Meditation is the practice of doing nothing, but the skills it builds can have important benefits when you bring them into your life and work. These posts feature stories, ideas, and practices to help you envision the practical benefits that mindfulness can offer to you off the cushion and in the world.
Real Talk About the Study Finding Meditation as Effective as Medication to Treat Anxiety
In the last 2 weeks, several contacts have reached out when they read news reports about a study which suggests meditation could be as effective to treat anxiety as medication. Due to my own life experience, I was not surprised when I read the report. Actually, my reaction was closer to relief. After all, IContinue reading “Real Talk About the Study Finding Meditation as Effective as Medication to Treat Anxiety”
How to Change Law Firms Without Losing Your Soul
After almost 14 years with my former firm, I made a change to a new firm this May. As excited as I was by the new opportunity, it was a hard process. There were many thoughts swirling in my mind and there was a ton of emotion. My reasons for making the change will remainContinue reading “How to Change Law Firms Without Losing Your Soul”
What Does It Mean to Be a Human Lawyer?
This month, I decided to write on the theme of “humanity in the legal profession.” When I settled on this theme, it seemed at first like an easy concept to impart. But, as I sometimes realize when I sit down to write a brief, the writing process quickly reveals the gaps in my understanding. ThereContinue reading “What Does It Mean to Be a Human Lawyer?”
Meditation Is Not a Time Suck; It’s a Time Saver
I never ask anyone to explain themselves to me when it comes to meditation. Even so, I give talks about mindfulness a lot and people tend to volunteer why it can’t/won’t work for them. I never mind this because it’s an opportunity for both of us to learn something. The number one reason that people,Continue reading “Meditation Is Not a Time Suck; It’s a Time Saver”
PSA: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Is Now Available
Today is an important day in the United States, we now have a national, dedicated hotline for individuals to call for mental health emergencies. In the case of fire, severe physical injury, or crime, most of us wouldn’t hesitate to say “call 911.” Mental health situations may be different, however, and may require a responseContinue reading “PSA: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Is Now Available”
5 Steps to Help Lawyers Handle Hopelessness
There is a lot going on in the world right now, but if you are a lawyer in the United States the term “a lot” doesn’t quite cover it. It’s not just that major and devastating events are happening. It’s that the conflict surrounding each event may call into question the legal system in whichContinue reading “5 Steps to Help Lawyers Handle Hopelessness”
How My Long-Term Goal of Writing a Book Became a Reality
I have been quiet on the blog for the last few months, but I promise I have some pretty good excuses. One reason for the break is that, after several years with the same firm, I decided to transition to a new firm. Though I am thrilled with the new role and looking forward toContinue reading “How My Long-Term Goal of Writing a Book Became a Reality”
How Do You Know Which Inner Voice to Follow?
Recently, I came to a startling recognition: I have a somewhat inconsistent view about life choices. On the one hand, I have railed against succumbing to the voice in one’s head so many times that I cannot account for them all. Yet, on the other, I have also said that my life transformed and becameContinue reading “How Do You Know Which Inner Voice to Follow?”
Four Reasons Why I Don’t Like the Term “Imposter Syndrome”
It’s no secret that I am a self-doubter. I have struggled with it since I was a kid and, despite all my mindfulness training, I don’t think it’s ever going to go away. Doubt, it seems, is a part of my personality. So, you might be surprised to know that I don’t really like theContinue reading “Four Reasons Why I Don’t Like the Term “Imposter Syndrome””
Sending Loving-Kindness to Opposing Counsel Can Make You a Better Litigator
If I had to pick one style of meditation to recommend for lawyers, it would be loving-kindness practice. When I present seminars on mindfulness, I take any opportunity I get to talk about the practice or share it in a guided meditation. Loving-kindness meditation became my lifeline early in my law practice when I wasContinue reading “Sending Loving-Kindness to Opposing Counsel Can Make You a Better Litigator”
4 Steps to Help Lawyers Handle Shame Triggers from Opposing Counsel
Though most of the attorneys I have litigated cases against are wonderful people who only want to represent their clients well, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that some just like to play games. They don’t want to turn over documents that are clearly relevant. They don’t want to think practically when evaluating aContinue reading “4 Steps to Help Lawyers Handle Shame Triggers from Opposing Counsel”
6 Practical Steps to Support Yourself During Dry January or 300/65
This week, you may be one of many people trying Dry January for the first time. You may even have your sights set on the longer-term goal of 300/65, which limits drinking days to 65 for the year. Last year, I wrote about my experience trying Dry January for the first time and was surprisedContinue reading “6 Practical Steps to Support Yourself During Dry January or 300/65”
What I Learned from Writing about Mindfulness for a Year
Today is an auspicious day for me. It is the one-year anniversary of the founding of this blog. Clearly, blogging is not a novel idea. There are tons of blogs across the internet. And, even for lawyers, side hustles are not super rare. So, why is this a big deal? I love writing and itContinue reading “What I Learned from Writing about Mindfulness for a Year”
Abundance Is Something You Can Create
This week is Thanksgiving, so it may not be all that surprising that I have the idea of “abundance” on my mind. As someone who loves to cook (and eat), Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. When I was a kid, Thanksgiving meant cooking all day for my mom’s large family and then eatingContinue reading “Abundance Is Something You Can Create”
Cooking Is My Antidote to Languishing
I did not know that “languishing” had a clinical meaning until I listened to Adam Grant’s interview on the Ten Percent Happier podcast the other day. According to Grant, it’s the state between wellness and depression. As a busy lawyer and mom, I immediately recognized this description. As Grant put it, it’s a state whereContinue reading “Cooking Is My Antidote to Languishing”
How Mindfulness Helped Me Savor the Final Days of Summer
Even though it’s still hot outside, the days are starting to get a little shorter, kids are going back to school, and the stores are filling up with Halloween decorations. The signs are all around – summer is winding down. The sense of summer ending and the change it brings can bring anxiety and evenContinue reading “How Mindfulness Helped Me Savor the Final Days of Summer”
Five Lessons Power Zone Training Taught Me About Meditation
It’s a running joke that Peloton users like to tell everyone about how much they love their bike, but there’s a subset of Peloton users who are even more intense about this: the Power Zone Pack. As a member of the Power Zone Pack, I cannot help myself from commandeering what should be a postContinue reading “Five Lessons Power Zone Training Taught Me About Meditation”
How My First Residential Meditation Retreat Freed Me from Self-Doubt
Full disclosure: this title is a bit of a lie. It’s mostly true. My first residential retreat forced me to turn and face my self-doubt, when I had previously run, hid, and thus, found myself controlled by it, for most of my life. That created an opening in my awareness and the result was aContinue reading “How My First Residential Meditation Retreat Freed Me from Self-Doubt”
Rethinking Self-Care: It’s a Practice
I used to roll my eyes every time I saw an article with “self-care” in the title. I was always ready with a snarky comment about the consumerism of the wellness industry and how it’s only for entitled women with endless time and money. I mean, Gwyneth Paltrow may have an entire evening to devoteContinue reading “Rethinking Self-Care: It’s a Practice”
Litigating a Big Case Terrified Me, but Left Me Feeling Like a Badass
Every so often, there are cases that come along that test your limits as an attorney. Maybe they are high profile. Maybe they come from an area of law that is outside of your comfort zone. Or maybe the result in the case could have huge consequences for your client or community. Earlier this year,Continue reading “Litigating a Big Case Terrified Me, but Left Me Feeling Like a Badass”
Self-Compassion Is the Path Out of Mom Guilt and Into a Better World
“Am I a bad mom . . . ” I cannot tell you how many times I have sent texts starting with this phrase to friends when life feels like a mess. I’ve seen countless posts in Facebook moms groups that start this way too. These questions about one’s quality as a mother may finishContinue reading “Self-Compassion Is the Path Out of Mom Guilt and Into a Better World”
Stop The Shame Loop and Let the Process of Habit Change Unfold
I’ve never considered myself a very disciplined person. Let’s just say I’ve never met a french fry I didn’t eat, I hit the snooze button easily, and I’m always the one around the office you can count on to say yes to the impromptu lunch (abandoning the lunch I packed). Even with an established meditationContinue reading “Stop The Shame Loop and Let the Process of Habit Change Unfold”
What Dry January Taught Me about Alcohol, Mindfulness, and Shame
I successfully did Dry January this year but it taught me a surprising lesson about shame. No, I have not been living under a rock. I know about Brene Brown. I watched the Netflix special. Yes, it was amazing. I’ve read many of her books. I know that the research says that shame can stealContinue reading “What Dry January Taught Me about Alcohol, Mindfulness, and Shame”
How Mindfulness Helped Me Learn to Love Networking
One of my pandemic projects was publishing a book about networking with 19 other women lawyers. It’s called #Networked and it was a bestseller on Amazon in a few categories. For natural networkers, this might just be a cool thing but for me it was a milestone. It was one of the things that helpedContinue reading “How Mindfulness Helped Me Learn to Love Networking”
How Mindfulness Helped Me Learn to Ride the Wave in a Life Full of Transitions
Spring is about transition. The days are getting longer, the weather is warming up a bit, and we’re starting to shake off the winter blahs. For me right now, it is also about life transitions. I’m 44, I have 3 kids one of which had a kidney transplant as a baby, I left a jobContinue reading “How Mindfulness Helped Me Learn to Ride the Wave in a Life Full of Transitions”
How Mindfulness Can Help You Survive Virtual Litigation
Before the pandemic, I had almost never used Zoom at all but I have now litigated numerous virtual hearings. If the past year was good for anything, it at least forced me to learn how to take depositions and put on proof over Zoom. Virtual litigation offers many benefits, especially efficiency and convenience, but itContinue reading “How Mindfulness Can Help You Survive Virtual Litigation”
Calm Down Lawyers: Meditation Will Make You More Effective, Not Soft
Attorney wellness is a top concern for many attorneys, bar associations, and firms. Meditation practices are being recommended to attorneys as a simple, cheap, effective and research-based way to ease and manage stress. Yet, one of the concerns I commonly hear lawyers, especially litigators, express is that they are worried that meditation will cause themContinue reading “Calm Down Lawyers: Meditation Will Make You More Effective, Not Soft”