Do you love to learn?   

How long did it take you to become a lawyer?  You did at least 3 years in law school, plus your years of practice.  So at a very minimum, 3-4 years.

What does law school teach you to do REALLY?  Might you agree that primarily, it teaches you how to think like a lawyer?

If you agree, then stay with me…

The most important thing you can do that can help you leave (big) law is learn new thinking skills. 

To think in ways that yields the results you desire.

Just as yoga, meditation and law are all practices, this too is a practice.

Let’s turn to Palo Alto and Professor Carol Dweck, who illuminated the science of how to cultivate a “growth” mindset over a “fixed” one in her seminal book: Mindset.

“Believing that your qualities are carved in stone — the fixed mindset — creates an urgency to prove yourself over and over.  I’ve seen so many people with this one consuming goal of proving themselves — in the classroom, in their careers, and in their relationships. Every situation calls for a confirmation of their intelligence, personality, or character. Every situation is evaluated: Will I succeed or fail? Will I look smart or dumb? Will I be accepted or rejected? Will I feel like a winner or a loser? . . .

“There’s another mindset in which these traits are not simply a hand you’re dealt and have to live with. In this mindset, the hand you’re dealt is just the starting point for development. This growth mindset is based on the belief that your basic qualities are things you can cultivate through your efforts.

Everyone can change and grow through application and experience.

– Carol Dweck, Mindset, The New Psychology of Success: How We Can Learn to Fulfill our Potential

If you want to expand your capabilities to believe in yourself, and go from a more “fixed” mindset and cultivate a “growth mindset”.

There’s ONE word that can help.

YET.

Take these thoughts that I hear from women who feel stuck and unhappy in law…

“I don’t know how to leave big law”

“I don’t know what else I could do.”

“Who else would pay me to do something? I don’t know how to do anything else.”

Now, add our magic word…

“I don’t know how to leave big law, yet.”

“I don’t know what else I want to do, yet.”

“I have skills, talents and the ability to learn.  I am smart and hardworking.  I haven’t figured it out, yet!”

If this is kindling a desire within you to learn and expand your growth mindset…

If you want to free that inner voice that says, “my relationships are suffering. This can’t be all there is.  I have so much more potential!”…

You can learn to quiet and quell those inner critics and naysayers.

It takes practice, but you learn how to do it in WILL Transform in a variety of ways.   

Here’s what a WILL member who is in the process of leaving her big firm said…

“I’ve overcome a lot of the mindset stuff that was really negative when we began.  Now I better understand myself, what I value and what I’m interested in.  I am better equipped to combat this crazy environment.  Last week I said to myself ‘What if I had an awesome and productive day?’  And I did!  That to me is the biggest success.  To separate myself from the hive mind and be more myself.”

You have the power to THINK new thoughts.

“I may not have my exact plan all figured out YET, and I am working on it!”

How does that thought feel?

To feel better and expand your growth mindset, click here.

Elena

PS – Here’s a video of Carol Dwek talking about growth mindsets and the power of “YET.”

As a WILL member recently recommended…

“I would say do it. I don’t think you can do this by yourself. I might’ve thought that at the beginning, that I could figure this out, but I actually think it’s really helpful to have a coach. The community and just seeing that there are so many other people who are in the same boat is so great too.  I would say do it because there’s a lot there to benefit from.”

Want more information?  Click below to schedule your call.