Reading for Reflection on Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Claire E. Parsons posted: " Today, you are going to see a lot of quotes shared on social media from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech. You may see a few people urging you to read his prior "Letter from a Birmingham Jail." I urge you to go and read both" brilliantlegalmind.com
Today, you are going to see a lot of quotes shared on social media from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech. You may see a few people urging you to read his prior "Letter from a Birmingham Jail." I urge you to go and read both of them in full.
In all the discussion of dreams and ideals today, it's important to remember that real work, effort, risk, and hardship is necessary to make real change. One of the biggest criticisms leveled against mindfulness practices (and maybe the mindfulness community) is that it advocates "doing nothing" when so much work needs to be done.
In truth, though, meditation and other mindfulness practices aren't just about doing nothing. Sure, formal practice calls on you to do nothing for a period of time, but that inactivity is (or should be) serving a purpose. In my life, I have seen how meditation has made me more courageous, more circumspect and ethical in dealing with others, and more engaged with my life and community.
Over the last three years, I have shared several posts from others in the mindfulness community that tell me I am not alone in this. In case you need any help reflecting today about how mindfulness can lead to change and brave action in the world, these posts may help.
I read and reviewed The Inner Work of Racial Justice by Rhonda V. Magee last year. It is ideal for those interested in exploring racial justice or curious about how mindfulness and compassion practices can help us build a better world.
Happiness may not be the first thing that comes to mind today, but the author, famed meditation teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh, had a direct link to Martin Luther King Jr. He educated him about the realities of the Vietnam War and is attributed with helping King change his advocacy on that topic. You can read about Hanh's simple, elegant, and wise book, Happiness, here.
Meditation teachers, Sharon Salzberg, (pictured to the left) and Tara Brach have each authored books about mindfulness, courage, and social change. Check out the posts for each to learn more.
Joseline Jean-Louise Hardrick offered a guest post for us last year. Outside of writing about wellness, Hardrick also works to encourage diversity in the legal profession. She shows how our own wellness is related to our work to improve the world.
We have shared posts from two teachers who aim to make yoga more open and inclusive to all. Peloton instructor Chelsea Jackson Roberts has worked for years to make yoga accessible to black communities. Teacher and social media icon, Jessamyn Stanley, has focused on making yoga accessible to all body types.
If you want a meditation to motivate continued work even amidst difficulty, check out our Look for the Helpers Guided Meditation inspired by Mr. Rogers. It's a self-compassion practice to help you recognize the common humanity of facing adversity.
Want to learn more about mindfulness and compassion? Check out my new book, How to Be a Badass Lawyer, for a simple guide to creating a meditation practice of your own in 30 days. And to share mindfulness with your little one, check out my new children's book, Mommy Needs a Minute.
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