Equanimity    (pronounced eek-wuh-nim-ih-tee or ek-wuh-nim-ih-tee) noun


Definition

evenness of mind or temper, especially under tension or stress; the quality of being calm even in difficult situations; composure.

Main Example

  • Polls suggest that public discontent with the situation in Iraq is on the rise. So, in recent speeches, President Bush has urged Americans to react to the daily diet of bad news with equanimity by also appreciating the positive aspects such as the rapid building of new schools, hospitals, roads, and other infrastructural facilities.

    Workplace Examples

  • No, my employees are not thrilled about the increasing workload, but they have accepted it with equanimity in hopes that the company's annual profit and their resulting bonuses will be commensurately higher.

    Emphasize Your Point in Just Three Sentences.

  • Mary's husband is suffering from terminal cancer, and one of her children requires constant attention due to a chronic illness. Yet, from our day-to-day dealings here in the office, you would never get an inkling about Mary's difficulties at home. I find her equanimity really admirable . . . and inspiring.

    Other Examples

  • in trying to boost employee morale, your saying: "Yes, things have turned ugly but let's be realistic: good times don't last forever. We must ride life's ups and downs with equanimity and take solace in the fact that the situation isn't even worse!"

  • by keeping a sense of equanimity about him, a manager looking cool and collected when his well-thought-out plans are criticized by others or suffer a setback

  • officials at major sports events trained to respond to players' tantrums with equanimity

  • the stock market's periodic plunges not disturbing the equanimity of astute long-term investors who buy on dips instead of succumbing to panic selling

    © 2003 V.J. Singal

    This Month's Other Words

    Idolatry and Idolatrous
    Galvanic and Galvanize
    Unalloyed
    Insular
    Excoriate
    Perfunctory
    Realpolitik

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