Therapeutic Equanimity

Equanimity is a core virtue in Buddhist psychology and is described as both a neutral feeling tone and a mental quality of impartiality or equalness. It is the fourth Brahmavihāra. Equanimity is both a character trait and an active self-regulation skill. Viewed from a modern clinical lens, equanimity builds distress tolerance. Equanimity is not devoid of emotion or emotionally driven reactivity. Its purpose is to facilitate a rapid return from reactivity to cognitive/affective responsiveness. Lisa describes equanimity, its benefits for clinicians and patients, and leads listeners in an equanimity meditation.