Equanimity

Finding peace and equanimity within amidst the circumstances of our life can be found in the wisdom of the famous quote by theologian Reinhold Niebuhar, also known as the serenity prayer, “God, give us the grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be change, courage to change the things which should be changed, and wisdom to distinguish the one form the other”.

Week three of our “40 Days” program based on the book 40 Days to Personal Revolution by Baron Baptiste theme is equanimity. The definition of equanimity is level-headedness, composure, calmness, poise and self control. Baron Baptise states in 40 Days that “Equanimity is the art of meeting life as it meets you, calmly, without drama or fuss”.

I believe finding equanimity is our ability to weather the storm. The storm may be because of a circumstance out of our control or could be the storms we create inside our own head. Inevitably the storms in life will come and as we grow in our practice we know that the storm itself is not as significant as how we respond to the storm.

The opposite of equanimity is reactivity which means; unthinking, hasty, knee-jerk, imprudent even irresponsible. Can you think of areas in your life where you react instead of consciously respond? For many of us reactivity shows up in our diet (diet comes from diata and means a manner of living). We reach for a drink, chocolate etc instead of just staying with the cravings. When we become uncomfortable, we are so conditioned to reach for something outside of our self. We want a quick fix, an immediate relief instead of just staying with the uncomfortable ness within.

When we practice equanimity we practice staying. If you have a craving can you just stay with it? Staying with an urge to react to someone who has upset you, instead of lashing out, can you just stay and consider the situation before you react? If you are in your meditation practice or on your mat and desperately want to get up and leave do you stay or do you react? Staying with the discomfort allows the truth to surface and gives you insight to your negative patterns so you can change them.

For growth and transformation it is important to become aware where we are reactive in our lives. Most of us get reactive when we feel as if we don’t have control or are uncomfortable. Many times the feelings are based out of fear. Fear of losing something or of protecting what we believe as right. Baron Baptiste says “being right is like heroine for humans”.

Just stay and weather the storm, stop fighting because fighting only creates struggle. Know that light and ease are waiting on the other side. Every time you move from within (not reaching for an external fix), through the reaction, to the other side, you weather the storm and move more into a place of clarity. You begin to create more space in your life that is filled with peace and less that is taken up by drama and inner conflict.

Focus on moving from reactivity to purposeful and conscious responses with others as we well as to yourself. Think consider and reflect instead of getting reactive.

With lightness to guide your path and peace in your heart,

Kiersten Mooney