Spiritual Well-being: Align
On the second day of Well-Being Week in Law, we look for alignment in our lives with our core values. This is no accident; we do this because grounding into our values can help tamp down the stress response when it comes knocking on our door (or by text, email, or MNCIS filing). For me, throughout my professional career, this has always been to be in service of others.
I can easily point to my parents as the source of the value of “service to others.” I understood from an early age that we need to see and help those who are struggling in any way as part of our duties as people; especially those who might otherwise be marginalized or rejected. With that early direction, I often felt that one of my strongest attributes as a defense attorney was meeting my clients exactly where they were. Many had less than optimal backgrounds. They had spent a good part of their lives being judged or belittled and learned to live without being shown empathy by pushing the limits of what we may consider “generally acceptable behavior.” By showing up with curiosity instead of judgment, I was able to connect with them as people who had a real need that I could fulfill and not simply as an event that happened.
Spiritual well-being in the legal profession is not about perfection or always staying calm. It is about regularly returning to the question: Why did I choose this work? When stress spikes, deadlines tighten, or conflict escalates, reconnecting with that answer can keep us even keeled.
As we mark Well-Being Week in Law, today’s invitation is simple but powerful: take a moment to name your core values and notice where your work aligns with them. Even small adjustments can restore a sense of meaning. When our actions reflect what matters most to us, our conviction will aid us in providing authentic representation to those who need us most.