It appears that law is unique in being one of the few professions that reward pessimism. Unlike sales people who always seem to say things are “fantastic”, or human resources managers who are usually smiling, attorneys look for possible risks, broken relationships, and other negative events that may never occur. Unlike optimists who see disappointing events as single events, not permanent, and not personal, habitual pessimists lose resilience and become unhappy.
To become a happier person, look for things that go right by not always feeling that something is missing. This comes from gratitude, and a realization that feelings of inadequacy or fear are distortions projected onto the world.
To have gratitude, understand that one is not a separate individual in a world of other separate individuals, but rather, in a world of connection. The certain path to frustration is to make plans about how things should be, and what one is looking for, rather than paying attention to each moment in order to see that there really is not anything to acquire or get rid of. Everything everyone needs is already connected to each person.
Emotions such as anger and delusion arise from hurt, and the terror of confronting pain. The violence outside is an outer projection of the violence within. These emotions come from not looking at life as it actually, but reacting without questioning the options.
For instance, anger has much to do with attaching to a thought. If one lets go of the thought, one would be less angry. For some attorneys, it may be difficult to settle or do what is right for a business or client versus litigating or continuing a fight to obtain respect or insist on being right.
While it is important to be able to hold an argument, knowledge constantly changes. Thoughts are only guides, not absolute truths. If one becomes too attached to a thought, one is unable to see issues from multiple perspectives. Criticizing views though one is not certain of the what is absolutely true results in hatred, conflict, and unhappiness.
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