"(Question) I have a passion for making a difference in peoples' lives. Without this passion, my life would feel pretty meaningless. But sometimes I get so frustrated when I don't see the changes I hope for or feel my colleagues are receptive to my efforts. How can I cultivate equanimity without losing my passion?"

"(Answer) Equanimity doesn't mean indifference or not caring. It doesn't lead us to apathy, but to the ability to sustain our caring for others. The point of equanimity is not to lose one's heartfelt connection with what is going on around us. Rather, it means balancing that connection with a clear recognition of the way things are. So, for example, we see what we might be able to influence in another person or system, but also what we genuinely cannot control, no matter how much we'd like to. We also see how much things are constantly changing, and so we keep on making the effort without needing an immediate, gratifying result. Even in the midst of intense, devoted work, we can be served by seeing such truths clearly and remaining balanced."