self-confidence and self esteem. It builds up good will with those you have helped, reminds you of the talents you have to share with the world and provides perspective on the challenges you face in your own life.  Serving others doesn’t mean you need to join the Peace Corps or work for a non-profit organization.  It doesn’t mean you need to donate 10% of your income to charity or organize a fundraiser at your church. These are all wonderful causes but the key is not what you do, but the state of mind with which you do it. When you are doing what you love, you will be good at it. It will only feel natural to share your talents with those around you. When you passionately enjoy what you are doing, the principal benefit you gain is not money or recognition, but the satisfaction and fulfillment of knowing you are doing what you were meant to do and that you are benefitting others around you by doing it.   For example, if you are passionate about skiing, you have a duty to share that passion with others who are interested. And because it is your passion, you will love sharing what you know and how you feel about skiing. Making time to give novice skiers some pointers or volunteering to teach underprivileged kids how to ski, won’t feel like work. It will feel natural and healthy.  In short, if joy and fulfillment are the goal, serving others by doing the things that inspire you is the single most effective way of reaching it.

 

 

Passion in Action

            Don’t worry- pursuing your dreams doesn’t mean you need to quit your job or take other extreme measures. There are a lot of hours in the day and a lot of space for many different interests and pursuits. Start by making a list of the things you dream about doing. Don’t worry about time, money or any other practical concern. Just make your list as if you had all the money in the world, no job to be at and no commitments or other limitations. Go through the list and put a star next to each of the dreams that you feel you could integrate into your current position in the next year. For example, if “travelling the world to meet interesting people and see exotic places” is on your list, consider if it is possible that you could take on more assignments in other firm offices or onsite at the location of a client. Or maybe you could draft an article and present it at one or more conferences out of town.  Be creative in making as many connections as possible. When you are done you may be surprised to find many of the items on your list are marked with a star. After all, it is rare for someone to wind up in a career that is completely unrelated to the types of things that inspire them. When you are done, go back through all the items on the list not marked and determine if you could pursue those goals in your spare time from work. For example, if “writing a book” is on your list but you can’t figure out a realistic way of integrating it into your practice, ask yourself if it is something you can do before or after work, on the weekends or during vacations. Mark a star next to all the items you can do in your spare time. At this point most, if not all, of the items on your list may very well have a star next to them. Only if many of the items on your list are not marked should you start thinking more seriously about whether a career change may be right for you.  But for most, pursuing their passions is compatible with, if not complimentary to, their current career. Now, go out and start working your dreams into your life!

 

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[1] See “Depression Statistics in General & in Lawyers” by Daniel T. Lukasik, Esq.

http://www.lawyerswithdepression.com/depressionstatistics.asp .“A 1990 Johns Hopkins study looked at 104 occupations to see which professions suffered from the highest rates of depression. Lawyers topped the list (when adjusted for socioeconomic factors) and were found to suffer from clinical depression at a rate of almost four times that of the norm.

[2]  See “Why Are Lawyers So Unhappy?”  by Martin E. P. Seligman, Ph. D. at http://www.lawyerswithdepression.com/lawyersunhappy.asp

[3]  Id.

Goldilocks the Associate: Having Just the Right Amount of Work

Everyone knows Goldilocks and her relentless pursuit of porridge, pillows and other worldly pleasures that were “just right.” Well, lawyers (especially associates) face a similar challenge in managing their workload. If you have gone from feeling completely overwhelmed with too much work to worrying that you don’t have enough work, all in the course of a month, or even a week, you are not alone.  To an extent workload volatility is an inherent part of practicing law. But there are a number of ways you can manage the ebb and flow, and more importantly the stress that it causes, so your workload is “not too much, not too little, but just right.”

1) It’s Usually Okay to Overcommit

My experience is that approximately 50% of the assignments we agree to take on either happen later than the initial projected time or don’t ever happen. So, it helps to keep this in mind when you are doing the mental math in deciding whether you have time to take on a new assignment and when you are stressing out about whether you will be able to keep up with all the work you have agreed to do. As lawyers, our tendency is to plan for the “worst case scenario”. That type of thinking benefits your clients when you are thinking through an issue the client faces, but it can significantly increase your stress level when you apply it to your own life. So, while we all have those days where it seems like everyone needs everything from us at once, most times we actually wind up having more time and capacity than we would expect due to delays, cancellations and other factors that are typical in the law field. Keeping this “50% rule” in mind will allow you to take on additional work without feeling the stress that you are not going to be able to get it all done on time.  

2) It’s Okay to Say “No”

There is nothing most associates want more than to impress the people they are working for. And saying “no” to new work in the big law culture is often viewed either as a sign of weakness or not even really an option. I don’t advocate taking saying “no” to new work lightly, as it is important to build a reputation as dependable and ready, willing and able to help. But, if you truly are beyond your capacity with work, declining a new assignment can show your maturity in knowing your limits and better serve your long term goals, as no one gains if the quality of your work suffers as a result of being pulled in too many directions.

3) When You Are Not Busy, Be Proactive. . . and Don’t Worry

 

Being slow at work can actually be more stressful than being too busy. We have all had times where we worry whether we will have enough work to meet our billable hours. When you are not busy, the best thing you can do is take positive action. When you’re proactive, there is less idle time to worry. Also, if you’re taking steps to get yourself busy or increase your substantive knowledge realize that worrying serves no useful purpose. Here are some basic steps to take when you’re not busy with billable work.

A) Do all the work you have today.

 

Don’t save some work tomorrow because you are afraid you won’t have anything to do. If a new assignment comes in tomorrow, you may not be able to get it all done if you have work hanging around from the day before. More fundamentally, this is scarcity thinking. The more you conserve and ration what you have, the more “lack” you tend to attract. On the other hand, when you focus on doing the work you have, more work has a way of finding its way to you.

B) Internal Marketing.

 

Call or go visit (don’t email) attorneys you have done work with before or introduce yourself to an attorney in the firm whose practice area interests you. It’s okay to be upfront with them that you need work. It shows initiative and your willingness to get involved.

C) External Marketing. 

 

Call existing clients to see how they are doing and if they have any business needs. It’s amazing how many times opportunities for new work present themselves when you are making a conscious effort to put yourself out there and connect with people instead of staying silently behind your desk. Also, you are never too junior to begin business development. Pick an event or organization that interests you and attend. If you’re interested in the organization you will continue to attend and it will show through that you are interested in the subject matter. This in turn may very well lead to new client opportunities even if you are not sure exactly how.

D) Let Go of Worry and Guilt. 

 

If you are actively following the other steps, there is no reason you should feel anxious, worried or guilty about not meeting your billable hours. First of all you need to have faith that following a structured plan on a regular basis in the long run, will give you the results you want. Second, worry and guilt are counterproductive emotions and by themselves don’t serve any useful purpose. Once you are conscious of this and have taken steps to resolve the problem, let go of the worried feeling. You will be amazed how when you let go of your worries, the things you were worried about go away.

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Don't Feed the Animals: Getting Rid of your Monkey Mind

How many times a week do you find your mind racing over all the assignments you have to complete, the clients you need to call back, the bills you need to pay, the childcare pickup times you need to meet and other wonderful features of your life as a busy lawyer who is also trying to be a human being. When you experience this wonderful state of mind, you my friend are experiencing  “Monkey Mind”.  “Monkey Mind” is a Buddhist term meaning "unsettled; restless; capricious; whimsical; fanciful; inconstant; confused; indecisive; uncontrollable" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_monkey).  We have on average about 40,000 thoughts a day but only about 2,000 of them are new. The rest is just mental chatter that repeats itself out of habit whether it’s useful or not. It is no wonder that our minds race the way they do considering the nature and demands of being a lawyer. But, even though it is our job as lawyers to be super analytical to think through problems that our colleagues and clients face, that doesn’t mean that same approach is the way to find our peace and happiness when we are not “on the clock.” Check out this article that discusses how mindfulness is ultimately the only way to a truly tranquil mind: http://www.find-happiness.com/monkey-mind.html.

 

 

A New Beginning. . .

Let’s face it. As a group, lawyers are not the most well rounded people in the world. We tend to be analytical, logical and skeptical, whether by nature or training.  Now, that's not necessarily a bad thing.  But when we focus so much on  left brain activities that our lives lack creativity, passion and purpose, problems arise. Think fatigue, discontentment, anxiety, compulsiveness and depression. 

 

Also, the practice of law is intense. It's a profession that values meticulous attention to detail, the constant use of logic to solve complex problems and the ability to synthesize large amounts of information in a short time. Hours are long, clients are demanding. So, it shouldn't be a surprise that we are such an uptight, stressed out people.

 

According to one study, lawyers are suffering from depression at a rate higher than any other occupation and more than 3.5 times higher than employed persons generally. Lawyers also suffer from alcoholism and illegal drug use at rates far higher than non-lawyers. The divorce rate among lawyers also appears to be higher than the divorce rate among other professionals.

 

But, I have good news, my friends. Despite our training, despite the intense demands of our careers, we have the FREEDOM TO CHOOSE how we feel about or jobs and our lives. It's 2015 and there's never been more access to resources to teach us to be healthy in mind, body and spirit. Mindfullness, yoga and other holistic approaches to health have entered the main stream for a reason. Studies show they are effective for improving the quality of our lives. 

 

This blog is a space where I hope to be able to share with other lawyers (and anyone else who is interested) the significant benefits that come from integrating creativity, wellness and holistic ENRICHMENT activities into your life. When the intellect of the law is BALANCED with this personal ENRICHMENT practice, the result is likely HAPPINESS and FULFILLMENT.

 

The word SOPHROSYNE comes from ancient Greece. There is no simple equivalent in English but it is sometimes translated as moderation or temperance.  The ancient greeks valued the concept of SOPHROSYNE as an ideal of excellence of character and soundness of mind, which when combined in one well-balanced individual leads to other qualities, such as temperance, moderation, prudence, and self-control. Imagine the possibilities if we valued not only our intellect, but also our creativity, health, heart and soul.

 

The sky is the limit. Our lives are no more and no less than the way we view them and what we decide to do with them. If I can help open your eyes to ideas that make your life more enjoyable or fulfilling, then I've reached a major goal of mine.

 

It's a new beginning. So, let's get started. . . .