4 Quotes by Eckhart Tolle About Living in the Present

Eckhart Tolle is a well-known German writer. In his works you can find great teachings about spirituality. He currently lives in Canada and is one of the most popular writers in North America.

In his works we find the inspiration to transform our lives and make them more self-aware. He thinks that this is a vital step in our evolution as a species. His teachings are truly inspiring.

In this article we want to share with you some of Eckhart Tolle’s best phrases. We are sure that within them you will find the inspiration to live in the present. Read them and save them for later, when you need them the most.

1. “Some changes seem negative at first glance, but they create the space for something new to arrive.”

Are you afraid of change or are you the type of person that embraces change? Eckhart Tolle reminds us that the whole world is constantly experiencing changes, although many times we may not accept or notice it. Your ideas, your relationships, your friends and yourself.

I have met people that cling so much to what they know that they don’t even see the alternatives or opportunities that change may bring. It is true that some changes generate pain. But the sorrow you feel when you leave something only means that it filled you emotionally.

That’s why, if you are facing a situation today that is forcing you to change, don’t see it as something negative. On the contrary, experience it and enjoy it. All of this new energy and new perspective will give you an opportunity. Take it and embrace all of the good it has to offer you.

2. “Remember that the present is all you have. Make ‘now’ the center of your life.”

We spend so much time worried about the future that we forget what we have. Tell me, how many hours have you spent today thinking about the future? It could be a more or less sure future, or it could be completely uncertain.

We could spend three hours planning how our life will play out into old age or our next vacations. Eckhart Tolle doesn’t want you to stop thinking about the future. But he does invite you to be more focused on today. 

After all, your current life is the future that you so feverishly planned at some point. Thus, the best thing we can do is see it and experience it. Spend time with your kids, dedicate an afternoon to your partner, visit your parents and take a break to color a little bit. If you don’t take advantage of the present, you won’t have much to tell your kids or grandkids.

3. “Accept everything. Anything that the present offers you, accept it as if you chose it. Work with what you have, not against it.”

Complaining is one of the most common habits in this day and age. We never have enough of anything. If you are not currently living where you wish to live, you focus on being unhappy about that. If you have a job, but you dislike your salary, you complain about it.

Can you really not do anything with what you currently have? Is there really nothing good in your present? Eckhart Tolle reminds us that we have two options: accept and value your present or live in a constant struggle against it.

You have the right and ability to choose. Simply remember that learning to appreciate and take advantage of what you have is also possible. Instead of accumulating a list of deficiencies that you think your life has, try to be grateful for all of the advantages in your life.

This is a way of seeing life in a much more pleasant and bearable way. In any case, if you don’t like what you have, work with it in order to obtain what you desire.

Don’t like your job? Well, be thankful that you have a way to pay the bills today. Instead of complaining, you can plan to start your own home business like you have always wanted to. You’ll see that soon your job will be more bearable and your goals will be closer than ever.

4. “The main cause of unhappiness is never the situation itself, but rather your ideas about the situation.”

Thinking that there is nothing good in your present only serves to make you unhappy. Eckhart Tolle’s is a firm believer that each one of us creates our own tragedies and joys. You could have a perfect life, but it won’t be enough if you think there is something lacking.

You may think that you don’t have anything, when the only thing you don’t have is the ability to see the good around you. Every situation and every moment has something worthwhile. If this is hard for you to believe, try being grateful. Each day, seek one new thing that you can be grateful for. In a short while, you’ll have a happier present.