Weekly newsletter
I. Prompts for motivation
Do you regularly practice refraining from attachment to situations and material things? Is it easy for you to get to a place in which you can go with an unfolding moment without any mental resistance or judgment?
How would you define equanimity, and in what ways can you get better at embodying this quality? Is there a certain role model, mentor, or significant person in your life who reminds you to approach things with a steady mind?
II. Thoughts for intention
One of the most challenging things to come to terms with is life’s ongoing cycles. Change is a constant we work with every day, fluctuating from left and right, up and down, good and bad. It’s only natural to want to stay on the positive side of things, clinging to the bright stuff as much as possible. Yet before you know it, everything flips on its own. We don’t get to say how long we get to enjoy something special until it transitions into another obstacle to learn from. But equanimity teaches us the art of balance, of observing our experiences without getting caught in any of our desires or fears.
In developing this skill, we are not becoming more passive but the opposite. It’s not about apathy, dullness, or cool aloofness. Rather, it takes an active state of being to learn to stay engaged with this ever-changing, impermanent nature of reality over and over again. The work never ends, and it’s not always a pretty sight, stumbling and falling every step of the way. But our efforts are never wasted. Hopefully, with time and patience, we begin to see a difference.
III. Ideas for preparation
A common method for cultivating equanimity is through yoga. This ancient practice teaches the art of imperturbability in countless ways. From breathwork to twisting poses to balancing stances, this tradition is all about staying present with your circumstances without getting pulled into the emotional turbulence they cause. It’s a healthy way to physically live out these philosophies while also getting the chance to regularly release toxic pollutants our bodies get exposed to day by day.
Another way to learn more about this is by delving into the topic itself. With so many books covering these ideas, we can find inspiration in what others have encountered from their own lived experiences. Whether we pick works focusing on eastern traditions, self-development, psychology, or more, the stories of the human condition span numerous domains through which we can explore anytime we need.
IV. Quotes for inspiration
“Life, death, preservation, loss, failure, success, poverty, riches, worthiness, unworthiness, slander, fame, hunger, thirst, cold, heat – these are the alternations of the world, the workings of fate. Day and night they change place before us, and wisdom cannot spy out their source. Therefore, they should not be enough to destroy your harmony; they should not be allowed to enter the storehouse of the spirit. If you can harmonize and delight in them, master them and never be at a loss for joy; if you can do this day and night without break and make it be spring with everything, mingling with all and creating the moment within your own mind – this is what I call being whole in power.”
― Zhuangzi, The Complete Works of Chuang Tzu
“Sometimes you just have to admit you’re in a storm and stop trying to make any difference to where you’re going. The wind is the wind, and Poseidon is mighty.”
― Natasha Pulley, The Hymn to Dionysus
