The holiday season and the New Year offer lawyers opportunities to reflect and take stock, to grow and heal, and to make meaningful changes in our lives. Rarely though do such opportunities surface without confronting a few obstacles along the way. Some obstacles are practical considerations that may call for patience or some refiguring.  Other obstacles are psychological factors — reactive beliefs and feelings — that obscure a clear path forward. When such obstacles arise, we can become easily distracted. In time, if our attention does not steady, we can shift into more confused and agitated states.

Bring to mind any of a variety of challenging situations you have, or may experience, this holiday season — perhaps world news, family arguments, another’s conduct, work-related decisions or even worrisome thoughts — and consider how readily mental and emotional stability can become further compromised.

In this month’s column we’ll explore the “Present Moment Pivot,” a technique for shifting into more effective and satisfying states of mind and body.