I have signed up to follow the reverb10 prompts. This is an annual event to reflect on the year gone by and manifest for the next year. Each day throughout December there will be prompts, and I will do my best to answer as many of them as possible, including bringing attention to how reflection and manifestation can change the legal profession, and all professions. That is, after all, the point of this blog.
Here is today’s prompt: Encapsulate the year 2010 in one word. Explain why you’re choosing that word. Now, imagine it’s one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2011 for you?
2010 word: Foundation
2011 word manifestation: Exploration
This year has been about finding my own two feet. Although Is Yoga Legal began in 2009, it has begun to truly take shape in 2010. This blog, and a supportive community, have helped me find my own path, own it, and begin to share it with others hoping to help them find their own path. What do I mean by this?
When I started working at the Court of Appeals in August 2009, I was scared to talk to people about yoga. I would hide from the spiritual / energetic side of yoga in my daily discussions, and I would allow people to talk about yoga as “just” exercise. It pained me, but I saw no other way. I did not think the legal profession was ready for a different discussion. Personally, I continued to follow the paths set out for me by others, specifically people in my family. There is nothing wrong with those paths, but they were not my path.
2010 was a different story. I found my own two feet. I found my foundation. My yoga practice deepened physically, spiritually, and emotionally, and I have begun to find my way in the law as well (more on that in a moment). And as I have gotten stronger in my own beliefs, I feel more confident sharing them with others, using them to hopefully help others, and I have begun to literally put myself out there, teaching Stress Management Workshops for Lawyers that focus on yoga and meditation techniques you can use at your desk. In other words, I have found my place.
Foundation is vital in so much of life. We all know what a pyramid looks like, and we know how strong it is. Its strength comes from its foundation. In law, we need to have that strong foundation; we need to have a solid base onto which we can add the rest of the work. When a client comes into our office, our solid foundation gives us confidence and inspires them that we can help. Our solid foundation sets the framework for our arguments in court. There is no substitute for foundation; it is simply hard work.
Yoga and meditation help us gain this foundation, even in legal analysis, by giving us the tools to find our inner strength. We learn what matters to us, and we can use that to our advantage. We learn our strengths, and we use those to help our clients. In short, these tools are our internal foundation to help us set our external foundation.
So, what about exploration? Personally, I am about to embark on a literal exploration - to New Zealand. I will be studying family law and getting an LLM (a Master’s in Law to all non-lawyer folks). It was because of my foundation that I know that I want to find the best possible way to help children and families by helping to find a better way to do family law in this country. I have no answers today, but I know that the foundation I have gained over the past year will help me with my exploration over the next year. Hopefully the word for 2012 will be reconciliation - bringing the foundation and exploration into harmony and creating something amazing.
What are your words? What do you want to manifest in the new year?
Namaste and Blessings!
Here is today’s prompt: Encapsulate the year 2010 in one word. Explain why you’re choosing that word. Now, imagine it’s one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2011 for you?
2010 word: Foundation
2011 word manifestation: Exploration
This year has been about finding my own two feet. Although Is Yoga Legal began in 2009, it has begun to truly take shape in 2010. This blog, and a supportive community, have helped me find my own path, own it, and begin to share it with others hoping to help them find their own path. What do I mean by this?
When I started working at the Court of Appeals in August 2009, I was scared to talk to people about yoga. I would hide from the spiritual / energetic side of yoga in my daily discussions, and I would allow people to talk about yoga as “just” exercise. It pained me, but I saw no other way. I did not think the legal profession was ready for a different discussion. Personally, I continued to follow the paths set out for me by others, specifically people in my family. There is nothing wrong with those paths, but they were not my path.
2010 was a different story. I found my own two feet. I found my foundation. My yoga practice deepened physically, spiritually, and emotionally, and I have begun to find my way in the law as well (more on that in a moment). And as I have gotten stronger in my own beliefs, I feel more confident sharing them with others, using them to hopefully help others, and I have begun to literally put myself out there, teaching Stress Management Workshops for Lawyers that focus on yoga and meditation techniques you can use at your desk. In other words, I have found my place.
Foundation is vital in so much of life. We all know what a pyramid looks like, and we know how strong it is. Its strength comes from its foundation. In law, we need to have that strong foundation; we need to have a solid base onto which we can add the rest of the work. When a client comes into our office, our solid foundation gives us confidence and inspires them that we can help. Our solid foundation sets the framework for our arguments in court. There is no substitute for foundation; it is simply hard work.
Yoga and meditation help us gain this foundation, even in legal analysis, by giving us the tools to find our inner strength. We learn what matters to us, and we can use that to our advantage. We learn our strengths, and we use those to help our clients. In short, these tools are our internal foundation to help us set our external foundation.
So, what about exploration? Personally, I am about to embark on a literal exploration - to New Zealand. I will be studying family law and getting an LLM (a Master’s in Law to all non-lawyer folks). It was because of my foundation that I know that I want to find the best possible way to help children and families by helping to find a better way to do family law in this country. I have no answers today, but I know that the foundation I have gained over the past year will help me with my exploration over the next year. Hopefully the word for 2012 will be reconciliation - bringing the foundation and exploration into harmony and creating something amazing.
What are your words? What do you want to manifest in the new year?
Namaste and Blessings!
© 2010 Rebecca Stahl, all rights reserved
2010: Re-Balance
ReplyDelete2011: moving forward
This past year was a way for me to find a balance and a plateau from which I can use as a springboard into 2011, to be more of myself, create more of who I am in art, and to continue to explore who I am. No looking backwards to what has been. Take what I have learned and move forward into the moment.
I'm am so inspired by you! It's amazing how when you begin to speak your truth you are able to find a perfect spot for you on the planet. Keep up the amazing work.
ReplyDeleteI am excited to be on this reverb journey with you.
Much love,
Kate
@Toni - that is wonderful. Many blessings for this new year.
ReplyDelete@Kate - Thank you! The universe is such an amazing place. I learn that more and more each day. I look forward to sharing this journey with you as well.