The Power of Now

I heard of this book before I got sober. I felt it was too “Western trying to be Eastern Healers” and for people who had personal dysfunctions that I couldn't relate to. 

I came across it again after sobriety and realized that I was running from my past and making up a future based on my fears of the past, never really being present, which was a wack in the gut for the better. The road to healing was way more understandable when I accepted the present, knowing that I also had the power to change anything I wanted. 

Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now revolutionizes the approach to spiritual teachings.

Its brilliance lies in its simplicity and accessibility. In my opinion, Tolle strips away complex jargon (I think we have had enough Sanskrit), presenting profound ideas about mindfulness and living in the present in a language that's easy to understand.

This book is like a primer, perfect for anyone seeking an entry point into the world of self-awareness and presence. Whether you're new to these concepts or familiar with them, The Power of Now offers a refreshing and straightforward path to understanding and embracing the power of the… show more.

I used to be severely depressed. In 2005, I stumbled upon The Power of Now in a bookstore.

This book literally worked miracles in my life. It taught me that by letting go of my debilitating thoughts and focusing on the present moment, I could find instant relief. During the peak of a painful emotion, I learned to shift my attention to the world around me, observing a flower, a tree… and I saw these objects in a new light, in their pristine identities. This eased my mind and body.

After my encounter with this book, my life and mind… show more.

I love the message of living in the now.

While I’m a natural planner, I must be careful not planning my life out to the minute for months on end and getting bogged down by all the planning for the future. This book reminds me of the beauty of the present and to sit still every once in a while, to enjoy the now, the present – because the past no longer truly exists and neither does the future which has not happened.

It reminds me that if I’m not present, I can miss out on the gifts of what… show more.

This book changed my life for the better.

I have read many books searching for answers to “why”.  Eckhart Tolle provides explanations, (cause and effect) methods (tools for personal and spiritual growth), and does it succinctly, in easy-to-understand terms. 

If you are searching for wisdom so that you can better navigate life, relationships, longevity, abundance, and peace of mind and heart, you most likely will benefit from reading and applying the methods to enlightenment that he shares. 

I successfully applied his teachings to my life and now find that I am very consistently in a peaceful state of mind and… show more.

This was one of the many books I read early on about how to live in the present moment.

I always felt Eckhart’s style of writing about a topic that has been written about by many authors, is easy to understand and apply in my life. 

Although it isn’t similar to my book, in regards to yoga philosophy, it still addresses the key points to living a happy and fulfilled life that the Yoga Sutras point to.

I feel this book is timeless and always inspirational and it has been a great reminder for me when I need to remember… show more.

The first muscles I build in my executive coaching clients are awareness and mindfulness.

Why? First, because transformative change doesn’t happen without a high level of those two skillsets. Second, while 95% of individuals believe they are insightful and self-aware, only 10-15% are, according to Tasha Eurichin in her book Insight.

Being able to catch yourself within 5 milliseconds of the behavior happening that you want to stop/replace is essential to make meaningful change happen. This book helps you build that skillset.

Your capacity to take ownership of your thoughts will allow you to move forward along the path… show more.

The biggest obstacle standing in the way to becoming a great leader is ego.

The Power of Now is a masterpiece, helping the reader identify the pitfalls of being a victim of ego and also provides healthy insight into overcoming the ego.

When the leader is able to think clearly, without bias, and without ego, they are better equipped to make more impactful decisions. 

This is a book that I often use as my literary mantra; I can choose any chapter that applies to my current life circumstances and it provides the directive I need to move forward. I love Tolle’s breakdown of how our thoughts can be our worst enemy, especially when he describes the act of complaining and surrendering. He encourages us to abandon what we know and to embrace what is; it’s the simplicity of these messages that will lead you on the path to your desired outcome.

I read this book when I was first learning about mindfulness, and it taught me how incredibly manageable the immediate present moment is. Like most people, I so easily can mistake thoughts about a problem for a real problem that requires my attention. In reality the problems we imagine either a) don’t actually happen or b) if they do happen, are things we can handle. I found Tolle’s words of instruction so direct and precise as he helped me see that the peace I longed for is waiting for me exactly where I am.