The Lawyer as Stoic - Rule Your Emotions...Don't Be Controlled By Them

The Lawyer as Stoic %u2013 On Lawyering. This is a really good blog post about lawyering and Stoicism. I really like the "...see the truth, and do what is right" description of the Stoic world view. I also like the fact that this lawyer explains that Stoics are not emotionless automatons; but, in fact, feel emotions strongly. The true Stoic merely recognizes that strong emotion impedes the rational productive life; and needs to be controlled. Many of us lawyers are control freaks. SWMBO used to chide me about my need to control situations. When she got sick and I couldn't affect the outcome, I realized that I needed to surrender control of the external situation, and seek to control what I could; which was my reaction to the events. Is there anyone who would argue that a rational, cool, logic based approach to a situation has much more likelihood of achieving a good result than an approach that relies on strong emotion? I also appreciate the reference of this author to Horace Rumpole retiring on a beach to Florida. You can live in Florida and not spend all of your time baking in the sun on a beach. You don't even have to retire. I stole the She Who Must Be Obeyed moniker from the Rumpole character. He described his Hilda in the same fashion. So, fellow lawyers, accept your strong feelings. Use them to advance your client's cause. But, never forget that the best lawyer is one who can dispassionately, and objectively, assess risk and give calm advice. If the client won't accept the advice, always remember the Polish proverb: "Not my Circus, Not my Monkeys".