EQANIMITY - what a beautiful word, what a beautiful state of being, and how often misunderstood. Sometimes we see it as detachment, as if to be equanimous means not to care. But true equanimity is not a shutting down of feeling - it is the deep ability to care without being carried away.

It is the steady presence in the middle of life’s changing tides. Joy rises, sorrow falls, uncertainty swirls—yet equanimity holds us in balance, like a mountain rooted firmly in the earth even as storms pass across its sky.

Equanimity does not mean we no longer feel. In fact, it invites us to feel more fully, because we no longer fear being swept away. We can meet pain without drowning in it, and welcome happiness without clutching at it to last forever.

It is the art of saying yes to the present moment, exactly as it is, while also knowing that nothing is permanent. This balance brings freedom.

Practicing equanimity might look like pausing before reacting. Breathing when emotions surge. Listening without rushing to fix. Choosing to respond from clarity instead of from the chaos of the moment.

Over time, equanimity becomes the spaciousness inside us where love, wisdom, and peace can live together. It is the still point where we can rest, even as life continues to move around us.

A Simple Practice to Cultivate Equanimity

1. Pause and Breathe: When you notice tension, frustration, or excitement rising, pause for a moment. Take three slow, deep breaths, letting the body soften with each exhale.

2. Name the Feeling: Quietly acknowledge what you are feeling without judgment. “I notice impatience.” “I notice joy.” Simply naming it gives it space without letting it take over.

3. Anchor in the Present: Bring attention to the sensations in your body or the sounds around you. Feel your feet on the floor. Notice the rhythm of your breath. This grounds you in the present moment.

4. Respond, Don’t React: With the awareness of your breath and body, choose how to respond instead of reacting automatically. This is where true equanimity shows itself - clarity in action.

5. Reflect with Compassion: At the end of the day, notice moments where you were able to remain balanced, and where you weren’t. Treat yourself with the same patience you’d offer a close friend.

Even a few minutes a day of these simple steps gradually builds a sense of calm and centeredness. Over time, equanimity becomes not just a skill, but a natural way of meeting life’s ever-changing rhythms.

A MEDITATION FOR EQUANIMITY:

Breathe in. Feel the air filling your lungs, steady and soft.

Breathe out. Release tension, release judgment, release what no longer serves you.

I am present here, in this moment. Feel the surface beneath you, the gentle air on your face, the warmth of your body warming up what’s under you, allow whatever sensations you feel in the body to just be.

I am open, yet grounded.

I meet each thought and feeling without resistance,

allowing them to flow past me like gentle waves, like the clouds passing by freely through the vast blue sky.

I am aware of the world around me,

and yet I remain centered within myself.

Peace is not the absence of motion,

but the calm at the core of every experience.

I carry equanimity like a quiet flame,

steady through storm and sunshine alike.

I honor what is, without clinging,

and release what is not mine to hold.

In this space, I am balanced.

In this space, I am whole.

I am calm, I am clear, I am at peace.

EQUANIMITY

Beyond The Veil