Equanimity in Everyday Life

<p>When it comes to the practices of lovingkindness & compassion in Buddhist psychology, it’s pretty well understood that if we <strong>only </strong>practice these things, we can end up getting attached to the way we think things are supposed to be.</p><p> </p><p>… And want to run off into the mountains when things don’t go as we want them to. We want to check out. Withdraw.</p><p> </p><p>… Or we may grasp and struggle with the world rather than serving it. We resist and we fight.</p><p> </p><p>This is why equanimity if often taught along with compassion and lovingkindness. Equanimity does not mean indifference or callousness. <strong>Indifference</strong> is based on fear. </p><p> </p><p><strong>True </strong>equanimity is not a withdrawal from life. It is a balanced engagement with <strong>all </strong>aspects of life. It embraces the loved <strong>and</strong> unloved. The things that being us pleasure <strong>and </strong>the things that don’t.</p><p> </p><p>Knowing that all things are of the nature to change – ourselves, others, the world - with equanimity, we’re able to be fully present and in harmony with it.</p><p> </p><p>When we don’t have equanimity, we get hooked by things, like we’re in a trance. But if we’re present in it, we’re less likely to react to things that activate us, and instead are more free to <strong>respond</strong>. We’re more likely to be able to access our wise mind and respond to life with compassion and lovingkindness (<i>metta</i>), forgiveness, and we’re more open to joy, too.  </p><p> </p><p>We open ourselves up to joy <strong>and </strong>pain. Because we really connect with ourselves and others in both of these states, right?</p><p> </p><p>Now, the reality of suffering as part of the human condition is talked about in the First Noble Truth. It’s really hard to embrace this, right? And sure, it could be seen as a bummer. But it’s so essential to understand the <i>reality </i>of suffering, because that also helps us understand how to <i>end </i>it. After all, pain is not the sa