Back in 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic, an old colleague of mine talked about a book regarding mindfulness. I was intrigued by the topic, as I had often heard and seen the term “mindfulness” on various platforms. She lent me the book The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. I read it, and I liked it! Almost halfway through the book, I decided to buy my copy and then went on to buy his other books too. I completely immersed myself in his perspectives, and they made so much sense to me.
For so long, I had been trapped in my victim identity, dwelling on my hardships and challenges, always wishing and waiting for the future to be better. Not that I believe thinking about the past or future is bad, it’s just that most of us are conditioned to live that way. However, Eckhart Tolle’s perspective made me realise that I had the power to step outside of that mindset. Since then, I’ve been listening to Eckhart Tolle’s podcast on Spotify during my commute to work. It helps me stay rooted in the present moment.
Let me share and summarise one of his podcasts and reflect on how it has impacted my life.
Topic: There Is Another Way
Eckhart Tolle opens with a Shakespeare quote: “Nothing is either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.”
This is a profound lesson. A key part of self-awareness – or “the awakening of consciousness” – is learning to differentiate between the situation you are in and what your mind says about that situation. Most people do not make this distinction; instead, they fuse their experience with their mental commentary.
He explains that people often find themselves in challenging situations, such as being confined to a small space, dealing with financial struggles, or experiencing loneliness and illness. However, the real issue is not the situation itself but how the mind reacts to it. In other words, our suffering is largely influenced by our mental interpretations, judgments, and expectations.
Tolle emphasizes that while we may not always be able to change our external circumstances, we can change how we respond to them. This realisation is the beginning of awakening. He suggests that instead of getting lost in mental commentary, we should step back and become aware of the present moment – the aliveness in our body, our breath, and our presence. By doing this, we can access a deeper dimension beyond habitual thought patterns. This awareness brings a sense of stillness and clarity, allowing us to see that we are not our thoughts; we are the awareness behind them.
This shift in perception is the beginning of freedom and the realisation that there is another way of living.
My Insights and Reflections
I never truly understood how powerful our mind can be – if we allow it to control us. Learning that I am not my thoughts and that I can step back and observe them, has been life-changing. Negative thoughts can be incredibly harmful, not just emotionally but physically as well.
For example, I used to constantly worry about things beyond my control – work stress, financial concerns, and personal relationships. My mind would create worst-case scenarios, making me anxious and restless. But when I started practicing what Tolle shares, I realised that these thoughts were just mental noise. They weren’t necessarily true, nor did they define me.
Another example is how self-doubt can hold us back. Many of us identify with the thought “I’m not good enough” or “I’ll never succeed.” But when you step back and observe these thoughts instead of attaching to them, you begin to see that they are just conditioned patterns – not reality.
This understanding has significantly improved my well-being. Whenever I catch myself dwelling on a negative thought, I pause and ask myself: Is this thought helpful? Is it true? Most of the time, it’s just a habitual response, and I can choose to let it go.
Through Eckhart Tolle’s teachings, I have also come to a deeper understanding of the teachings of Jesus Christ and other spiritual leaders whom he frequently references. Rather than following faith blindly, I now see the wisdom in truly understanding it. Jesus taught about inner peace, letting go of fear, and being fully present in the moment – principles that align with mindfulness. Tolle’s insights helped me appreciate these teachings in a new light, showing that faith is not just about belief but about experiencing a deeper connection with the present moment and with the higher Being. This realisation has strengthened my faith rather than diminishing it, helping me see spirituality as something to be deeply understood and lived rather than merely followed.
By practicing mindfulness and presence, I feel more at peace, even in difficult situations. I no longer see challenges as unbearable burdens but as opportunities to observe and grow.
If you haven’t listened to Eckhart Tolle’s podcast yet, I highly recommend it. His insights can truly change the way you experience life.