Harvard Law School Association of New York City

Freedom from the Inner Critic for Lawyers

Thursday, March 21 from 7:00 pm

CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE WEBINAR

Passcode:  062492

Overview:

Inspired by both cutting-edge science and meditation practice, this program will lead to more happiness and more energy for everyone who participates. We will cover why freedom from the inner critic is especially valuable for lawyers working in a competitive environment and how lawyers can use self-compassion as a tool in their everyday life and careers.

Program Description:

One of the biggest roadblocks that legal professionals face is how hard they are on themselves. Research suggests that a strong inner critic leads to procrastination, anxiety, and burnout, while self-compassion is the key to resilience and productivity.
This interactive workshop takes a scientific, evolutionary perspective on the inner critic to uncover how the inner critic was created, what purpose it serves, and how we can transform harsh judgments into wise discernments.

Some topics we will address include: Is it possible to motivate ourselves without self-criticism? How does easing the inner critic lead to better mental health and better outcomes at work? How does self-compassion impact the body and brain? How is self-compassion different from self-indulgence and self-esteem? How does the brain change as the inner critic eases? Why is breaking free from the inner critic key to having a successful legal career?

We will use psychological strategies, wisdom from ancient cultures, and meditation to break free from a harsh inner voice, and find empowering ways to think about the past, present, and future.

Bio:

Elizabeth Pyjov is an attorney who combines what she learned about ritual and meaning at Harvard Divinity School, her literature degree from Harvard College, neuroscience studies at Stanford Medical School, the rigor of Harvard Law School, experience living in 7 countries, fluency in 5 languages, and her time studying with the Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, and Jon Kabat-Zinn to think outside the box and address modern challenges in the legal world.

She understands the law and lawyers. She was an Associate at Sidley Austin, has conducted legal investigations for the New York Attorney General’s Office, and has worked in human rights at the United Nations. She also has 12 years of experience as a presenter, coach, speaker, and facilitator. As the Founder and CEO of Self-Compassion for Lawyers, her goal is to help lawyers thrive and to help organizations create more compassionate, successful workplaces.

Elizabeth has offered programs for the judges in the Eastern District of New York, the New York Supreme Court, the Library of Congress, and top law firms in the US and Europe, including Ropes and Gray, Quinn Emanuel, Weil Gotshal, Baker McKenzie, Perkins Coie, and Vinson & Elkins. She has also presented at law schools, including Harvard Law School and Columbia Law School.

Elizabeth serves the legal profession by collaborating with organizations to help create compassionate culture and to help their lawyers feel healthy, energized, inspired, and fulfilled.

She also serves on the Mindfulness and Well-Being in Law Committee for the New York City Bar Association.

Her programs have had over 10,000 attendees in the last decade.

This work is the biggest privilege of her life.