The JD’s Life Coach: 2 Gratitude Myths You Probably Believe
By Annie Little • November 01, 2014 •Writers in Residence
Gratitude can be a fast-track to happiness. If you haven’t heard it from me, you’ve probably heard it from some higher profile people (read: Oprah or Deepak Chopra). And with good reason. There have been tons (that’s a technical term) of studies conducted and books written on the how and why gratitude increases happiness, optimism and prosocial tendencies. The “how” is by keeping a gratitude journal, writing thank you letters to influential people in your life and -- if you’re really looking for a big boost -- reading your thank you note to such a person face to face. So…
The JD’s Life Coach: Meeting Your Inner Jury
By Annie Little • October 29, 2014 •Writers in Residence
Editor's Note: Ms. JD is currently seeking pre-law and law school students, as well as legal professionals, to serve as its 2015 Writers in Residence! To apply for the Writers in Residence Program, please read this post and submit all of the necessary information and materials to wir@ms-jd.org by Saturday, November 1, 2014! Inner critic. You’ve heard the term. You know what it means. You’ve heard the internal voice. Or voices. Not like a “hearing voices” or “multiple personalities” thing. But more like a group of individuals judging you. Like your own inner jury. Well, guess what. It’s totally normal. In his book, True Purpose, Tim…
The JD’s Life Coach: An Unexpected Leadership Quality
By Annie Little • September 03, 2014 •Writers in Residence
What qualities do you look for in a leader? Communicative. Trustworthy. Fair. Inspiring. Committed. Vulnerable. Okay, vulnerability likely wouldn’t make your top ten on a list of ideal leadership qualities. But after reading this, you’ll think twice. What Is Vulnerability? A great way to illustrate vulnerability in action (or rather our attempts to conceal it) is to travel back in time to junior high. Oh yes. Those dreaded and oh-so-awkward tween years. You’ve got your clique of mean girls that prides itself on exclusivity, but whose members are terrified of not be accepted for who they are. There’s the know-it-all…
The JD’s Life Coach: Beating Perfectionism
By Annie Little • August 05, 2014 •Writers in Residence
Are you a perfectionist? Wait. Before you answer that, I should tell you it’s a bit of a trick question. We’re all perfectionists to some extent. Think of it like a spectrum. Some of us are wound up tightly into a compulsive Type-A lifestyle, while for others perfectionism only rears up during tough times. But we all have perfectionistic tendencies in some aspects of our lives. Not to say that there’s a good or bad amount of perfectionism. Just varying intensities of its expression. You heard me. There’s no good amount of perfectionism. NONE. And that’s because perfectionism is about…
The JD’s Life Coach: Don’t Let the Comparison Game Derail Your Success
By Annie Little • July 05, 2014 •Writers in Residence
Ever notice how craptastic you feel after engaging in a round of the comparison game? Pining after a friend’s beautiful new home. Coveting a colleague’s flashy new car. Envying that acquaintance whose firm pays double what yours does. You know, wondering why everyone else has a better life than you do. Sometimes taking note of others’ successes can be inspiring and motivating. But all too often it can leave you feeling lost, inadequate and completely depressed. Why the Comparison Game is a Losing Proposition Scarcity Mindset When you look at what others have, you’re really scrutinizing what you don’t have.…
The JD’s Life Coach: Honoring Your Authentic Self
By Annie Little • June 05, 2014 •Writers in Residence
One thing you probably haven’t thought about in relation to your legal career is whether or not you’re being true to your authentic self. What does that even mean? Enough with the life coachy bullshit already! I’m talking about being the person you truly are at your core. Not the person your parents want you to be. Or that your friends see. Or that your boss expects. Who YOU are. Women in the legal field are particularly out of sync with their authentic selves. And who can blame us! The law is a demanding arena littered with unrealistic expectations of…
The JD’s Life Coach: How to Love the Skin You’re In
By Annie Little • May 05, 2014 •Writers in Residence
I watch The Today Show weekday mornings. Can’t help myself. I love getting basic news updates sandwiched betwixt light-hearted segments. And let’s not pretend that I have the brain capacity in the early morning to process much more than the puff pieces that comprise the bulk of the program. One of the “heavier” puff pieces of late is a series called “Love Your Selfie.” And I’m digging it. Basically, they get their regular hosts to confront and share insights about their bodies in an effort to expose our obsession with body image and offer help in creating a more positive…
The JD’s Life Coach: Two Easy Steps to Your Self-Care Diagnosis
By Annie Little • April 05, 2014 •Writers in Residence
I cannot tell you how relieved I am that spring is finally here! Lawdy, it’s been a rough winter in so many ways. And I know many of you can relate. Now that all the snow days, cabin fever and sniffly noses are (mostly) in the rear view mirror, it’s the perfect time to check in with yourself. Even if you don’t do a formal quarterly review -- you can take a peek at my first one of the year here -- I highly recommend investing in some self-care this spring (and always!). What do I mean by self-care? I mean…
The JD’s Life Coach: What to Do When You Lose Momentum
By Annie Little • February 23, 2014 •Writers in Residence
So here we are. March. It’s almost the end of the first quarter of the year. Almost time to reflect on the goals we set in January and what we’ve accomplished thus far. Crap. I’m not going to pretend that I’ve got my shizz together. (Any life coaches that tell you they do are full of poo.) Plans go awry. Circumstances change. Curveballs are hurled. Goals fall by the wayside. Life is messy. And none of us is exempt. That being said, it’s so easy to forget that everyone deals with the unexpected and the resulting derailment. It’s so easy…