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MY NEW PERSPECTIVE ON PURPOSE I WAS WRONG ABOUT PEOPLE
For years, when our firm delivered exceptional services to our clients, I had a saying I would tell myself. The saying was, “our people are the product.” I loved this phrase so much because in an industry like ours, where we don’t sell widgets or things but services instead, our team is the “thing” that gets help to the client. However, despite my use (and love) of this saying, something about it never fully sat right with me; it felt incomplete. I didn’t want to commoditize people; calling them “products” made them sound like inanimate objects instead of human beings with full lives and emotions. I had an epiphany as I rolled this saying and its meaning around in my mind. In full transparency, I’ve been doing a lot of self-study lately, which helped lead to this realization, and it has involved a lot of learning and journaling with a focus on purpose and intentionality. I’d reflect on things like “What’s my purpose for the day?” or “What are my intentions when talking to this or that person?” During this introspection, while deciding my purpose and intentions when interacting with people, I realized that I had my favorite saying wrong the entire time. People aren’t the product; they’re my purpose. My purpose is to serve my team members so that they can have more fulfilling work and personal lives. By doing so, we likewise serve our clients by helping, supporting, and advocating for them. As
soon as I realized this, it completely changed how I moved through life.
At some point, most people ask themselves, “What is my purpose in life? What motivates me to get out of bed?” And with the above epiphany, I realized that, for me, it’s people. It’s helping people and influencing people or their circumstances, like in our client’s cases, and just keeping others in mind in every action I take. And if everyone did this, the world would be a much better place. But I’d like to return to my new self-reflection phase for a moment because it’s important. Every day, I journal three things on an index card: gratitudes, goals, and a purpose for the day. I’ll be honest, that last one, the purpose, was the one that scared me the most; it was also the most difficult. Every purpose I’d write at the start of the day would change, and over time, I noticed it was crystallizing into something constant — the same overarching purpose every day. It wasn’t material goods, or stuff, or even a small purpose of getting through meetings or being successful in a certain case. It was the idea of positively influencing a certain number of people. Whether it’s team members, clients, or even random people I meet moving through life, I want to intentionally leave them in a better place than when they met me. I say all this because journaling, discovering my purpose, and learning that I was wrong about my favorite phrase has given me a fresh outlook on how to best serve my clients. No matter what, I
strive to leave everyone in a better place at the end of their time with us, not as commodities but as human beings with complex feelings and intricate lives. As an attorney, I want to do more than simply win your case or provide exceptional service; I’d like to improve your life. So, if you’d like to work with an injury attorney whose entire purpose is to positively impact your life, call me. I look forward to helping you in your injury case and beyond.
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Does it always seem like your kids get a burst of energy right before bedtime? After a jam- packed day, your child’s pent-up stress and energy will likely spike when it’s time to head to bed. The key is implementing a consistent bedtime routine to help them transition into sleep mode. Try therapeutic techniques to soothe your child for a full night of shuteye. Squeeze ’em tight (add pressure). Just like you would swaddle a baby, you should wrap your kids up like tiny burritos! When you add pressure that squeezes them tight, your child’s tactile and proprioceptive senses are activated, which creates a sense of calm and relaxation. You can also do this with weighted blankets, tight cuddles, or by tucking them in nice and snug with pillows placed around them to add more pressure. Get them warm and cozy. Warmth is another element that can increase calm and signal bedtime! Put their blankets in the dryer so they’ll have them nice and warm when it’s time to lie down. Additionally, you can give them a warm drink with a straw, as the warmth not only relaxes them but the straw also encourages sucking motions, which are incredibly soothing for children. Create gentle movements. Repetitive and rhythmic movements like rocking back and forth generate vestibular input for the nervous system. This will help your children feel comfortable and ready to sleep! You can try these motions by rocking them on a yoga ball for a few minutes, reading a bedtime story in a rocking chair, or sitting with them in a porch swing or hammock right before bed. Turn the screens off. We already know that looking at screens harms our sleep, so why would that be any different for children? Decrease screen time as the day advances and completely turn off any screens at least two hours before bedtime. Not only do you want to cut these harsh lights, but you should also add comforting ones! Unwind in dim lighting as the day ends, and place lava lamps or a night light in your children’s rooms to help soothe them. Also, adding a white noise machine or playing calm music can do wonders!
Combine these therapeutic methods to create the perfect bedtime routine that will have your energetic kiddos in bed without a hitch.
IF YOU NEED HELP CALL BRAUNS
“I love Brauns Law. Our paralegal, Haley, was awesome. She was very communicative and genuinely seemed to care about what we had going on with our physical and mental health. She answered every question we had and checked in on us like she said she would. It is the little things that matter to me. If you’re looking for a law firm that cares, Brauns Law is definitely the place to go to.” – Juelz A. “This is my second time letting Brauns Law represent me in an accident, and they do not disappoint. Everyone is nice, attentive, and communicates well throughout the process. They’re easy to contact and David Brauns tells you straight. You speak with the big man directly and I like that. Even after representing me for the first time, they stayed in contact and sent gifts and letters. Great customer service for sure. Thanks to you all again for the help.” –Xavior N.
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THE THERAPEUTIC POWER OF JOURNALING
How You Can Start Your Journey Today
I mentioned on page 1 of this newsletter how journaling led me to a profound epiphany and how that epiphany shapes the ways I help my clients and move through life. Since starting this process, I’ve become a tremendous proponent of journaling as a wellness habit. While journaling may seem time-consuming, requiring you to sit down and write about some boring topic, it’s actually the complete opposite. Journaling is a simple activity with an incredibly high return, and just by writing a few short sentences every day, you can make life-changing discoveries about yourself — just like I did. So, what are the benefits of journaling? No matter how you journal (whether it’s on index cards, your phone, or in a notebook), research has found that the habit hugely benefits our mental health. According to multiple studies, journaling can: • Reduce depression and anxiety • Boost immune function • Increase gratitude • Help someone recover from traumatic events • Improve memory function HOMEMADE PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE Inspired by AmbitiousKitchen.com
However, I understand that beginning — and sticking to — a journaling habit can be challenging for many people. Luckily, you can use these simple tricks to make forming the journaling habit easier. Pick a time and place. The easiest way to begin a journaling habit is to do it at the same time every day and in the same space. You’ll be much more likely to remember to journal if you always do it before bed, once you wake up, or at some other clearly specified time. If it helps, you can even set a recurring alarm to help you remember! Journal rule-free. Don’t commit to a certain number of pages or journaling time each day; just write what comes to mind for as long as you want. Doing so will make the habit more enjoyable, and you’ll feel less pressure to stay consistent! Write what’s on your mind. Don’t get caught up with writing prompts, which can sometimes lead to writer’s block. Instead, write about whatever you’re currently thinking about, even if it seems trivial.
Finally, and most importantly, stay consistent! Doing so will yield the best results.
CANDY COSTUME GOURDS HALLOWEEN
HAUNTED MOON RAVEN TRICKS
VAMPIRE WEREWOLF WITCH ZOMBIE
INGREDIENTS • 2 shots espresso (or 1/2 cup freshly brewed coffee) • 1 cup milk of choice
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice • 1 tsp vanilla extract • Whipped cream for topping (optional)
• 3 tbsp pumpkin purée • 1–2 tbsp maple syrup
DIRECTIONS 1. In a small pot on medium heat, heat milk until simmering but not boiling. 2. Make your espresso (or coffee) and pour into a large mug or Mason jar. Add pumpkin purée, maple syrup, pumpkin pie spice, and vanilla and stir until well combined. 3. With a milk frother, froth the heated milk until foamy. Then, pour into your pumpkin espresso mixture and top with whipped cream. For decoration, you can sprinkle more cinnamon or pumpkin spice on top!
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
404-418-8244 | WWW.BRAUNSLAW.COM 3175 SATELLITE BOULEVARD, SUITE 330 DULUTH, GEORGIA 30096
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My Journey From ‘People as Products’ to ‘People as Purpose’
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Tips to Soothe Your Energetic Kids Before Bedtime
Our Clients Say It Best
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Discover the Mental Health Benefits of Journaling
Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte
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Full Brain Activation: The Real Story Unveiled
MIND OVER MYTH: THE TRUTH BEHIND OUR BRAIN POWER
You’ve probably watched some action-packed movie where the premise relies entirely on the belief that we only use 10% of our brains. The protagonist somehow “unlocks” their full brain potential and gains superhuman abilities. While movies like “Lucy” and “Limitless” are undoubtedly entertaining, the concept that we only utilize 10% of our brains is entirely false. Despite this widespread belief being entirely inaccurate, many believe it to be a valid scientific finding. In fact, one survey found that 65% of Americans believe in the 10% theory. Even more frightening
degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease still use more than 10% of their brains.
Our evolutionary process also would have ensured the useless 90% of our brains would go away through natural selection if this myth were true. When it comes to brain activity, each part of our brain has a function. Where did the 10% myth come from? Despite being a common misbelief, the exact source of this myth is unclear. Many threads lead back to various archaic medical findings that were either misconstrued or outdated and inaccurate. It’s plausible that pseudoscientists, psychics, and self-help gurus falsely perpetuated the 10% myth to sell the desire to “unlock our full potential.” So, the next time you hear someone mention we only use 10% of our brains, you can dispute that myth with abundant and trustworthy scientific sources to back you up.
is the study that revealed nearly 50% of primary and secondary school teachers in many countries believe this myth. So, how much of our brains do we really use? Understand the truth about our brain power.
With the help of modern technology such as PET (positron emission tomography) scans and fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging), we can clearly see that humans use all of their brains at all times. Yes, even when we sleep! Individuals with
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