Coral Gables litigator Harley Tropin is known for his unflappable, quick-response courtroom style in high-impact cases.

But every afternoon at the office, Tropin exhibits a side that opposing counsel might not expect. He turns off his telephone and puts a Post-it note on his office door with the acronym DND, short for do not disturb. For 15 minutes, Tropin focuses on his breathing, clears his mind and remains in the present without thought of the past or future.

What Tropin is practicing is mindfulness, and it's catching on with lawyers around the country who have adopted the practice as a way of lowering their stress levels, curbing anger and negative thinking, and ultimately enhancing their performance.