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For The Ambitious Advocate BRIEF RECESS
JANUARY 2026
FROM THE LAW OFFICES OF J. PRICE MCNAMARA
Upgrade the Way You Think WIRING YOUR BRAIN FOR A GREAT 2026
While recently trying to map out what I want 2026 to look like, I came across something that I found compelling to inspire a great year. It's about complaining. We all do it, often without even realizing it, especially when we're complaining about ourselves. Call it our “self-talk.”
Law, which states that neurons that fire together wire together, and the connection strengthens with repetition. You can think of it in another way. Whatever you practice, you get better at. If you're constantly focused on what's wrong, what's missing, or what's frustrating, your brain becomes an expert problem finder. Not a problem solver, just a problem spotter. Here's where it gets interesting. Chronic negative thinking actually shrinks your prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that separates us from the animal kingdom. It's the very part of your brain responsible for focus, decision-making, and emotional regulation. So, you're literally weakening the part of you that helps you create solutions while strengthening the part that only sees problems. Here's the good thing. The inverse of that is also true. Gratitude, appreciation, and noticing what’s working strengthen the prefrontal cortex, training your brain to find opportunity and recognize possibilities that help you solve problems and create abundance. And the more you think that way, the stronger you get at it. You don’t just get what you want in life; you get what you wire your brain to see. Every comment you make, every thought you entertain, and every conversation you have is practice, and that practice strengthens you, just like learning a sport or a musical instrument. So, for 2026, I'm challenging myself and hope you’ll join me to catch those complaint thoughts before they start. When I notice myself going there, I'm going to pause and ask myself what in my life is working and good. This isn’t about ignoring real problems; it’s about approaching them with a creator’s mindset instead of a victim’s. The goal is to notice what is working and ask how we can make it better. The world doesn't need more people pointing out what's broken. It needs people who are wired to see what's possible. I bet anyone who makes this small, intentional shift in mindset every day in 2026 will start to move toward more gratitude,
What's interesting is what complaining physically does to our brain wiring.
Here's the science: Every time you complain, criticize, or judge someone or something, you're literally rewiring your brain. There's a principle in neuroscience called Hebb's
courage, and better choices earlier into the new year, and the people around them will feel that difference, too. I deeply appreciate my colleagues and friends, and I hope you all had a great holiday season and have an even better 2026!
Can't wait to see who my favorite Little Buddy becomes in 2026!
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(225) 201-8311
Appeal Victory in a Mental Health Claim
Principal Reverses Wrongful Denial
Our client Mary (not her real name) suffered from an extreme case of mental illness disability triggered by work burnout. Her symptoms and experiences were frightening, and her story is an example of how quickly severe stress can escalate. Mental illnesses like Mary’s bipolar disorder, triggered by workplace burnout, are a common cause of long-term disability. They can be terrifying in extreme cases, and they can happen to anyone. Mary’s treating physicians told her that she was absolutely unable to work until she got better. Principal Insurance Company ignored those opinions and denied her claim, stating that her evidence was insufficient, despite her psychiatrist’s unwavering conclusion that she was mentally disabled and could not work. Mary was used to a steady, high wage and was scared about losing everything. An attorney friend recommended our office to appeal her denial. We worked closely with Mary to build her claim with new, undeniable evidence that went far beyond what she had initially submitted to Principal. As we gathered her records and learned the details of her situation, we realized that her burnout and bipolar symptoms were among the most extreme we had encountered. She simply needed help describing her condition more vividly and effectively. A High-Energy Executive For years, Mary was a dynamo. She loved her work as a highly paid (over $190,000 per year) executive director for a fast-paced medical practice. She worked hard and kept long hours. She was highly valued by the physicians who employed her and loved by the staff she supervised. Every part of her life changed when she was hospitalized under a PEC (Physician’s Emergency Certificate) for emergency treatment. Burnout and overwork had pushed her into a severe delusional state. Her symptoms included hearing voices, seeing deceased relatives, believing people were monitoring her, refusing to be near mobile phones, whispering at work, thinking her office was bugged, and assuming people were taking photos of her from skylights and even while she used the bathroom.
She also believed trucks were following her and that workers around her home were in the mafia. She lost more than 30 pounds, was unable to sleep, and became afraid to be alone. Her employer discovered that her home had slipped into foreclosure, despite having sufficient funds available, and stepped in to help resolve it with the lender. Mary was determined to continue working, and her employer tried to help her hang on, but she began exhibiting increasingly bizarre behavior. She became extremely hyperactive, assigning staff to clean out cabinets and refrigerators at 2 a.m. during an ice storm, and also fired good staff members for no apparent reason. Her physician supervisors eventually told her she needed to take time off and later had to let her go. Winning Her Appeal With Mary’s help, we interviewed several of her physician supervisors and prepared detailed statements describing her behavior, her 2 a.m. work mania, her shared delusions, her foreclosure issues, and other events. We also drafted a stronger, more vivid statement for Mary and assembled overwhelming new evidence that had not been part of her original application. Presented with this evidence, along with relevant court opinions from similar cases, Principal finally reversed its earlier denial. It paid all past- due benefits and began paying Mary the $7,500 per month she was owed under the policy. Why Appeals Matter By fighting the denial instead of accepting it, Mary was able to maintain her financial security and focus on recovering. Unfortunately, disability insurers unfairly deny legitimate claims every day. But these denials can be overturned with stronger evidence, properly presented.
Mary deserved the benefits she had paid for, and it was an honor to help such a wonderful lady overturn such an unfair claim denial.
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HOW THE WORLD CELEBRATES NEW YEAR’S Traditions Worth Staying Up For Many of us have New Year’s celebrations that look the same every year. Here in the U.S., it’s common to share a toast, watch the ball drop, and maybe step outside to watch fireworks. Travel a bit, though, and you’ll find people celebrating the same moment with very different traditions. In many places, the year begins with food thought to bring good luck. People in Spain and some Latin American countries follow the tradition of eating 12 grapes as the clock strikes midnight, one for each month ahead. Many Italian families eat lentils, which are thought to look like tiny coins and represent prosperity for the year to come. In the Philippines, round fruits fill the table because circles are tied to good fortune. Other countries have their own take on lucky foods. Germans enjoy marzipan pigs, the Dutch eat ring-shaped pastries, and Estonians sit down for several meals in one night because they believe each extra meal adds strength for the new year. Some cultures focus on clearing out the old year before the new one arrives. Scotland’s Hogmanay traditions include a thorough cleaning of the home and a visit from a “first footer,” the first guest of the year who brings good luck to the household. In Cuba, people fill a bucket with water and toss it out the front door to send off the past year’s troubles. Japan observes Joya no Kane. During this New Year’s ceremony, Buddhist temples ring a bell 108 times to clear away human weaknesses and create a fresh start.
Jalapeño Popper Soup
Ingredients • 4 bacon slices, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces • 5–6 large jalapeño peppers, minced with stems and seeds removed • 1/2 small onion, chopped • 4 garlic cloves, minced • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 tsp cumin • 1 1/2 tsp salt • 1 lb gold potatoes, peeled and cut into bite-size pieces • 8 oz full-fat cream cheese • 1 cup shredded fresh cheddar cheese • 2 tbsp lemon juice
Does your office turn away calls about “long-term disability insurance” claim denials because you don’t handle administrative appeals or “ERISA litigation” in federal court? We want to hear from you! We happily share fees on referred ERISA long-term disability, life insurance, and accidental death insurance denial cases. Send us an email at BriefRecess@jpricemcnamara.com or call (225) 201-8311 to start the referral process! WE VALUE YOUR REFERRALS! Directions 1. Place a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat, cook bacon until crispy, then remove to a plate. 2. Add jalapeños and onion to the pot and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. 3. Add garlic to the pot and sauté for 1 minute. 4. Stir in chicken broth, cumin, salt, and potatoes, and simmer for 20 minutes. 5. Place cream cheese in a mixing bowl and add 1 ladle of hot broth before mixing. 6. Add cream cheese mixture to the pot and stir. 7. Remove from heat and add cheddar cheese and lemon juice, stirring until the cheese melts. 8. Pour into serving bowls, topping with bacon and more shredded cheese. Inspired by TheRecipeCritic.com
Other traditions center on joy and connection. In Brazil, people wear white and run into
the ocean at midnight to jump seven waves for good fortune. In Mexico, some walk the block with an empty suitcase in hopes of a travel-filled year. Denmark celebrates by leaping off a chair at midnight, which is their way of jumping into a new year. These traditions are as different as the countries that celebrate them, but they’re all really about the same thing. People everywhere just want a hopeful beginning and a chance to make the coming year a good one.
ERISA is all we do!
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
ERISA INSURANCE J. PRICE MCNAMARA Claim Attorney
9431 Common St. Baton Rouge, LA 70809 (225) 201-8311 WinMyBenefits.com
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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A Mindset Reset for the New Year
A Case of Burnout and Recovery
Many Ways to Welcome the Year
Jalapeño Popper Soup
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Your Guide to the Great Barrier Reef’s Most Epic Experiences
Uncover the Magic of Australia’s Living Wonder Swim With Turtles, Whales, and Wonder at the Great Barrier Reef
Cod Hole for an up-close look at the Reef’s most famous marine residents, while those craving a more remote experience can hop aboard a dive ship to explore untouched corners teeming with biodiversity. Prefer to keep your head dry? The 74 tropical Whitsunday Islands are perfect for cruising, whether on a bareboat charter or a luxury superyacht. For a show-stopping perspective, consider a scenic helicopter transfer to the Outer Reef . From the air, the patterns of coral, tiny secluded islands, and endless shades of blue make it clear just how massive this natural wonder truly is. For a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, the Reefsleep Experience takes you to Hardy Reef
If you’ve ever dreamed of exploring a place so vast it dwarfs entire countries, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef should be at the top of your bucket list. Stretching over 1,400 miles along the eastern coastline, this paradise is larger than the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Belgium, and the Netherlands combined! The Great Barrier Reef is home to dazzling coral gardens, colorful fish, giant clams, and six of the seven known marine turtle species. From snorkelers to skydivers, the Reef offers something unforgettable for every kind of adventurer. Underwater, the options are endless. Lizard Island is a snorkeler’s paradise where you can float above giant clam beds and glide alongside green turtles. Divers flock to WinMyBenefits.com 4
after day-trippers have left. Snorkel, dive, or relax on the Reefworld platform, then enjoy a barbecue as the sun sets. When night falls, snuggle into your floating tent under the stars or take a night dive to see the reef glow in a completely different light. Thrill-seekers, take note: Mission Beach offers a jaw-dropping skydiving experience over the reef and surrounding rainforest, plunging from 15,000 feet with expert guides to ensure an unforgettable ride. No matter how you experience it (by snorkel, yacht, helicopter, or parachute), the Great Barrier Reef is an adventure that promises awe, excitement, and memories you’ll treasure forever.
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