The practice of law demands long hours, hard work, and sacrifice, leading to what many attorneys refer to as a lack of work-life balance. Focusing so much energy on our profession and our professional identity can cause us to neglect other aspects of who we are, thereby eroding a balanced self-concept. Attorneys can be called upon to sacrifice time with their families, their hobbies, and even change the way they think about the world and approach problems. These are all factors that influence our self-concept, or how we view ourselves in the world and in relationship to others. Who we are as individuals, including but not limited to our interests, beliefs, personalities, and relationships, and how we define ourselves, can get lost when our focus is primarily on our client’s needs. One way to mitigate the sense that we are losing connection with who we are is to develop a stronger “self-concept clarity.” Self-concept clarity is defined as having a strong sense of self, allowing a meaningful connection to your beliefs about who you are as a unique person. Self-concept clarity is a necessary part of well-being and stress management.

Stress and Self-Concept Clarity

Stress is inevitable, and though we can try to minimize stressors, it is in our best interest to boost our resilience and ability to cope. Research has shown that having self-concept clarity is an important component in mitigating the negative effects and outcomes of stress¹. In fact, those with high self-concept clarity have demonstrated they are more resilient to stressors and feel more confident in their decision-making, whereas those with confused self-concept clarity demonstrated heightened reactions to stressors overall². Our self-concept also influences our ability to self-regulate. This matters because having a strong self-concept adds to our resilience and ability to adapt, as it allows us to lean on what we know to be true about our values, preferences, and beliefs³. These examples reflect how self-concept is directly linked to stress management, but there are also indirect links to consider. For instance, our relationships with our loved ones can feel like they are lacking in depth when we are not connected to our sense of self, diminishing connection and access to support. When it is our primary focus for extended periods of time, our career can also start to feel like it is taking too much, leading to burn out or resentment. For example, how many times have you missed something your loved one or friend was saying because you were thinking about work? We might not be fully present to our family, friends, and even colleagues when we are focusing more on a case than on them. In one study, working long hours was found to correlate with high rates of depression and poor mental well-being, but having consistent hobbies mitigated those risks significantly⁴. These finding provide some insight to the importance of building a self-concept inclusive of a wide range of interests.

Building and Maintaining Self-Concept

Our sense of self changes naturally over time but it also something we can purposely strengthen and expand. The first part of this process is to be curious about yourself. Ask yourself, “How do I want to spend my time? Which parts of myself would I like to be more connected to? Are there any old interests that I no longer invest time in?” Consider how your answers inform potential hobbies and how you can tailor your self-care strategies to incorporate more of your preferences. Activities that include playfulness and humor improve your self-concept and reduce stress⁵. If you’re not sure where to start, journaling is a useful tool for exploring how to develop self-concept clarity because it can connect you to your thoughts, emotions, and needs. Allow yourself to incorporate activities and hobbies slowly and in such a way that they are easily maintained in your routine. By balancing our identity to include personal and professional factors, we can become more in tune with who we are which allows us better adaptability and improved navigation of stressors.

For more information about how professional identity impacts well-being and how to strengthen self-concept clarity, contact COLAP for a free, confidential well-being consultation.

303-986-3345 | www.coloradolap.org | info@coloradolap.org

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¹ Pomaki, G., Biesanz, J., DeLongis, A., & Puterman, E. (2011). Daily cognitive appraisals, daily affect, and long-term depression: the role of self-esteem and self-concept clarity in the stress process.
²Ibid.
³Martin, R. A., Kuiper, N. A., Olinger, L. J., & Dance, K. A. (1993). Humor, coping with stress, self-concept, and psychological well-being. HUMOR: International Journal of Humor Research, 6(1), 89-104.
⁴Li, Z., Dai, J., Jia, Y., Gao, J., & Fu, H. (2019). Effect of long working hours on depression and mental well-being among employees in Shanghai: The role of having leisure hobbies. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(24), 4890.
⁵Ibid.