In Buddhism, equanimity is the ability to remain deeply calm and balanced in all situations, particularly difficult ones.
It’s always fascinated me and confused me at the same time because of its similarity to the concept of Mindfulness. I started thinking about how it differs from Mindfulness and it came to me that, yes - with both there’s a calmness in the face of adversity.
However, with Mindfulness, there is a deliberate action in the moment to achieve that state of calm, whereas, with equanimity, there is a deeper knowing that things always work out in the end and it's this knowing that results in a natural state of inner-calm.
For some, it's something that comes with age and experience. When you’ve watched the patterns of life play out in front of you over and over again, you begin to reflect on what you’re being shown through those past experiences.
In the midst of what was happening, you thought you would never overcome that moment. Now you look back, you remember that you either overcame those events or they turned out to be absolutely fine.
There’s a sense of peace that’s brought forth in remembering from this new ‘enlightened perspective’ that brings with it the ‘equanimity’ that naturally emerges when facing future adversities.
Perhaps this is why grandparents are sometimes more easygoing with their grandchildren than they were with their children. They know the small mishaps, mistakes and tantrums don’t really matter in the end and they’ve learnt the importance of savouring those moments.
Of course, it's hard to be in equanimity all the time but we may have moments of it and usually when we follow those moments through we see that, regardless of how rough the path, the Universe is always flowing us towards well-being.
Equanimity can be practiced when we encounter unexpected delays, if someone criticises us harshly, during a disagreement or when something is happening in the economy or the world that affects us.
HOW TO FIND EQUANIMITY
As mentioned, equanimity can come with age or experience but meditation and mindfulness are tools that can also move us towards equanimity.
We not only let go of what we cannot change but we cease seeking to change it in the first place.
We understand the cycle of life - that everything is temporary and, as with nature, there can sometimes be a breakdown before things can be rebuilt anew.
We take time to reflect on our lives and see the things we have overcome; we see the patterns, notice the cycles of our life and appreciate that we are still here…we are still moving forward. As Abraham Hicks would say, we realise that ‘well-being abounds’.
As mentioned at the beginning, equanimity isn't only about the practice of calm in challenging situations; it's also about not clinging to moments of pleasure, joy or excitement.
We can enjoy these moment without needing to experience it again or yearning for it to stay.
We can just be with it for the time that it lasts, and that's enough.
This will help us find a genuine, unforced state of inner-calm as we experience the contrasting aspects of life.
With love and light
Gwen x
Reiki Master Teacher | Life Coach
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