Recently, I watched Eckhart Tolle’s 10-episode program with Oprah Winfrey called “A New Earth” based on his book by the same title. The main premise of his book and this program is putting into practice conscious awareness or presence in our daily lives. The only time we can experience anything or take any action is NOW. We can’t do something yesterday or tomorrow, we can only do it in the present moment. When today is over, it becomes yesterday and when tomorrow gets here, it becomes NOW. Therefore, our only point of power is NOW. When we trade the present moment for something that’s over or not here yet, we miss out on fully experiencing life, and we give up our power.
Eckhart says that we can begin to be more present by consciously noticing what we are experiencing through our five senses: sight, sound, touch, taste, smell. (Thinking is not one of them.) We can also become more aware of what we are thinking about and remind ourselves that these are just thoughts. We do not need to be preoccupied with our opinions, worries, regrets, or to-do lists. It’s not what’s happening NOW that creates negative emotions, but rather our thoughts about it.
Here are 10 tips for cultivating presence from the book Bring Out the Best in Every Employee by Don Brown and Bill Hawkins:
NOW is the only time we have. May we all experience life more fully with heightened awareness and presence for better performance, relationships and well-being. May we use the power of NOW to make each moment count.
“Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have. Make the Now the primary focus of your life.” – Eckhart Tolle
“The power of Now is none other than the power of your presence, your consciousness liberated from thought forms.” – Eckhart Tolle
“Give attention to the present; give attention to your behavior, to your reactions, moods, thoughts, emotions, fears, and desires as they occur in the present.” – Eckhart Tolle
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