Discover Your Bliss

Eckhart Tolle: A New Earth - Purpose

I've been practicing my inner purpose lately - which basically translates into every single thing that I do IS my purpose.

If I'm making a sandwich for someone - making that sandwich is my purpose.  It takes the "task" of doing something and places the importance of life into each moment. 

Instead of rushing through making the sandwich and thinking about what I need to do for the rest of the day, I simply make the sandwich. 

What I've been learning about making every moment my purpose (taking a shower, jogging, having a conversation) has been priceless. 

With each practice of making each moment my purpose, I create more joy in each moment - translation - I discover my bliss in every moment of every day.

The results?  My mood and state of mind have elevated.  I've also noticed that I get more accomplished, time stands still (in a sense) and most of the "junk" that mattered so much before - doesn't.

What would it look like for you to practice each moment as your purpose?  How can you practicing incorporating this into you life?  One moment at a time?  Five minutes a day?

I'd love to hear your discoveries and comments!   

Eckhart Tolle: A New Earth - Abundance

According to Eckhart Tolle, abundance comes to those living in abundance. 

So what does this mean exactly?  And how the heck are you supposed to live in abundance if you don't currently have it?

It's the recognition that you do live in abundance - right now in this moment.  It's noticing all of the abundance in your life and having an attitude of gratitude.

Let's play a little game...if you had $20 to give to a child - which child would you give it to:

Child A - says please and thank you, smiles, giggles, gets creative and makes up games when there's no toys, etc.

Child B - snatches stuff from your hands, complains, throws temper tantrums, never says please and thank you, screams when you ask for quiet, etc.

I'm guessing everyone chose "Child A," correct?  Which child most-represents you? 

Now, I understand that most of you don't throw temper tantrums (at least I hope not), yet behavior aside - lets look at both children a bit closer.

Child A lives in abundance and doesn't focus on what he doesn't have and get mad that he doesn't have it.

Child B focuses on what's not there and will do just about anything to have abundance.

I could lie to everyone and say -oh I'm the perfect "Child A," yet that wouldn't be owning my own stuff.  Even though I have come a long way from "Child B," I still have "episodes" where I can't figure out why I'm not living in abundance and when it's going to get here.

Now what?  Well, I've decided to see the abundance in my life and make note of it in a gratitude journal.  I not only write down my gratitudes, I also write down my gratitudes of abundance. 

I am practicing living in abundance, this way when "abundance" is traveling through town, it will see a familiar face and want to join the fun.

How would practicing living in abundance support you?  What would it look like to live each day in the abundance of your current circumstances and life?

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries! 

Eckhart Tolle: A New Earth - Groundcover

In my quest to green my surroundings, I planted some groundcover by the front door of my apartment.

It was the coolest looking groundcover - kind of looked like little green peas (which will bloom in the summer and change color in the fall).  The groundcover should spread between 8 and 12 inches - which will make a nice start to surrounding myself with more beauty and vegetation. 

When I returned home yesterday, the gardeners were tending to the apartment grounds.  One of them yanked my groundcover out of the ground as if it were a weed.

I asked the main gardener why my groundcover had been yanked and he mumbled something about his employee.  Then he proceeded to tell me that it looked dry and that I would have probably killed it because of lack of water. 

I noticed that my reaction wasn't as severe as it might have been in the past, yet I was still ticked that they'd yanked my groundcover without the smallest bit of remorse.

When I think about the situation, I'm still a bit irked.

Here's where Eckhart Tolle comes in - he talks about "This, too, will pass."  I continue to attach to that moment and replay how I was "wronged" instead of realizing that "this, too, will pass." 

The edge is gone from the situation and now I see it as a gift - almost like "A New Earth test." 

How can using, "this, too, will pass" support you to live in the present moment?  What would it look like to let go of "situation replays?"

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries.

Eckhart Tolle: A New Earth - The Dentist

I have zero fear of the dentist.  I think part of that stems from my mom's fears of the dentist and her desire for me to have a different experience as a result.

I went in for my twice-yearly check-up and cleaning the other day.  Instead of a dental hygienist cleaning my teeth, my dentist does the job.

Usually, when he cleans my teeth, I close my eyes, breathe deeply and think of other things.

This visit was different.  I decided to practice my "inner purpose" - as Eckhart Tolle talks about in A New Earth - and live each moment as my purpose. 

I kept my eyes open, took deep breaths and became fully present as the dentist cleaned my teeth. 

It's almost impossible to describe the experience - the conscious choice to live that moment in my life as my purpose.  It's almost as if I could feel the molecules in the room shift into peace.

Either way, the experience was positive and reiterates what Eckhart Tolle emphasizes as inner purpose.

What's one task or moment you could embrace today as your inner purpose?  How might making a conscious choice to be in the present moment impact your day? 

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries. 

 

Eckhart Tolle: A New Earth - Present Moment

The present moment is powerful.  I never realized how powerful it is until I heard Eckhart Tolle explain the power of the present moment in one of the Oprah classes.

The present moment is all we have.  There is no past or future. 

If we are thinking of the past - it is in the present moment.

If we are thinking of the future - it is in the present moment.

Everything happens in the present moment, so the present moment becomes "THE" tool to create change in your life.

According to Eckhart Tolle, most "past" events are not as "bad" as we remember them to be (now of course I am not dismissing these events or asking you act as if they didn't occur).  It is our constant replay of the past events that cause us pain. 

If we can learn to be more in the present moment, then we have the power and can choose what will influence our mood and emotional state.

Do you want past or future events to have so much power over you?  Would you like more peace of mind and calm in your life?

I invite you to start right in this moment right now.  Yes, now.  Take a deep breath in and concentrate on your breath.  Now let it out. 

By practicing - one breath at a time - going inward and concentrating on that breath, you experience the power of the present moment.

Be gentle with yourself and know that you're practicing - not perfecting. 

The next time you feel upset bubbling up, practice your breath - just one breath at a time - and anchor fully into the present moment. 

Just like anything else (riding a bike, learning a new language, etc.), present moment practice takes time.  Acknowledge yourself throughout the day and breathe in gratitude. 

What's so powerful about the present moment?  How can one breath a day support you to anchor into the present moment?

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries!

Eckhart Tolle: A New Earth - Confusion

Eckhart Tolle has an amazing definition for confusion.

Tolle says if you are asked something and you don't know, then you are not confused.

If you are asked something and you don't know and think you should know - then you're confused. 

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries.

Eckhart Tolle: A New Earth - Enlightenment

Eckhart Tolle speaks of flowers as the enlightenment of plants in his book, A New Earth:  Awakening to Your Life's Purpose. 

What an amazing physical example of something that doesn't have a physical form.

Are you reading A New Earth?  Will you be joining the interactive teleclass hosted by Eckhart Tolle & Oprah that begins Monday, March 3rd?  It's free and open to the public. 

I'd love to hear your discoveries and comments.