Sometimes I wonder how many of my colleagues writhe in pain internally in their
desperate pursuit of what appears to be their life purpose. How often is there a
reflection on the career choice that was made with a mixture of materiality and
the desire for public service and contribution to the welfare of society. And is the
inclusion of the public good an inner rationalization and justification for a desire
for financial abundance?
Many of us in the legal profession have endured the craving to make a difference.
Nobility of purpose has found its way into an agenda of opportunities for sharing
and for improvement of life's rigors along the arduous journey through legal process
And even though this is manifested to the inner satisfaction of many a practitioner
on an abundance of occasions, at least hopefully, there still is left behind a painful
quagmire of frustration and ulcerating tedium that makes the more desirable aspirations
lose their glory amidst the tensions and friction of the rocky path.
Encircled by the chaos that seems to be overtaking our social and physical environment, the
individual goal must be to maintain our personal equilibrium. The focus and calm intent to create a better scenario for all of us may seem to be formidable and futile, but can and is being accomplished. Every one of us can contribute by arriving at our own individual peace of mind. The totality of that pursuit is what contributes to overall tranquility in the world and in our lives. We must through
contact deep within our souls determine our individual, unique special purpose in life which
happily coincides with our unique personal talents and instinctive leanings.
There are a multitude of resources that are available to us, much less austere and elusive than
our conventional thought processes can fathom.
There is individual intent. The conscious effort to exercise kindness and friendliness in even the simplest terms, with a polite act, a courtesy, a greeting, a kind word, consolation, expression
of hope, and a good wish. It is dazzling how the cumulative effect of these efforts are, without our knowing, neutralizing their opposite and dulling the effects of that which repels and disquiets us.
There are activities that heal the body and the mind. There is yoga, there is meditation, there are healthful and simple physical exercises, there is reiki, there is shiatsu massage, rolfing, reflexology, aromatherapy, Hellerwork, acupuncture, theta healing, and countless other modalities that produce seemingly miraculous results.
There is visualization, there are affirmations, there are ancient but eternally valid healing arts. Stress management courses, audios, videos, lectures, life coaching and seemingly endless facilities to ease life's pain and replace it with comfort and achievement.
Now is the time to grab your slice of the curative pie. And to even look into the newer but more accepted holistic approach to the practice of law. This revolutionary approach to the practice of law may provide an escape route from the prison of frustration to the release into creativity and compassion in the privilege we share to be attorneys.
(See ABA's new publication, Lawyers as Peacemakers, by J. Kim Wright, which is reviewed by the undersigned in the Huffington Post and soon to appear in the Philadelphia Bar Reporter in November)
Regardless of what path on which you decide to journey, the first step is to realize we need not, nor are we required to, labor through life personally or professionally. It is Divine will that we inhabitants of the planet deserve to be happy.
Our belief in that premise and meditating on its virtues and validity will start us in that direction. The road on that journey will become more satisfying as we go along. And the most beautiful surprise awaits us as we discover that we really CAN be content and enthusiastic about what we do and how we do it.
Good luck on your path. I will gladly share my experiences with anyone who would like to contact me.
shsesq@AOL.COM
215-732-4000