My mindfulness practice has been nothing short of transformative. I am better able to manage stress, to sleep well, and to stay present with my clients. I know I would have been a happier lawyer if I had had this resource when I was practicing law. And I have seen the concrete benefits of mindfulness among so many clients. As a result, I am always interested in sharing this incredible practice with others. Currently, Sounds True is offering an online Mindfulness & Meditat

Today, I spoke to about 40 law students at GA State's College of Law about mindfulness. GSU has a Mindfulness in the Law Society that sponsors weekly guided meditation sessions and yoga classes as well as a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction class. I am just thrilled that the interest in mindfulness has made its way into law schools. Hopefully, the next generation of lawyers will have new tools for promoting well-being. I used the image above to encourage the students to r

Whenever I meet with new clients, I always ask about their diet, exercise routine, and sleep hygiene. Some folks seem puzzled about why a mental health professional would be so interested in their physical well-being, so I thought I'd try to explain. This pyramid depicts the "Hierarchy of Needs" developed by Abraham Maslow. Maslow theorized that humans must meet their lower level needs before they can begin to address needs at a higher level. This means that if we don't hav

Recently, I've spoken to several different lawyers' groups about ways to improve well-being. I always share the benefits of meditation in managing stress, anxiety, and depression. Invariably, some folks are skeptical of their ability to begin a meditation practice. It sounds daunting to try to carve out time each day to sit quietly and still the mind. I often respond by suggesting that they start by simply lengthening their inhales and exhales a couple of times a day. We

When our anxiety gets triggered, our breath is often one of the first casualties. We forget to breathe fully and deprive our bodies of oxygen. Without a good supply of this essential resource, we are less equipped to respond to the anxiety in a healthy way. This simple tool helps to regulate our breath by giving us a visual reminder to lengthen our inhales and exhales. By inhaling as the geometric shapes expand and exhaling as they contract, our breath begins to settle. I

Many people are interested in beginning a meditation practice, but aren't sure how to start. A recent New York Times piece provides straightforward instructions on meditation as well as several guided meditations. By committing just a few minutes each day to meditation, you can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression and increase calm, happiness, and brain functioning. #Mindfulness #Meditation #Stress #Anxiety #Depression