The Significance of Equanimity

Equanimity- A word with such deep meaning that in itself could be an essay, but how brilliant to refer to it in just a word! Equanimity is a state of psychological stability and composure which is undisturbed by the experience of or exposure to emotions, pain, or other phenomena that may cause others to lose the balance of their mind.

Wild Sugarcane is a kind of grass that bends in the direction of the flood water and I would like to associate our thoughts and emotions to this. Mind is brain in action and thoughts is brain's language, while feelings is our body's response. Essentially, a thought triggers an emotion and then it becomes a chain reaction where the feelings trigger the associated thoughts. Everyday, hundreds of thousands of thoughts flash and our physiology responds in varied levels based on the intensity. So, consciously or unconsciously, we sway our minds and our bodies due to incidents, thoughts and actions.

In Spiritual realms, the feelings of oneness and hence being susceptible to feeling every pain and pleasure of everything around us is inevitable, energy healing and other energy practices included. Equanimity is an important ability that one should gain, to keep their mind and emotions undisturbed. Nevertheless, even if spirituality is not your thing, practicing Equanimity in our lives could open up immense possibilities of life. Imagine what you could achieve if you can stay composed in situations that trigger imbalance in emotional states.

'How to practice equanimity' could be a big question. Well, in my attempt to answer this, I think I should resort to my understanding of this life.

1. Realizing that with current spiritual growth, there are only a few things that you can control, and several that you can't. Your thoughts and actions are those few under your control.

2.  Observing as much thoughts as possible that go through your head and filter them for the following: In my control vs not in my control and past vs future. If it's in your control, of course, then the Prefrontal Cortex activates, hence the brain moves from loathing mode to planning/ productive mode.

3. If the thought is about something that you cannot control, reflect on the emotions and the consequent thoughts that it creates, and you'll find how redundant and pointless all those thoughts are. It would either be frustration, futile internal/external arguments, and in essence, a complete distraction from the task at hand.

4. For example, As a common person, when you watch horrible news from various warzones of the World and the inhumane scenes telecasted repeatedly for TRPs, empathizing and at the same time realizing that doing your part like choosing the right leaders, donating to the best of your ability, keeping them in your prayers and meditation could be done, instead of becoming furious upon nation's leaders, imposing your ideologies and action plans upon people and coworkers around you.

5. Realizing that this life of yours is your making, so feelings of sweetness and bitterness is totally upto you, and that your totally responsible for your own happiness.

6. Recognizing the stages of Sympathy, Empathy, and Equanimity and that it is an evolution that comes with a better understanding of life.

More refined answers may come as I continue practicing equanimity in my daily life.

“The chief task in life is simply this: to identify and separate matters so that I can say clearly to myself which are externals not under my control, and which have to do with the choices I actually control. Where then do I look for good and evil? Not to uncontrollable externals, but within myself to the choices that are my own…” — Epictetus, Discourses, 2.5.4–5

Reference readings:

1. Resilient by Rick Hanson, Ph.D.

2. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius.