Practice upekkha (Pali word for “equanimity”), which refers to being calm, accepting, and composed even when you’re in the middle of difficult situations.
You might appear like you don’t care about what’s happening, but you’re not numbed by the immensity of the stressful moment.
In truth, upekkha requires us to be fully aware, as we acknowledge each and every emotion we experience.
This also means we avoid labeling what’s happening as good or bad. We figure out ways to accept without judging.
Easier said than done, I know, but that’s the challenge of upekkha: to hold all these with a calm and open heart.
Be with whatever comes into our life. Stay present with each moment, just as it is.
Upekkha enjoins us to confidently let go and avoid clinging to the good old past, and to embrace the new normal.
Phrases to Repeat Silently (Tamara Levitt)
• May I be free of bias.
• May I be free of attachment.
• May I live in equanimity.
Meaning of Phrases
• May I let go of my favorable or unfavorable views.
• May I let go of expectations.
• May I observe what happens around me without reacting favorably (craving) or unfavorably (aversion).
These phrases help us create a peaceful mind, and relieve us of our suffering.
Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no trouble, noise, or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.
— Unknown (previously attributed to Lady Gaga)
