Ep 83: Mental Health and Wellness in Law School with Vanisa Siler Brown
Today we're joined by Vanisa Siler Brown, the founder of Foundation of Achievement to discuss the importance of caring for you mental health and wellness while in law school and beyond.
Episode Highlights
Take the time to recognize that there could be some outside forces going on causing issues within your academics and not so much your ability to thrive in law school.
Remember that you got accepted in the law school and there are a lot of considerations that law school admissions councils factor in to the admissions decision. They know what they're doing when they decide to send you an acceptance. You got accepted because they knew you would succeed.
Taking care of yourself is important regardless of what you're doing. As law students, future lawyers, and attorneys, you will be subjected to an above average level of stress that law school really doesn't teach you to appreciate. When you get to the point where you are subjected to above average stress and perpetuity when you're in practice, it's going to be so important to take care of yourself.
Feed your mind and your body. Reflect on how you can holistically take care of yourself.
Beware of limiting beliefs. Law school is not the forum for developing self-esteem. You will go in there and you will feel inadequate sometimes. You will get cold called and not know what to say and not know how to respond. You may fall into the limiting belief that maybe you aren't as smart as you thought you were. Be hyper aware of those kinds of limiting beliefs and learn how to check it.
Self-esteem is something you have to nurture. One easiest way is to pay yourself a compliment in the mirror. Your subconscious mind is adopting those beliefs and your subconscious mind governs your conduct.
Establish your boundaries. Work ethic in lawyering is often just working long, and that's not the same thing, that's duration. Duration and morale are two separate things. Establish boundaries within yourself. For example, you’re not going to work past a certain hour and you’re going to turn your phone on Do Not Disturb.
For practicing attorneys who feel stuck, don't be afraid to get out. There are options out there for you. Attorneys have a skillset set that can be applied to various other things that you can monetize.
Tweetable Quotes
“It is not your job to convince anyone else to believe in you. It’s your job to convince you that you can believe in you. You must sell yourself to you, period.”