“Make peace with the present moment.” – Eckhart Tolle

A friend told me today I seem more calm and content. It pleasantly surprised me she noticed. I’m working on going with the flow and not getting upset by things I can’t control.  I try to take time to pause before responding to something.  Just taking a breath helps me feel more peaceful in that moment.

Yesterday I watched Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday. Her guest was Eckhart Tolle, spiritual teacher and author of The Power of Now and A New Earth.  They discussed conflict and divisiveness in the world today.  Oprah asked, “Are we taking steps back in consciousness or is this happening to raise consciousness?”  Eckhart explained it is not a linear process.  Like our development in life, we experience challenges and obstacles to help us grow.  When we have setbacks, we need to pause and observe.  It’s not what happens to us but how we react to it.

He says stress is wanting something to be the way it isn’t.  Look at the situation without belaboring it.  When something happens to upset you, watch your mind and what it’s telling you.  “Rather than being your thoughts and emotions, be the awareness behind them.”

If you would like to hear him talk more about this concept, here’s a 2 ½ minute Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ys17xPHS2Q8