During my time as a reader, I have taken many calls asking about the outcome of lawsuits. Some lawsuits are unavoidable. If someone else takes you to court you have no choice but to respond. However, if you have to make a decision about whether or not to take someone to court yourself, think long and hard about it. Why?

 

1. The very nature of a lawsuit means that your life goes on hold in many respects. You are locked into dealing with matters from the past whether you like it or not, and this inevitably takes your focus away from plans for the future. You put yourself into a “Hanged Man” position where your future rests in the hands of forces beyond your control.

 

2. Very rarely do people get exactly what they want from a lawsuit, no matter what fine promises the lawyers make! Even if you get the outcome you seek it usually leaves a bad taste in your mouth, with emotional consequences that linger long after the case is settled – again, locking you into the past.

 

3. There is a big difference between Law and Justice. The legal system provides a mechanism for lawyers to play elaborate games with each other. These games rarely serve their clients’ best interests. The only real winners in lawsuits are often the lawyers.

 

4. If you don’t get the outcome you are looking for, you will be worse off than before. You will have wasted time, money and energy that could have been directed towards getting on with your life.

 

Weigh all these points up very carefully before listening to the rosy promises of others whose future will not be affected as dramatically as yours will be. A lawsuit should be your last resort, not your first one, if happiness and contentment are your goal.