Well hello,
Want to reduce stress?
Want to rid yourself of past memories bombarding your mind?
Want to feel relaxed, in your body and be present to those you love?
S T I L L N E S S
This message is from the book “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle. I read this book years and years ago, and it has come to my attention that it’s time to read it again. Being in this chapter of my life, I will take much more from it now than I did back then. So far so good. So far to go!
If you ever complain, you are not accepting WHAT IS.
Think about right now. How do you feel? I imagine you are safe and nothing is bothering you? Now think about something from your past. Or your imagined future. Any discomfort there? Fear perhaps? Uncertainty?
This is why the power of now is particularly powerful. It’s really your only sense of absolute peace. Acceptance of the moment is easy. We are just not very practiced in it.
Eckhart says that stress is caused by being here but wanting to be there. It’s a split that tears you apart inside.
Ouch. I can see I do this. You?
What does your mind do when you finally just sit? Do you ever just sit and do nothing? Could you imagine? What would become of you? Isn’t that just lazy? Haha.
I’ve been doing more of it lately as I experiment with Eckart’s theories and it’s pretty crazy how often my mind goes to where I’ve been and where I think I’m headed.
Worry, he states, is simply “what if” thoughts that produce fear. You can’t even deal with it, since it doesn’t exist. Get back to now. Your breath. Ask yourself what problem you have right now?
It seems so normal to live anywhere other than the present moment. Yet we all know it’s all we have and is the only thing that’s real. We know, yet we often do not do.
It is challenging, shocking and even a little embarrassing, to realize we aren’t conscious most of the time.
If you find you are trapped in the past or future, you’re living mostly unconsciously. Hey - Eckhart says!!
Here’s what I say - becoming more conscious is a massive step on the spiritual path and one I definitely recommend. You’ll know when you’re ready. Even though this is an old book, its wisdom is deep. I’m sure I could read it 20x and still learn more each time. And yet, I must apply what I’ve learned so far. So here I sit, a Friday night, sober and in this moment, for it’s all I have.
Your turn! 😜
All my love,
K 💛
