Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Pamela Luther. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Pamela, thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with us today. We’re excited to dive into your story and your work, but first let’s start with a broader topic that might be stopping many of our readers from pursuing their dreams – haters, nay-sayers, etc. How have you managed to persist despite haters and nay-sayers that inevitably follow folks who are doing something unique, special or off the beaten path?
The first time I ran for office, I had three opponents. The stress level of campaigning that year was very high. It was so intense that, at one point, I remember rocking myself in the bathtub, talking to myself, trying to calm down. I was constantly checking social media and the internet for posts about me, or malicious videos. It was a very dark time and I felt fear everyday. Years later, when the campaign for my second term began, I received a phone call from someone threatening me that I would lose my campaign manager and get an opponent for my seat if I didn’t fire a certain person on my staff.
I got off the phone and decided then and there that I was not going to re-live the stress and worry I had experienced in my first campaign. I made my absolute top priority to calm myself down and get into a place of unconditional wellbeing. I had to take off two days of work. I meditated for hours. I watched my every thought. Each time a fearful worry arose in my mind, I told myself, “I’m not going to feel this way”, and I meditated until my body and mind were calmed down.
After a few days of relentless commitment to observing and releasing my thoughts, I had a huge turnaround. I relaxed. I honestly came to a decision that I would prioritize feeling relaxed and happy regardless of anything that anyone said or did.
After that, there were occasional moments when I noticed that my mind was wanting to run away again, but it was more easily handled. Not only was I able to move through my re-election campaign with a relaxed sense of wellbeing, but I felt empowered in all areas of my life.
The haters and nay-sayers cannot bother you. You can only bother yourself about the haters and nay-sayers.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
People always say “Life is short”. But, life is also long. There’s plenty of time to start over and do something new and different. I was a stay-at-home mother for 17 years and found that job opportunities were limited for an over-40 woman with no work experience and a college degree that was almost 20 years old.
I got a government student loan and went to law school, graduating at age 49. By 59, I was elected a Dallas County Criminal Court Judge, after having been a prosecutor and defense attorney. None of it was easy, but I love where I am now. Looking back, the hard part was learning to be unconditionally happy.
The thing I love most about my job is the opportunity to teach probationers some of what I learned along the way regarding mental models we create for ourselves that inevitably result in stress and unhappiness. I teach them that wellbeing must be the top priority, or else they will be trapped in an unhappy quest for love, health or financial security.
The program I created is New Direction, and I introduce them to speakers and books by our greatest teachers, such as Eckhart Tolle and Byron Katie.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1. Meditate in a quiet way that allows you to recognize your recurring thoughts.
2. When you cannot calm your mind, calm your body with a physical activity.
3. Choose a simple challenge that you face daily (such as traffic, the weather, waiting in line, etc) and decide that you will relax and accept it instead of complaining about it.
Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?
Being well rounded is a good thing. But, always focus on your strengths. Be brutally honest with yourself about what you are, and aren’t, good at. You may not have the academic strength or professional experience of others, but you may have people skills, resilience, and an ability to take risks that others don’t have. Stop playing their game. Play your game.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.newdirectionnow.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/judgepamelaluther?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamela-luther-969671188?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
