Legal work often requires maximum effort, but does not always bring a sense of satisfaction. Constant information overload, social media with endless comparisons, and the ‘impostor syndrome’ can devalue even the most obvious achievements. How to overcome these challenges and learn to notice your own progress, explained psychologist and gestalt therapist Yulia Kudelya during the NAU webinar supported by the International Bar Association.
Self-Esteem or Self-Worth?
According to WHO, 85% of people worldwide have low self-esteem, and 62% of professionals experience the impostor syndrome. Yulia Kudelya explained the importance of distinguishing ‘self-esteem’ (constant comparison with others) from ‘self-worth’ – an internal sense of significance not tied to external standards.
When a person lives only in the realm of achievements and failures, the brain’s ‘threat system’ is activated: anxiety, shame, and self-criticism. Instead, self-care helps activate the ‘soothing system’ and see progress without pressure.
Practical Advice for Lawyers
The expert shared techniques that help develop a healthy attitude towards one’s successes:
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Record small victories. Write down 2–3 things that went well each day.
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Praise yourself for effort, not just results. This motivates more than talent evaluation.
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Shift focus from ‘should’ to ‘can.’ Mistakes are experience, not failure.
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Practice gratitude. A two-week gratitude practice reduces burnout and improves sleep.
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Create a ‘self-care framework.’ Regular sleep, nutrition, work-life balance, and relationship support.
Yulia Kudelya also offered the metaphor of the ‘green pen’: instead of highlighting one’s mistakes with a ‘red pen,’ it is worth noting successes – even small ones. This helps change internal dialogue and support oneself in challenging moments.
Conclusion
A lawyer’s success is not just a won case or a signed contract, but also daily self-care practice. It provides inner resilience in times of uncertainty and allows combining professional development with psychological well-being.