EQUANIMITY

(Published in the December 2008 edition of the East Bay Psychiatric Association Newsletter)


I am one of those political junkies who read hundreds of editorials, opinion pieces, and blogs during the presidential campaign this year. Every day I would find points of view from the entire political spectrum expounding on all conceivable perspectives of the campaign and the personalities involved. It didn’t matter what your opinion was about anything—you could find support for it as well as an argument against it every single day.

After all is said and done, however, I have concluded that there was one factor above all others that led to President-elect Obama’s victory. And that factor had nothing to do with his positions on the economy, the war, his running mate’s personality, or what his racial background is. It was Barack Obama’s equanimity—his calmness and emotional cool—that carried the day. Whether during the debates or when his opponents were throwing political attacks or smears at him on the campaign trail, he never exhibited undue anger. He remained calm in every storm, stepping back and discussing what was happening, rather than reacting emotionally.

It is this precise quality of equanimity that we psychiatrists attempt to instill in our patients. We do this in several ways--by modeling such behavior, by helping our patients cognitively reframe their emotional reactions, and through the use of particular medications such as SSRI’s.

In politics, people have to find you likeable in order to vote for you. If a candidate projects irritability, anger, frustration, or annoyance, people will identify with those feelings (projective identification) and begin to feel emotionally uncomfortable themselves. But if a candidate projects equanimity, then the listener feels calmer and more reassured and is more likely to overlook differences in political positions and trust the candidate.

The temperamental quality of equanimity is not only optimal for politicians, but for almost anyone else as well. People with equanimity tolerate disagreement, personal criticism, and conflict without becoming unglued. In Obama’s case, now in this post election period, he even seems comfortable appointing people who were at odds with him during the campaign. He doesn’t appear to hold grudges or be vindictive—he seems to be able to keep his eye on the bigger picture of what he wants to accomplish politically.

If as an employer or manager you want someone to work hard for you and be loyal, then you praise that person when he succeeds, and you moderate and contain your anger toward him when he errs. That is the way to obtain devotion and hard work from your subordinates in any of life’s endeavors.

Developing increased equanimity may be the best investment any of us can make in these difficult economic times. It’s a no risk venture, won’t lose value over time, and will likely pay increased dividends for the rest of one’s life.