CBA Record April-May 2019

Y O U N G L A W Y E R S J O U R N A L

LAWYERS SHOULD MEDITATE The Importance of Mindfulness By Jonathan M. Mraunac

A n ancient proverb warns that building a strong body without also building a strong mind is constructing a fortress upon quicksand. A healthy, trained mind is the most overlooked aspect of overall health, and there is much uncertainty and confusion around how to achieve such a result. With “mindfulness” becoming a popular business-world buzzword, it is important to understand the concept and benefits that flow from its adoption.

mindfulness as much as anyone—you are the precise candidate for it. A fundamental concept to understand before discussing mindfulness is breathing. Breathing at a basic level is an involuntary function, but breathing can be trained and improved, as well as impacted (and overrid- den) by your voluntary actions. Breathing underlies everything else you do. If you do not agree, take a deep breath and hold it for fifteen seconds. Examine how quickly everything else collapses—your concen-

The aim of this article is to convince you that a mindset founded in mindfulness is as important as anything else you do during your day. You may ask if there is a difference between mindfulness and meditation. If mindfulness involves any type of medita- tion, you may be quick to reject the idea, claiming it is too granola, too religious, or that it is simply not for you. You may be opposed because you cannot “turn off your brain.” If you find yourself offering any of these objections, then you need

44 APRIL/MAY 2019

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