I was in Marshalls combing the racks for Christmas presents for my family when it came on. Over the store speakers, Bing Crosby sang, “I’ll be home for Christmas.” Right there, in the household section among non-stick pans and fancy table settings, I started crying. I’m pretty sure I put my hand over my heart, as if it would burst if I didn’t hold it inside my chest cavity. It was the first … [Read more...]
Gratitude: A Habit Worth Developing and Sustaining
Let’s face it—we lawyers have stressful jobs. Between the long hours, client expectations, opposing counsel, numerous deadlines, and emotionally draining facts in some of our cases, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. We know that these types of job stressors can lead to all kinds of unwelcome conditions: compassion fatigue, burnout, anxiety, and even depression. But what would you say if I told you … [Read more...]
Breaking the Cycle: Practical Strategies to Conquer Overthinking
I recently encountered a former colleague, younger in practice than I am, but suffering from the same malady. “Do you ever feel like you overthink everything?” she asked me as the CLE attendees around us filled their coffee cups during a mid-afternoon break. How can it be that some 15 years apart in practice, we are experiencing the same muddy emotions that are slowing down our work progress? … [Read more...]