Peter G. Vajda, Ph.D, C.P.C. is a founding partner of SpiritHeart, an Atlanta-based company that supports conscious living through coaching, counseling and facilitating. He uses a term that is rarely heard in relation to management but can very helpful in dealing with the stress and coflict that is often inherent in the job -equanimity.

He defines equanimity as "the capacity to remain neutral, to observe from a distance, and be at peace without getting caught up in what we observe. It's the capacity to see the big picture with understanding. In essence, it is about taking nothing personally, refusing to get caught up in the drama—either our own or others."

The following are the qualities Vajda suggests will help development of equanimity:

• Integrity helps us to feel confident when we speak and act.
• Faith - not necessarily a religious or theological faith, but faith based on wisdom, conviction or confidence.
• A well-developed mind a mind reflects stability, balance and strength. We develop such a mind through a conscious and consistent practice of focus, concentration, attention and mindfulness.
• A heightened sense of well-being can take us out of our robotic, ego-driven life and help us focus on a higher or deeper sense of consciousness.
• Wisdom allows us to accept, be present and aware to our experience without our mind or heart resisting or contracting.
• Knowing that others create their own reality hwlps us exhibit equanimity in the face of others' pain or suffering and not feel we need to take responsibility for their well-being in the face of their conflict or crisis.
• Seeing reality for what it is. This means letting go of negative judgments about our experience and replacing them with an attitude of loving kindness or acceptance and a compassionate matter-of-factness.
• The final quality is freedom - letting go of our need to be reactive so we can observe without needing to get caught up in the fray.