It seems that inertia in law means getting amnesia about what else I could have been, feeling the jump out of what I don't like means getting out of law, and just putting in the hours because that's what I know...

I'd say there are ways to get back to basics, and get a sense of control:

KNOW THE DIFFERENT AREAS OF LAW

First, know what a lawyer does in a specific area of law.  You can decide if you like what being a lawyer in that area of law, on a a day-to-day basis.  You can get a sense of how the experience of lawyering is particular to the area of law.   

YOUR PERSONALITY TYPE AND WHAT IT TELLS YOU ABOUT BEING A LAWYER 

Figure out how you like to interact with the world, and how this affects being a lawyer.  Assess how you take in information and what is your natural approach to analyzing it.  This is a good first step.  Make being a lawyer fit how you like to move through life, day-to-day.

BEING A LAWYER SO YOU WORK YOUR STRENGTHS

Test out what are your strengths.  Otherwise known as talents, these are inherent - they may be inherited, or they may become part of us as a result of our socialization and training.  They are those abilities that come easily.  When you are using these talents, you feel like everything is easy.  If you want to critical edge, and you want to feel energized being a laywer, you need to know how to work your strengths.

To see how these fit together, read on...