Why don’t lawyers admit they struggle?

?? Welcome to Notes to My (Legal) Self, the frequently fun newsletter that helps you fearlessly build the legal career of your dreams.

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Hello all,

I’m feeling cool breezes and watching red, brown, yellow, and orange leaves parade across the lawn. Snow is on the way for some. Mother Nature must rest now if she’s to return next Spring in her full glory.??

Rest and restoration are welcome processes in nature. Why do we think it doesn’t apply to us? We agree no one can run at full speed 100% of the time. Yet many of us still struggle to slow down, rest, and replenish our minds, bodies, and souls.??

The relentlessly competitive legal field places dollar amounts on every. single. minute. Professional society rewards “hustle” and puts relentless go-getters on a pedestal. But they too must take time off before they burn out and fall off their high perch.?

That may have been the situation with Jeffrey Pollock, an attorney cited for disorderly conduct while trying to enter a Philadelphia courtroom. Repeated rejections from the metal detector and heated exchanges with guards antagonized Mr. Pollock to where he finally stripped down to his underwear.

I.e., You NEED your rest. Now is the season to nourish your inner and outer selves (while keeping your entire self clothed in public).

Best wishes for a restful holiday season,

Olga

Rest… and do what?

Mr. Pollock might’ve needed more physical rest, which we get through naps, yoga, stretching, and deep sleep. But you can find replenishment in many ways. For example, technology bombards our lives. Turn off your screens and:?

• Go outside. Feel the sun and breathe fresh air.
• Sign up for therapy or guided meditation sessions.
• Catch up with an old friend—but don’t discuss business.
• Lose yourself in an engrossing novel.
• Zone out to the intricacies of a 1,000-piece puzzle.

Find restorative actions outside of business to inspire creativity and a greater sense of fulfillment.?

• Sign up for art or music classes and volunteer opportunities.?
• Go on day trips and guided tours.?
• Develop or rediscover interests outside the legal field.

That’s one dedicated student

At 2 a.m. on January 8, 1964, 17-year-old Randy Gardner broke the world record for sleep deprivation, going 11 days (264 hours) without sleeping a wink.?

He did it for a science fair project. As irony would have it, Randy subsequently had insomnia for years.?

?? By the way, don’t try this at home! Guinness eliminated the sleep deprivation category because of the health dangers involved. ???

Take a step forward in the spirit of giving

Nearly 1 in 5 U.S. adults live with mental illness, including nearly 30% of young adults aged 18-25 years, 25% of adults aged 26-49 years, and 14% of those 50 and older.?

It’s especially challenging when mental illness causes erratic behavior in public. One brave mother of three children with Tourette’s syndrome lost many friends, saying “People take a step back. They see your children with mental health problems. They see your children struggling, and then it becomes real for them.”?Here’s the video.

What if we all took an intentional step forward? What if we recognized that our own often irrational fears drive us back, and reached forward instead to close the painful gaps that hold other people in isolation?

We all have the power to bestow acceptance and friendship on others. Our kindness and understanding are gifts that once given, also enrich our own lives, often by orders of magnitude!?

Why don’t lawyers admit they struggle?

Lawyers solve other people’s problems every day but rarely talk about their own concerns and challenges, says Mariia Synytska from Lawrina. In fact, lawyers often opt not to admit they struggle at all.?

In Lawrina’s webinar, Lawyer’s Mental Health: How to Stay Calm Under Stress, experts discuss mental health and the law.?

“The strive for perfection and refusal to appear vulnerable leads to mental health issues among lawyers that need to be highlighted,” Mariia points out, along with many more valuable insights in the write-up: Lawyer’s Mental Health: 5 Ways to Get on the Right Track.

Recommended reading to create your own bright side

In the case of Olga v. The State of Insecurity, Olga comes out on top. You will too, after reading Treating Imposter Syndrome.

The wall between our personal and professional lives is dissolving. Read how to become a more empathic leader who cultivates relationships based on genuine interests in How Technology Shrinks Our Fictional Divide and Fosters Positive Change.

First, it was the pandemic. Now it’s the return to work. These and other stressors create important challenges for the mental health of employees. Read How Employers Can Improve Their Approach to Mental Health at Work.

Look for the unexpected benefits.

The “curb-cut effect” is named after the unexpected benefits that arose from sidewalk curb cuts. They made the cuts to expand wheelchair access to sidewalks. Now the cuts also benefit parents pushing baby strollers and tourists pulling rolling suitcases.?

In the article, Making Workplaces Better for People Struggling with Mental Health Makes Work Better for Everyone, authors Sherry Glied and Richard Frank explain how increased workplace flexibility and support can work similarly to benefit vast numbers of workers and their employers.

Watch & Listen: Genuine hope and freedom beyond mental illness

Since the pandemic began, we have finally acknowledged mental illness as a real scourge that affects many people, says Emma Sharma, GC of Valiant Integrated Services and advocate for workplace mental health. However, fear of being labeled, ostracized, or worse prevents many sufferers from seeking support.?

Emma is courageously open about her struggles with PTSD. Listen in on the Notes to My Legal Self podcast or watch on YouTube as Emma shares practical tips and an encouraging message of genuine hope for total freedom beyond mental illness!

? Do you know an in-house leader who would be a great guest for the Notes to my (Legal) Self LinkedIn LIVE podcast conversation? DM me. Self-nominations are encouraged!?

It’s your turn to share

Thanks so much for reading and subscribing to my newsletter! Now I want to hear from you.?

• What are you thinking right this minute??
• What does your mind wonder about when it wanders?
• What topics would you like to discuss?

Comment below! Or DM me your thoughts and questions, then join in the conversation as I discuss the issues that concern you most in future newsletters.?

?? That’s all the notes for this edition of Notes to My (Legal) Self. Don’t forget to hit “Subscribe” to receive notifications when I publish each new edition.?

?? You can always find up-to-date information, insights, and events on the Notes to My (Legal) Self LinkedIn page. Follow the page, too, so you don’t miss a single beat!

Olga V. Mack is the CEO of Parley Pro, a next-generation contract management company pioneering online negotiation technology. Olga is dedicated to improving the future of law through innovative solutions. She remains convinced that the legal profession will emerge stronger, more resilient, and more inclusive than ever by embracing technology.?

Olga is also an award-winning general counsel, operations professional, startup advisor, public speaker, adjunct professor, and entrepreneur. She founded the Women Serve on Boards movement that advocates for women to participate on corporate boards of Fortune 500 companies. She also authored Get on Board: Earning Your Ticket to a Corporate Board Seat, Fundamentals of Smart Contract Security, and Blockchain Value: Transforming Business Models, Society, and Communities.?