This book saved my life – The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

I believe it was the year 2015 where I was so overwhelmed with stress, breakup and dissatisfaction towards life itself that I just don’t want to live anymore. 😔 I even questioned why am I even born on this world because life is not good for me at the time. I mean I really don’t want to kill myself but the negative thoughts just overpowers me. 😞 I didn’t have a fulfilling career, and I broke up with my ex-girlfriend at the time, which was very hurtful. 💔

It hurts so bad, yet it’s all happening in my mental space, and yet, I didn’t know how to escape from it. Until I accidentally stumbled upon this book. 📖 Which I still have it now in my humble little home library. Back then, I also have a small library that I put together with my housemate, and it just so happened that as I was crying in bed with endless suicidal thoughts, I decided to go outside to get some fresh air, until suddenly this blue book just stands out as I walk down the stairs. I don’t know if it’s higher power at work (which I believe it does), but this book helped me. The blue book just stands out. 💙

And as I pull it out and see the front cover, it has a quote from Oprah that says” THE POWER OF NOW CAN TRANSFORM YOUR THINKING. THE RESULTS? MORE JOY, RIGHT NOW” So that’s what I need at the time. More joy, right now. 😊 And guess what, I immediately open the book and as I read each page, I was soaking in the most profound and healing wisdom that I’ve ever came across in life. 🤗 I can totally relate to the story of Eckhart himself where he was suicidal as well, but found eternal peace and harmony through some epiphany that he got at the time. 🙏

And yes, as I read the book for the next 2 days straight, I found eternal peace within myself as well, and was able to live life in more happy, joyous state ever since. The best part, I never had any suicidal thoughts ever since. Like Ever. Seriously. That’s how powerful this book is. Even as I revisit the book now as I feel like revisiting it, I feel deep peace as well. So what’s so magical about this book? Let me break it down to you.  

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👀 The Book in 3 Sentences:

1. 📖 “The Power of Now” is a spiritual guidebook that emphasizes the importance of living in the present moment and transcending the egoic mind.
2. 🧘‍♂️ The book describes how we can quiet our inner dialogue and connect with the timeless essence of our being, which Tolle calls “the power of now.”
3. 🌅 Through practices such as meditation and mindfulness, Tolle explains how we can cultivate a deeper sense of awareness and find freedom from suffering caused by past regrets or future anxieties.

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⏩ Quick Summary:

“The Power of Now” is a spiritual guidebook that explores the importance of living in the present moment and transcending the egoic mind. Tolle argues that most of our suffering is caused by our attachment to past and future, and that we can find inner peace and fulfillment by connecting with the timeless essence of our being. The book provides practical techniques for quieting the mind, cultivating mindfulness, and experiencing a deeper sense of awareness and consciousness. 🧘‍♂️  

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🗿 Who Should Read it:

If you are hurting in your relationship, or have suicidal thoughts, or feeling a lot of stress in life, or just overwhelmed with so much negative thoughts inside your head, you should read this. Trust me, you will be healed, just like I do.  

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😎 How the Book Changed Me

1. I never had any suicidal thoughts after reading this book.
2. My life has more joy, happiness, and zen, or in other words, reduced stress and anxiety.
3. I feel connected to the universe and feel 100% supported by the universe to achieve whatever it is that I want to achieve in life.
4. I have a beautiful relationship with my then girlfriend, now wife 😝😝, whom I found and connect with after I achieve my own inner joy and peace. And we still live a beautiful relationship till this very day.
5. My life has a purpose and meaning now, and I always strive to live my best life, as life is short.

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💡 The key message of this book:

1. 1. 🕰️ The present moment is all we ever have, and it’s where true peace and happiness can be found. Like for example, when you’re hiking in nature and take a moment to fully immerse yourself in the beauty around you, letting go of thoughts about the past or future, you may feel a sense of peace and joy.
   2. 🧠 The egoic mind, with its incessant thinking and identification with external things, is the main obstacle to experiencing the present moment fully. For example, When you’re constantly worried about how you’re perceived by others or attached to material possessions, you may find it difficult to fully enjoy and appreciate the present moment. Or think of a time when you were arguing with someone, and your ego was telling you that you’re right and they’re wrong. But then you realize that it doesn’t really matter who’s right or wrong, and that the argument is just causing unnecessary conflict. You let go of the ego’s hold on you and find peace. How to let go? Just be aware that it’s just a past memory, and you choose to forgive and let go. What’s even better is that you visualize the other person saying sorry to you. Over time, the strong negative emotion that usually arrises with such memory will be a pleasant memory.
    
   3. 💔 Most human suffering is caused by the mind’s attachment to past and future, and by resistance to what is. For example, when you’re constantly dwelling on past mistakes or worrying about the future, you may feel anxious or depressed, and miss out on the beauty of the present moment.
    
   4. 🌟 True identity and fulfillment come from connecting with the timeless essence of our being, which Tolle calls “the power of now.” For example, when you let go of identification with external labels or achievements and connect with a deeper sense of purpose or meaning, you may feel a sense of fulfillment and peace.
    
   5. 🧘 Practices such as meditation, mindfulness, and acceptance can help us to quiet the mind and cultivate a deeper sense of awareness. So when you regularly practice mindfulness meditation or yoga, you may find that you’re able to quiet your mind and tune into the present moment more easily. If you haven’t try yoga or breathing exercise and meditation, do it now 🙂 Here’s some that I practice every other day. a) 6 Phase meditation by Vishen Lakhiani b) Wim Hoff Breathing Exercise c) Tony Robbins Priming d) A few yoga videos by Yoga with Adriene 
    
   6. 💪 By becoming more present and aware, we can break free from negative thought patterns and habits, and experience greater joy, peace, and fulfillment in life. For example, when you become more aware of negative self-talk or harmful habits, just let go of them, and just imagine that they are like thoughts that passes by in front of you (imagine you have a big cinema screen in front of you, and the thoughts are displayed there, passing by.)
    
   7. 🤝 We can improve our relationships by accepting others as they are, listening with presence and compassion, and recognizing the interconnectedness of all things. For example, when you approach your relationships with a sense of presence and compassion, you may find that you’re able to communicate more effectively and deepen your connections with others
    
   8. 🌿 Living in harmony with nature and being attuned to the natural rhythms of life can help us to live more fully and in alignment with our true nature. For example, when you spend time in nature and tune into the natural rhythms of the earth, you may feel more connected to your true nature and experience a sense of peace and harmony. Or you can try this. Walk barefoot in the forest or the sand or on some grass. Trust me, it will feel therapeutical and healing.
    

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❤️️ My Favorite Quotes from the book:

1. “Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have. Make the Now the primary focus of your life.”
2. “The past has no power over the present moment.”
3. “All negativity is caused by an accumulation of psychological time and denial of the present.”
4. “The mind is a superb instrument if used rightly. Used wrongly, however, it becomes very destructive.”
5. “You cannot find yourself in the past or future. The only place where you can find yourself is in the Now.”
6. “The more you live in the present moment, the more the fear of death disappears.”
7. “The mind is a superb tool for making a good living, but it is a very poor tool for making a life.”
8. “To be identified with your mind is to be trapped in time: the compulsion to live almost exclusively through memory and anticipation.”
9. “The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation, but your thoughts about it.”
10. “Accept – then act. Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it.
11. “Most humans are never fully present in the now, because unconsciously they believe that the next moment must be more important than this one.”
12. “You are not a problem that needs to be solved.”
13. “All true artists, whether they know it or not, create from a place of no-mind, from inner stillness.”
14. “The ego says, ‘I shouldn’t have to suffer,’ and that thought makes you suffer so much more.”
15. “Nothing ever happened in the past that can prevent you from being present now; and if the past cannot prevent you from being present now, what power does it have?”
16. “Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness.”
17. “When you complain, you make yourself a victim. Leave the situation, change the situation, or accept it. All else is madness.”
18. “If you can recognize illusion as illusion, it dissolves. The recognition of illusion is also its ending.”
19. “Don’t let a mad world tell you that success is anything other than a successful present moment.”
20. “The more you make your thoughts (beliefs, opinions, views, etc.) into your identity, the more cut off you are from the spiritual dimension within yourself.”

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💥 Conclusion

So long story short, “The Power of Now” is a life-changing book that teaches people like you and me on how to live in the present moment and experience a profound sense of peace and joy. Through simple yet powerful insights and exercises, Eckhart Tolle guides readers on a journey of self-discovery and spiritual awakening. I mean, I have experience spiritual awakening and healing because of this book. So you should give it a read. Just a heads up, “The Power of Now” can be a dense read, so don’t rush through it. Take your time to absorb the ideas and practice the exercises. Also, keep an open mind as The Power of Now challenges many of our cultural and societal beliefs. Keep an open mind and be willing to question your assumptions and preconceptions. Hope you find Zen and happiness too. Namaste🧘🙏