Episode description
Episode description
Feeling stressed lately? Our stress responses are being activated by a lot of stressors floating around lately. Activation is generally fine (and can be good stress!), as long as it recedes in a reasonable amount of time. If that doesn’t happen, we can really lock ourselves into a chronic state of stress. Here’s where equanimity can come in. In this episode, we explore equanimity (we also like to call it inner calm), the science behind it, and how it has been sought after throughout human history. We share some learnings from those quests and five pathways to experiment with to help ease our stress responses and bring more equanimity back into our lives–even after just a single equanimity practice.
IN THIS EPISODE:
00:00 Introduction to Joy Lab Podcast
00:43 Understanding the Concept of Equanimity
02:12 Historical Perspectives on Equanimity
03:50 Personal Experiences with Equanimity
10:12 The Neuroscience of Equanimity
13:38 The Science of Equanimity
19:21 Pathways to Inner Calm and Equanimity
27:33 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Equanimity is defined as an even-minded mental state where clear action can come from. It is not the same as indifference or apathy.
- Stress is not a bad thing, it is a normal and healthy reaction. But it is essential that we learn to respond to it in more healthy ways.
- Individuals taught practices that helped them cultivate equanimity respond more calmly to a stressor and rebound more quickly compared to individuals who have not engaged in an equanimity practice.
Sources and Notes:
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- Joan Halifax: https://gratefulness.org/resource/equanimity-the-fourth-abode/
- Pema Chodron: https://pemachodronfoundation.org/product/working-directly-with-the-mind-audio-download/
- Interoceptive Awareness Skills for Emotion Regulation- Theory and Approach of Mindful Awareness in Body-Oriented Therapy (MABT): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5985305/
- Mindfulness and Psychological Process: http://www.contemplativemind.org/enewsletter/2011_Spring/Mindfulness_and_Psychology-Mark_Williams.pdf
- Moving beyond Mindfulness- Defining Equanimity as an Outcome Measure in Meditation and Contemplative Research: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4350240/#R148
- Mind over Matter: Reappraising Arousal Improves Cardiovascular and Cognitive Responses to Stress: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3410434/
- Subscribe to our Newsletter: Join us over at NaturalMentalHealth.com for exclusive emails, updates, and additional strategies.
- Check out our favorite resilience-boosting reads: https://bookshop.org/shop/NMHreads
- Where to shop:
- Our partner store at Fullscript: This is where you can find high-quality supplements and wellness products. Except for our CBD Gummies, any product links mentioned in the show notes below will require an account. Sign up for your free Fullscript account here: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/nmh/store-start
- Resilient Remedies: This is where you can find our line of trusted, high-quality CBD gummies: https://www.resilientremedies.com/
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