E D I T O r’ S M E S S A g E J i m W i m s a t t – H a r r i s, H u n t & D e r r, P. A.
Re-BalancingandSubtracting: FocusingonWhatisimportant
thissummer, whileyouarerestingandrechargingforthecoming months, iencourageyoutothinkSimpleandthinklocal.
Summertime brings thoughts of hot days, cool water, travel and family. I hope that everyone has had the opportunity over this summer to take some time for themselves and for their families or loved ones to rest and recharge. Many people also use periods of rest to try to plan for the future and coming months. A quote from behavioral scientist Katy Milkman keeps coming back to me, and I try to reflect on it each summer. In discussing how, according to studies, when a person is presented with an unbalanced scale, and told to balance it, the majority of humans will add weight to the lighter side instead of subtracting it from the heavier side, Dr. Milkman stated,“ We’ re adders, not subtractors.” Our natural, human instinct when it comes to behavioral change is to add something, rather than see if there is something that we could take away to simplify our lives and allow us to focus on the change we are trying to implement.
The state of the world continues to appear unbalanced. Individual anxiety seems to be at an all-time high, and our careers as attorneys certainly do not help in alleviating those pressures. My mantra this summer, as it was last summer, has been two words,“ Simple. Local.” This mantra“ Simple” has helped me focus on trying to simplify my life— to cut out and subtract those things that are not helping me work toward the goals I have set or the behaviors I want to implement. It is difficult for me to subtract, rather than add. When I am subtracting,
I worry that I am missing out on something, that I may miss some crucial insight. But subtracting allows me to focus on what is really important. To excise that which seems important, but which really is a distraction. Perhaps most importantly, it makes me think about these questions and set priorities.“ Local” helps me focus on where to direct my energy— my community, those around me, those I see every day.“ Simple” and“ Local” complement each other and work in harmony. If I think“ Simple” and“ Local,” I can find ways to make a positive impact on the individual lives of people in need. So, this summer, while you are resting and recharging for the coming months, I encourage you to think Simple and think Local. Pare down to the immediate and your impact can be felt. n
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