We all have encountered stress and unexpected setbacks in our legal practice. We try a case, but we receive a negative result. Our client, to whom we have provided outstanding service, has decided to leave. An attorney in our firm suddenly decides to depart, causing workload issues. Due to some big cases, our firm's cash flow has become tight.

Haven’t we all experienced issues such as that? How do we respond? Do we feel depressed and ready to give up? Or, we evaluate what happened, learn what we can, and develop a plan for success?

The difference in how we respond is based on the critical trait of resilience. In this newsletter, I will explain what resilience is; what problems we experience when do not persevere; the gifts we enjoy when we develop our perseverance; and ten key tools in becoming a more resilient lawyer.

What is resilience?

Resilience is a healthy trait that enables us to recover from adversity healthily. It is our ability to recover. When faced with setbacks, losses, mistakes, and criticisms, resilience is the characteristic that allows us to endure those events and persevere to a successful conclusion. It allows us to grow through stressful circumstances.

What happens when we lack resilience?

We do not cope with challenges and setbacks if we are not resilient. We become easily overwhelmed and stressed and do not bounce back from failures. This can create feelings of frustration, hopelessness, and burnout. A lack of resilience can also negatively impact our physical and mental health. Chronic stress can create various health problems, including anxiety, depression, headaches, stomach issues, and sleep disruption.

When we lack resilience, we are not as productive or successful as lawyers. We cannot focus. We become pessimistic and confused about our direction. It also can affect our relationships. We struggle to maintain healthy relationships when we constantly struggle to cope with stress and adversity.

Why is it important that we as lawyers be resilient?

The practice of law can be so demanding and stressful. Sleep. We work long hours, meet tight deadlines, and deal with challenging clients. We often face setbacks and failures along the way. Being resilient allows us to bounce back from these challenges and continue working effectively despite our difficulties. It also enables us to maintain our well-being and mental health, which are important for our success and fulfillment. We do not become overwhelmed or burned out when we healthily handle stress and adversity. 

These are the most important benefits of being resilient:

1. Improved mental and physical health. Resilience helps us cope with stress healthily, leading to improved mental and physical health.

2. Increased ability to handle challenges. Resilience helps us bounce back from setbacks and continue working effectively even and difficult situations.

3. More successful professionally. Resilience allows us to stay focused and motivated, which leads to improving performance in our personal and professional life.

4. Healthy relationships Perseverance helps us maintain healthy relationships because we are better able to handle difficult situations and communicate effectively

5. Increased well-being and satisfaction. Because we can better handle the ups and downs of our professional life, we feel more satisfied, fulfilled, and happier.

In short, resilience is a key characteristic in our ability to handle the demands of our profession and achieve long-term success.

Tools for developing resilience

So, we all want to be more resilient, don’t we? But how can we develop that skill? Here are ten tools:

1. Develop a positive mindset. Focus on the positive aspects of your life. Maintain a hopeful outlook. Avoid taking yourself to a place of seeing setbacks as catastrophes.

2. Practice stress management techniques. Take breaks. Enjoy the fresh air. Do something you enjoy for exercise. Develop a hobby. Connect with others you cure about.

3. Learn how to let go. Avoid obsessing about the setback. Those things happen. See it for what it is, and then practice acceptance. We learn from it; we cannot change it, accept it, and let go.

4. Practice mindfulness. Be aware of your thoughts. Know when they are taking you into a dark place. Be conscious of what you are thinking and feeling. You will see that what happened is very disappointing and frustrating; it is not something you will let control your life and happiness.

5. Build a support network. Have a group of professional acquaintances, or a  network of friends, that you can share your frustrations with and who will support you and lift you. Surround yourself with people who care about you and are positive.

6. Learn from your mistakes. What happened? What went wrong? What can we do differently next time? How do we prevent this from happening again? What is our plan to grow from it? Every mistake or setback is a learning opportunity. See this not as the end of the world but as a chance to grow and get better

7. Take care of your health. Sleep well, exercise, take breaks, and eat a healthy diet. The better we care for ourselves, the stronger and more resilient we will be.

8. Focus on your vision. Set realistic goals for what you want to achieve in your profession. Keep them in the forefront of your mind. Creating that sense of purpose will help you to be motivated and focused even when faced with challenges.

9. Practice gratitude. Make a list of 3 things each day you have to be grateful for. Read the list every day. When we focus on the many gifts and blessings of our life, we handle the obstacles much better.

10. Seek support when needed. If you feel overwhelmed, reach out for help when you need it. This could be from a close friend, spouse, mentor, coach, therapist, or counselor. You are never alone. There are always people who love you or who can help you. When you receive the needed support, the obstacles are not as overwhelming.

Conclusion

We all as lawyers face incredible challenges. One of the most critical traits we need to develop to be successful professionally and happy and fulfilled is our talent for resilience. This is always a skill we can improve. We are never perfect, but focusing on these tools to become more resilient will help us become more successful attorneys.