In life, you will have surprises. When you can access your equanimity, you will see them simply as surprises, neither good nor bad. Some surprises can be harder to receive without being thrown off balance. A job loss. A diagnosis of cancer for yourself or a loved one. A phone call notifying you that a good friend has died. You don’t have to be as quick as a skilled actor, but you can draw on some “Yes and…” thinking to help you catch your breath and accept what you have handed and decided how to keep going.