The Shortcut to Equanimity
To cultivate equanimity, it is often fastest to train equanimity in the body first.
The effect of equanimity is often obvious in our internal talk, which becomes quieter when it no longer judges and evaluates what we experience. But mind and body are always intertwined, and there are many indications that the body’s reaction is fundamental to how we think and perceive a situation.
Therefore, we primarily taste our capacity for equanimity in how we relate to negative emotions, pain, and discomfort.
Equanimity is first and foremost characterized by a sense of unflappability and resilience in face of challenges. The abundance of inner resources
translates somatically to a heightened level of bodily vitality, and a capacity of acute awareness.
State and trait
Equanimity is an attentional skill that becomes stronger over time and becomes a baseline for how we experience everyday life. In that sense, it is a trait. Equanimity is also a state where we can immerse ourselves when we practice mindfulness, which becomes increasingly more accessible to us.
