On Fire & Equanimity

Credit: An ostrich in a hazmat suit (generated by DaVinci.ai)

Life is not tried it is merely survived

If you're standing outside the fire.

-Garth Brooks

Notions & Contemplations

More often than not these days, the world feels upside down and on fire [the latter quite literally]. And yet we have to keep on keeping on. What choice do we have? It turns out not even ostriches could survive with their heads in the sand for long.

How, then, do we walk through the proverbial fire without getting burned? It is a question I’ve returned to again and again: whether consumed by a passionate argument or bracing ourselves for the daily headlines, what armor must we don to make it through each wild day in one piece?

Equanimity is an emotional hazmat suit.

The holy grail of emotional maturity, equanimity is defined as “mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult situation.” (Oxford Languages) In my experience, it is nothing short of an emotional hazmat suit. Though equanimity is a bit of an ethereal state–a certain je ne sais quoi–we know it when we see it: Nelson Mandela emerging from Robben Island. President Biden in his tremendous act of patriotism last month. Simon Biles doing anything at all.

If I ever get three wishes from a blue genie, the first would be for equanimity in a bottle. Short of that happening anytime soon, I’m committed to cultivating it–building the muscle through everyday practice–and I’ll start by naming what it feels like, to me:

Openness with boundaries and

curiosity without judgment or agenda,

Motivation during the day

and deep rest at night,

Generosity of time and spirit, with

the presence to take care of myself

and check in on others.

Unhurried flow, even when under pressure,

when stress is mitigated by perspective.

Inner calm flowing into

an outward steadiness,

Appreciation for my place and my power,

anchored by resolve and activated by wonder.

Time to Suit Up

Imagine if we could greet every fiery argument or devastating headline with one or more of the above sensations! How different the world would be. Until then, it is within our power to practice–and to suit up when we need it most. And guess what, friends: that time is now! As we continue to navigate our age of polycrisis, may each of us find our way to a place of equanimity, whatever it feels like to you.

Onward,

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On My Kindle + Feed + Calendar

1. Two more resources on cultivating Equanimity:

   1. For the meditation inclined mind: Meditation on Equanimity: The Gifts of Non-Reactive Mindful Presence (Tara Brach)

   2. For the business inclined mind: How to demonstrate calm and optimism in a crisis (McKinsey)

   
   

2. To state the obvious, Celine Dion is remarkable. If you haven’t yet watched the documentary on her career and recent struggle, do it. Then cry even harder while rewatching her extraordinary performance on the opening night of the Paris Olympics.

   
   

3. There are few things that I admire more than traditions genuinely, authentically honored in a modern context. See: The New Zealand Women’s Rugby Team performing the Haka, a traditional Maori  dance, after winning their second straight gold medal. Bad. Ass.

   
   

4. This image made me take a deep breath: