Work/Life Balance
For Happy Life, Do What You Want to Do; Lawyer Explains How
Posted Sep 24, 2009 5:50 PM CST
By Martha Neil
The first step to a happy life is to do what you want to do, says a lawyer and former U.S. Supreme Court clerk who has spent a considerable amount of time researching how to be happy for a book on the subject.
And, for those who don't know what they want to do, Gretchen Rubin offers tips on figuring out the answer to this crucial question, reports the Wall Street Journal Law Blog.
As a toolbox on her Happiness Project Blog details, planning, goals and keeping key principles in mind is key to following your dreams.
It isn't easy to do so, though, especially when money and prestige pull you in one direction and your own interests take you in another, Rubin tells the WSJ's Ashby Jones:
"It’s painful to acknowledge a dream, because as soon as you acknowledge it, you also acknowledge that you might fail."
Earlier related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: "Advice from a Lawyer Who Pursued Happiness: Sleep More and Join a Group"
ABAJournal.com: "Study Offers Tips About How Lawyers Can Succeed as Part-Time Partners"
- How B of A’s GC Got Fired: Leave Now, and Leave Your BlackBerry Behind
- Schools Ranked by 'Super Lawyers' Produced
- Law Firm Price Wars Break Out as Some Try ‘Loss Leader’ Bids for Work
- Five Questions for Law Firms Abandoning Lockstep Compensation
- Judge Jails 2 Attorneys for Contempt in 4 Days
- Reed Smith Will Ask Nonequity Partners to Pony Up Possibly 15% of Pay
- Court Deputy Ordered to Apologize or Face Jail After Taking Lawyer's Paperwork
- Skadden Jumps on the Bonus Bandwagon
- ABA Executive Director Resigns
- Nasty Attitude to Co-Worker, Naughty Word in E-Mail Cost 2 Their Jobs
Should Supreme Court Justices Be Able to Review News Accounts Before Publication?
Comments
Ooona Youren
Sep 25, 2009 6:04 AM CST
Comment removed by moderator.
Flag this comment
mac
Sep 25, 2009 10:30 AM CST
Hmm, I would try to do what would I want to do, but I’m limited to only jobs that make over $70k a year because that is the only way I can pay my student loan bill each month.
Flag this comment
Anonymous
Sep 25, 2009 10:56 AM CST
It’s much easier to do it if you’re rich, you’ve been so near rock bottom that you have no choice or saw someone close to you nearly hit rock bottom. Through luck & dedication, I am getting to do what I want but I’m not getting paid for it just yet; it’s more of a future investment. However, I’ve also seen my younger sister lose a husband at 21, came from some lower circumstances & saw someone close to me start losing himself due to misery so the other stuff doesn’t matter to me. So I think you have to face serious life tragedy or start out pretty low before you can be free enough to think about piece of mind.
Flag this comment
Matt
Sep 25, 2009 1:44 PM CST
I think it’s somewhat telling that we now have to have people researching how to be happy.
Flag this comment
Liz
Oct 1, 2009 6:59 AM CST
I’m really tired of the lectures about “making it work.” Sure it’s on me to make what I can out of my life, after I’ve taken on huge student loan debt.
I’d like to think the law schools are also responsible for providing something of value. Instead administrators and the ABA and LSAC appear to feel just fine about expecting recent graduates to borrow another $5000 to pay Bar Bri to teach the bar exam.
No graduate can practice law without passing the bar exam. Yet somehow this information isn’t provided in the classroom, after I spent $100,000? That’s ridiculous.
So, yeah, lecturing graduates on how to have a cheery attitude after they’ve been dumped on the market with no skills and a three year hole in their resume? I have to say, it’s not really helpful.
Flag this comment
Add a Comment
We welcome your comments, but please adhere to our comment policy.
Commenting has expired on this post.