"When force of circumstance upsets your equanimity, lose no time in recovering your self-control, and do not remain out of tune longer than you can help. Habitual recurrence to the harmony will increase your mastery of it." ~ Marcus Aurelius from Meditations
This one brings a smile to my face. When I first read it years ago, it inspired me to create what I call the "equanimity game."
The rules of the game: For the next day (or week or lifetime or whatever :), notice when you are off-balance—when you start to lose your patience with the traffic or your spouse or your colleague or your kids, for example—and see how fast you can catch yourself and correct yourself--bringing yourself back to equanimity.
As Aurelius says in his rockin' 2nd century prose: "Habitual recurrence to the harmony will increase your mastery of it." :)
"How much more grievous are the consequences of anger than the causes of it." ~ Marcus Aurelius from Meditations
[ btw: equanimity is a finalist in my list of greatest words ever. From the Latin: aequus, even + animus, mind, the word means "balanced mind." That's hot. ]
"Cultivate these, then, for they are wholly within your power: sincerity and dignity; industriousness, and sobriety. Avoid grumbling, be frugal, considerate, and frank; be temperate in manner and speech; carry yourself with authority." ~ Marcus Aurelius from Meditations
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