Calmness and composure, especially in a difficult situation, defines equanimity

We can have distractions in our world that seem to conspire against our growth. How can we maintain our calmness and composure when life gets tough?

Last year I was involved in directing a Resilience Program for Teenagers and their Parents to Everest Base Camp, Nepal. There were many times when the environment and terrain became extremely challenging. One of the tools used to combat this adversity on the trip was meditation.

Meditation provided a powerful intervention to minimise distractions and enabled the group to stay focused on the challenges ahead. Many wellbeing strategies were provided for all participants before the trip and throughout the hike. A key aim of the Resilience Program was to enable the participants an opportunity to develop their inner strength and courage so that they could confidently face life’s adversities, no matter how insurmountable they may appear.

According to Daniel Goleman the internationally known psychologist, “Wellbeing is a state of being content with things as they are and a major component is equanimity. A form of happiness that is not dependent on external circumstances, on what someone else does or says. It’s an internal state where you’re continuously reminding yourself that you’re okay as you are.” To create change we require effort, training and discipline. It takes time.

Goleman further says, “That’s like the mental equivalent of a rep, lifting a weight in the gym. It strengthens that internal circuitry just a little bit and this gives people more cognitive control. When we feel more in control of our inner world, we are less vulnerable to the pulls and the pushes from outside, and so our wellbeing grows. This kind of cognitive practice becomes even more powerful when it’s blended with emotional intelligence.” Are you seeking equanimity? Why not start meditating?

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