Life-changing Lessons from The Power of Now

In the pursuit of our future goals and ambitions in life, we may forget to pause and enjoy the experiences of the present. Apparently during these uncertain times the philosophy of ‘Living in the Now’ has gained momentum as most of us worry about the future that we miss out on relishing the present moments.

I came across an engrossing book ‘The Power of Now’ by Eckhart Tolle and it made me deeply reflect on its prime message: There’s true happiness if you live in the present! No past identities or promises of the future matter.

The lessons in this book are gems of wisdom and will be of immense help to you. I share some valuable inputs from the book.

Embrace the now

• The present is all that we have, and we need to relish the happening.
• The past can’t be changed, and no amount of anxiety can predict the future. Replaying the past and perceptions of the future can create a sense of dissatisfaction.
• Deal fully with what’s happening now, and be prepared for the next.

Situations don’t cause unhappiness.

• Negativity, impatience and despair are forms of defense resistance we put up which is the primary cause of unhappiness.
• It is not the situation but the thoughts we emanate per se. Be aware of your thoughts and separate them from the situation.
• Be grateful for each experience you encounter and take it in your stride. Avoid labeling and unhappiness won’t stand a chance!

Don’t complain, adapt

• Life will not always turn out the way we expect. Brooding and complaining don’t solve anything.
• When you complain, you make yourself a victim and reflect negative vibes.
• If the situation is unfavorable, there are only two choices. Take the courage to figure out a solution or leave the situation behind if you cannot resolve it. Everything else is pointless.

Surrender is not weakness

• When there’s absolutely nothing you can do to change your present situation, we need to accept and surrender to what is. Most of us think surrender is an act of cowardice. Rather, it is truly empowering.
• Embracing what cannot be changed and going with the flow is indeed a liberating moment. This is when struggle and resistance end and you go easy on yourself.
• There is wisdom in yielding to than opposing the flow of life.

Leave the past behind

• We have had events (arguments) in the past that we are not proud of. Holding on to these negative experiences does more harm than good and weighs you down.
• Let go of the past, forgive and move forward. The aftermath is a liberated self to truly experience the present. The cliche ‘life is short, so enjoy it right now’ is so relevant here.

All I can assure is that the practice of mindfulness, being fully attentive to what’s happening now has helped me in my life. And for that reason, the book is highly recommended. If you have already read it, do share your thoughts on it.