legal sanity

In a recent post on the culture of dissatisfaction, author, blogger and change agent Seth Godin discusses how Las Vegas – with its bright lights and lustful lure – both salves and fuels the discontent that’s rapidly “accelerating through every market and community on Earth.” People are “unhappy all the time,” Godin asserts, and jump from person to person, product to product, service to service and experience to experience in a frenetic attempt to fill a void created by all this unhappiness. According to Godin, we can counter this epidemic malaise by building relationships with “real people.” He says, “Relationships that make us feel counted upon, respected, trusted and valued cut through the ennui of dissatisfaction.” I think Godin is onto something big here. But there’s more under the hood. Meaningful relationships may very well stem the tide of dissatisfaction we’re experiencing in, and outside of, the legal profession. Before we can meaningfully relate to others, however, we need to meaningfully connect (or re-connect) with ourselves. Somewhere along the line, many of us lose sight of our own greatness and aptitudes. We forget what fulfills us – that is, what sparks and supports our curiosity, interests and desires. It’s this disconnect of self from self that’s at the heart of the individual and societal depletion Godin depicts. So, unless we take steps to re-acquaint with ourselves, the relationships we forge with others might soothe - but likely won’t cure - any discontent we’re experiencing in the law and beyond.