How Do We Break The Habit Of Excessive Thinking?

www.eckharttollenow.com
Eckhart Tolle explores the powerful addiction to thinking, offering a handful of ways to put a stop to thoughts and choose presence instead.

[@wishingonthemoon1]

A friend once told me, “we no longer listen, we wait to speak.”

[@khalidalnahdi1526]

I hate to admit it, but i do that a lot.

[@Herzankerkreuz67]

Great comment 👍 Thank you 🙏

[@davidbarnes6410]

Sad but true

[@issimma]

The Mind: a Beautiful Servant, a Dangerous Master..

[@olkensavril5703]

It's the other way around

[@SuperMattmonkey]

Fantastic, let the greatest amoung you serve. We are all served in turn when we give without thought or expectation. there is no pain, tears, sorrow or anger in anothers joy. Love your neighbour as yourself.

[@healingmyfear6647]

I never realized how obsessive my thinking was until I read the Power of Now. I literally lived in a dream like excessive thinking state. Its been a great eye opener

[@360flipmaster]

He's so right, I follow the most pointless thoughts until I've been lost in them for hours, days, weeks... You don't have to follow thoughts! Tolerate the anxiety induced from not following the thoughts and you'll save a lot of time & energy.

[@Fabbeckerfitness]

So the point here is not to avoid thoughts, but to let them arise without getting sucked into it/ without following them, so you stay in the state of Being, right?

[@AnandRaiSays]

Yes.

[@jkattan22]

right

[@christianjemmott2908]

that's what I'm getting from this... U were just wise enough to to put it in shorter and simpler wording 😊

[@patriciamcallister6168]

AnimMuscle exactly. treat yourself and thoughts with kindness and awareness. do not judge. instead do your best to listen. let it rise and pass. it also helps to focus on your breathing. you cant breathe outside the present moment therefore you come right back :)

[@pelly5742]

That's the entire point of meditation. You can never avoid thoughts, the harder you try the more you will notice thoughts arising. What you do in meditation is not engaging with your thoughts. You acknowledge the existence of the thought and then refocus on the object of meditation.

[@joelbartor]

it took me a whole year of daily meditation to feel my first moment of real awareness, of real presence, i had read eckart book the power of now 3 times, and its only after that when i read it a 4th that i really understood it and it had a big impact on my life, now it is very easy for me to stop thinking and im in a constant state of hapiness, i wouldnt say it happened to me through intense meditation, it just will happen when your time comes, its not something to understand its something to realize, there is something out there so my advice is to not give up

[@loug3729]

One method I used and watching this brought me back how I did it, is that I would look at my hands, front and back, grab ahold of them, feel them against one another, that will give you the concept of now/presence. Just like a new born baby who is discovering the presence of self when he/she is looking at their hands etc.

[@loug3729]

This would help me bring awareness to me, the now and my surrounding

[@openyourlies]

+Lou Garcia Thank you for this method.

[@bornfornow]

+Lou Garcia I like your technique. I find that something like this helps me too. whatever will get me "out of my excessive thinking" and into my body, grounded. I use a technique I have developed called the Flash Awake. One of the ways that I practice that is counting on my fingers the five core breaths. If you might be interested, you can see the short video at gJCbWV6Ney8. I appreciate your comments thanks.

[@AlmostEthical]

+Lou Garcia Nice idea. I could feel my hands more when I stroked lightly with my fingertips rather than clasping.

[@bellsdxb5649]

I am going to try use this method. Thank you for sharing.

[@expressodark]

"This is what the mind does, it always wants you to follow it. Let your thoughts arise for a moment without following it, then come back to the present. " Thank you, Eckhart.

[@zingerflippinz2066]

This reminds me of a thought I had years ago at a Spiritual retreat. "Be where you are, or you'll miss why you're there."

[@48acar19]

Eckhard Tolle is 67 years old, but he looks like he is 35! His inner peace has worked!

[@brianc4594]

the guy asked the question perfectly; not an easy task.Exactly what I wanted to know.

[@joanfreyre]

The closest I got to this amazing present clearness is traveling alone to Alentejo coast and staying eleven days in an apartment by the ocean.I walked,saw very few people,enjoyed the ocean,ate well,,observed nature etc drank wine. If I was bored,I sat on acliff,listening,looking. It was a piece of heaven I never experienced before in my whole 69 years.

[@tarnum113]

If Yoda was a human he would be Eckhart Tolle

[@elkwhistle141]

I think he looks like "Mr. Frodo" from "Lord of the Rings" Elijah Wood.

[@nm425]

Eckhart couldn't fight emperor palpatine

[@marcofontainhas7791]

LOL

[@Mrgangstaist]

Alex Ossipee ahahahahaha most accurate thing i read in a long time

[@internetpeople6113]

It's more like, if Eckhart was 900 years old, he would look like Yoda

[@fightington]

hahah, the last bit, "you felt hungry and started thinking about a restaurant and ended up thinking about how dreadful your life is"

[@sublow2104]

I think a lot of people here are getting the impression that "all thinking is bad". No, that's not what Eckhart is saying at all. Thinking is a necessary part of human existence without which we would not be able to survive. That is obvious. The point here however is to discipline the mind so that it functions purely to that effect. To switch off what Buddhists term "The monkey mind" where you think about events from your past, pointless judgements about things and people, comments, likes, dislikes, imaginary scenarios etc. From a purely objective point of view, most thinking is rubbish. Of course, sometimes you have to think about your past to learn from mistakes, or your future so you can plan ahead, or to gain knowledge about a subject to further your understanding of the material world. But it's a two-edged sword. The vast majority of ancient philosophers and spiritual teachers point to this idea. Thinking creates suffering. It is rare that a situation itself is causing problems. It is more likely the thoughts attached to it. Observe the thoughts and you will see that for yourself.

[@OldSamVimes]

Thinking is good, but it's something that you'll do better if you can learn to turn it off. A machine that never stops working breaks down.

[@Vishucsc]

Pan Raphael i agree with you but what to do.... ? I met an accident just by a thought coming to my mind that its going to happen...... I want to discuss the thing with you ! Please

[@clarkkent3730]

"you do greatly err not knowing the scriptures neither the power of God"....Jesus Christ....Matthew chapter 22 nkjv not at all....the only way truly that a person can be forgiven spiritually and in reality is to have all thinking/demons removed....then you live in the eternal NOW....there is no thoughts in the now.....its not about thinking and doing but about "being"....Jesus said not to premeditate before hand what you shall speak when persecuted but God will give you what you need through Holy divine inspiration in that moment alone and will not be remembered again afterwards....this is true spiritual life!

[@KarmicBeats]

I came to the vary same conclusion that we get addicted to thought patterns and that all addictions are ultimately an addiction to a negative thought pattern.

[@e.t.464]

You can't have negative without positive. Both are a factor. But why question positive patterns? Because there is no understanding if you don't look at the whole.

[@YogiBearTruthbetold]

Most people are not aware of the fact that they have two different selves. You have a mind and a spirit, and though they seem like one thing they are separate. The way to realize this is true is to realize that something has to be listening to the thoughts created by your mind. Just ask yourself now, what is it that is listening to your thoughts? Search *_Truth Contest_* and read the top entry called "The Present". The truth as it relates to conscious life has been revealed.

[@csgstormer]

damn bro that is an incredible discovery if true. You might have explained all addiction. I think the only way to know if it is certainly true is by putting it's consequences into practice.

[@tahaabbasi8302]

Martin Mallit Could you tell me what was that you read about and why it made you so so happy? Thanks

[@Ace1973ish]

Grace Ful very interesting. Awesome

[@jackdauphan2703]

I'm a stage IV metastatic cancer survivor & this really works, it's a big reason I survived.... Modern Medicine was the main reason, but working hard thru meditation to control my thinking & focusing on the present led to a recognition that at this moment I am alive & I experienced a consciousness that the power of life flowed within me at this very moment & this produced instances of utter sublimity & gratitude in the midst of great physical suffering... It was a strange phenomena b/c I was not begging to survive, it almost felt like I got out of my own way & allowed this miracle that is life that we all possess work itself out but I didn't interfere, I was free from the most basic want - the want to survive... and by being in that space I was totally free, I had no future & no past, the instinct to fear & worry fell away from me and for the first time in my memory I experienced total peace... it was like I just assumed my place in this interconnected world instead of struggling to find my place.... I was just being.... sorry if that sounds like existential nonsense, but I was in the process of dying & I achieved a happiness I had never known and the moment they told me that it was a miracle & I was gonna survive, I immediately began to worry about how I'd pay my medical debt & make money again so my fiancee wouldn't leave me lol

[@boringshi]

Beautiful. And what a hard road towards real peace. All the best!

[@charliemendez9991]

Caught some fragments of the peacefulness. Beautiful beautiful.

[@Kimberly-up1cb]

"I immediately began to worry about how I'd pay my medical debt & make money again so my fiancee wouldn't leave me lol" So, your ego didn't waste any time jumping right back in there!

[@philipkavanaugh4672]

Rupert Spira

[@Goudprateek]

Awesome

[@davidthomas9190]

Oh man how I needed this video. Only came to realise recently I've had over 40yrs of constant inner dialogue and I am totally sick of it. Constant noise, most of it negative. I am grateful for the advice !

[@TheRomanshCheezit]

Woah, I haven't seen an intelligent comment section in a long time

[@Simon0]

its cause im here.

[@Talisman09]

The RomanshCheezit yeah it's a shame it's all a load of bollocks! I understand that this stuff contains a lot of helpful ideas for people, but what a minefield of pretentious dog turds. this eckhart fella is as egotistical as anybody so try to just hear his words as though they are written down completely anonymously!

[@MaxiStandUp]

me neither

[@jahnavisepthyd255]

hahahahahaha..thinking the same..

[@camilobernal6080]

Yeah, it's quite refreshing.

[@viliussablevicius4862]

your body is always present, your consciousness can be somewhere else, if you feeling drifting away from the presence focus on your body what you feel, and how you feel it, it helps me alot be in presence for long periods of time

[@Simon0]

is it possible to practise presence during activity? I do some receptionist work and i try to practise presence but i also need to write emails to people and talk on phone and stuff can presence practise go alongside that at the same time?

[@HenryKrinkle]

I find it MUCH easier! Focusing on your actions while you do whatever you do is a great way to distract the mind. This is the essence of disciplines like Aikido, Tai Chi, shamanistic drumming, and many others, you can reach a zen state doing just about anything so long as you are focusing on the activity and being present while being active. Good luck to you.

[@viliussablevicius4862]

osensei75 Great! wanted to say exactly the same

[@Simon0]

thanks for response! it has been a recent revelation to me that with presence it is possible to nto react to negative people. In the past only option was to react but now i see another possible.. non reaction! and i am much enjoying practising presense. the person sitting next to me at work is i find a bit of a pain but it is excellent opportunity to practise! that is why i asked the question because it is while i am doing my receptionist work that i need to stay present in order to not react to my co worker who sometimes triggers me!

[@Simon0]

yes not being spiteful and in fact learning to be loving and non judgemental.

[@ToxicVaccines_HivHoax]

The best way for me to stop negative thinking is to get outdoors. I might do physical exercises or just go to buy something at the shops. As long as I get outside of my house, thinking improves greatly.

[@roadtojoy8037]

Thank you Eckhart for helping me so much. I was lost after my husband died and you helped me find peace. I could have received no greater gift from anyone at anytime. Thanks you a thousand times.

[@michaeloverah124]

I finally get why he sometimes takes long pauses, he is trying to make us accustomed with the silence and by extension silencing the mind

[@dkpv2012]

I love Eckhart---I can actually get calm just listening to him speak

[@leontinekahindo821]

I heard him answer a question about stoping negative thinking. And solution actually worked. You focus on feeling the energy in your hands. What that does is, it quiets your mind from everything and soon you are feeling all the energy in your body that the thoughts are not even there anymore. All there is in your mind is stillness. This saved me from loosing my mind completely.

[@techniciangreneway9888]

I love how he takes time to think about his answer and everyone in the room patiently just awaits what he is going to say

[@CroatianGaming1]

My friend told me about the book, i read it, i couldnt get it at first, and then after just a few days it just came. When i was a kid i would just look at my fingers and move them tying to feel the move itself and i was actually practicing power of now without knowing what it is, i was aware of my fingers. You just start being aware of what are you doing NOW, what are you looking at, your breath, the comfort of chair beneath you, how the feet sit in your shoes, listening to some music output/birds whistleing. You just become aware that so much things you are sensing right now and you are not aware of them. You look at the flower and a thought occurs its red or its beautiful, which is natural, and it goes away, but if you start thinking about things that you can do with the flower which you havent done the mind just keeps going and going. Just become aware that flower is just there, it exist. You stop following unnescesarry thoughts, but it doest mean if you think of grabbing the flower and gifting it to someone that you shouldn't follow it, you just do i it now, and you dont think on the way how will the person react, you experience it when NOW arrives and if the reaction is bad you automatically start thinking in the past as in "i shouldnt have grabbed it" and ofc the mind goes on and on. Your thoughts determine whether the situation is good or bad and you start thinking about other posibilites which may lead you in the storm of thoughts, but it happend before, and thats all to it, it happend, not good not bad it just happend, and its not now anymore. Once you get in that "space" everything is clear to you, you are just in the "space" and using words to describe it is really hard. When you are in the NOW you sometimes smile and feel joy all the time for no reason, you just do. Thank you, you have changed many lives with something so simple.

[@garywilliamson7493]

In May 1992 one Sunny Saturday Morning I Discovered I Had Power Over My Thoughts, Like A Vulture in My Awaken Hours as soon as I opened My Eye, Negative Crippling Thoughts of My Marriage break down and the loss of My Children Crowded My Mind every Day for around 2 or 3 years Me being in Deep Depression this Saturday Morning I had had enough when out of my mouth I Spoke These Words With Deep Conviction " Get Out Of My Mind " as I was washing my clothes for the week I noticed I had Not Thought of My Marriage Breakup then as soon as I realized the Thoughts Started to come again So I repeated over again Get Out Of My Head again the Thoughts went away - I persisted in Ordering out Thoughts Of All sorts and Deliberately replaced The Nego Thoughts with Pleasant Happy Thoughts and after a couple of Months I was attracting more and more Good to myself in every area including Love and Happiness Life in General became So Much Better as I practiced Becoming More Spiritual and Consciously Aware of My Thought Beliefs and Constantly Change Them Also - ( I Came To Realize I was wrong about everything - Now My Inner Being is My Guide ) live in the NOW , leave the past in the past. 👣

[@bonto42]

Thinking isn't the problem, it's fearful thinking.

[@sheldonvern]

bonto its thinking with words and a voice in your head about random junk 24/7

[@e.t.464]

+bonto Thought and time are the root of fear.

[@e.t.464]

Mitchel Snodgrass How so? I have really went into it and found it truly to be time and thought to be the organic factors that play into fear.

[@e.t.464]

Mitchel Snodgrass (Long read) The question is where is this fear coming from? Someone arrives at the conclusion that fear comes from ignorance. Ignorance means lack of knowledge. You could say then that one who is in primal ignorance is not looking for knowledge and is looking objectively at life. That is a good way of explaining what Eckart is getting at. Ignorance is a way of not allowing others to influence you. There is a saying that "ignorance is bliss". So where does fear come from? You could come to the conclusion that fear is created by thought. Thought is formless. So its like watching a scary flick while on the edge of your seat. Its fictional, but your body is reacting to the thoughts in your mind. You could then say. Why is the fear present in the thought? Suspense means to have an uncertainty as to what will happen. So time is present in thought. Past and future. If you were to watch a current Liam Neeson film you would be watching a suspenseful film where your going to be taken on an psychological adventure of uncertainty. So you come to the conclusion that thought is like an instrument, and playing the instrument is time, where there is reaction. The reaction is psychological fear. If there is a self in thought, you are allowing the self to be effected by the external where you can become fearful. You don't have to agree or disagree. Just look at it.

[@e.t.464]

Mitchel Snodgrass You seem to think Im forcing some belief upon you.

[@mookamoka3]

This is by far the greatest problem in my life and I've been battling it forever. Most people are what I call 'actors' meaning they go through life generally present when they need to be and enjoy life through action. I myself am so ridiculously addicted to thinking that I CAN NOT remain present even when I absolutely need to be. My mind goes on autopilot whenever it feels like it, and all day every day I am consciously observing this happening, pushing the thought away, trying to be present and losing it quite literally 2-10 seconds later. This always results in hours being wasted on careless thought in my free time and I don't even realize it's happening. I'm hoping someone in this community has some useful input. The video was helpful but I want as many opinions as possible.

[@fiosemi2815]

I’m just 10 years old, I came here because tomorrow I’m gonna be leaving Peru to go to Chile,here in Peru,my whole family except me,my brother, my mom and my dad live.Every year we come here in vacations to be here with all our family and just enjoy, so I started thinking about the future, my mom’s parents are already dead so my mom doesn’t want to come here as much each year, my dad’s parents are still alive so that’s the only reason we come here every year and see everyone, I started thinking about when my grandparents die, we will not come here anymore, and I won’t see my cousins, my aunt, my uncle, I wont see my family as often as now, and I just want to enjoy with my family as much as posible, but if we are leaving tomorrow, what if my grandpa dies the day after I leave, what if they both die, I will not see anybody again in a long time, and I can’t manage thinking about that......well that’s my story, I’ll just comment his now

[@Nautilus1972]

What helps me is to recognise the flow of negative thoughts when they're happening. To acknowledge what they are, and to let them dissipate, and find your center once more.

[@HenryKrinkle]

This is meditation 101....simple and difficult at once. Thoughts are going to pop up...again and again at first....like he says though, let them come and go without judgementand they will fade out after some time; become less & less frequent.

[@kerime.7861]

osensei75 That makes no sense to me.. like. none.

[@samuraijack8710]

Thanks.That actually helped me. I am always​ very judgmental about the thoughts that cross my mind. I am always like " I should be thinking this,why am I thinking about that " without realising that I am just having one thought after another and am actually not taking any physical action.

[@lex111]

Exactly. The mind thinks but most thoughts are fleeting until we grasp hold of them and dwell. Dont grasp.

[@Liberatingdivineconsciousness]

It is about mind training, observing the mind, it's inclinations and needs. Eckhart shares if we understand the mind, it's constant urge to pull you in leading to other bigger thoughts. With practice, we will be able to do as Eckhart says, perceive without interference of concepts. Live in an alert Presence, always coming back to Presence. Thoughts want to expand and demands your attention in subtle ways. Important to realize thinking is an addiction, one we need to acknowledge and reverse the source of power and control.

[@brutallyhonest9382]

What isn't an addiction? Science has proven that anything such as eating or playing sports can be an addiction if it releases dopamine in your brain and makes you want to do more again.

[@kingbrandon60]

presence for me feels like i just woke up from a dream while i was awake, and everything feels undeniably real

[@emilyblu2906]

I look at my dog and realize why she’s so happy and free, she doesn’t think and she doesn’t realize she will die one day. I put myself into that headspace where I feel like my dog, free with no thought. 😋

[@thomasm.5243]

The second time he said now and now, was the most soothing thing I've felt recently.

[@Orion3G]

I have a timer on my phone that goes off a few times a day, it plays the meditation bell that Eckhart uses at the start of his videos, it's very useful to snap out of the constant thinking, because when I get lost in my thought it can take hours sometimes days before I'm aware again. So this kinda keeps me from getting lost in thought all the time.

[@chopin4321]

the greatest addiction is thinking...most people don´t know they have this thinking addiction.. practice the state of non thinking...sense the presence of the present, practice simple awareness... focus on breathing...on passing sensations, thoughts.....i love this man...he loves us even more

[@DamnCinderela]

I'm a thinker.I admit to release.I'm obsessed with thinking,overthinking 😢

[@lukepedlar1054]

Breaking excessive thinking is easy, people think that it is a really hard thing to do and it is like the core step to enlightenment but that is not true. Just be aware of it, you do not have to engage with those thoughts also thinking is not just a bad thing, the mind is a tool and when used correctly there are no limits. Instead of being at war with yourself be at one with yourself, the mind is not separate, it is one. Just enjoy your life, if you have a problem solve it, if there is no solution then it is not a problem. People are always looking for some complicated philosophy but the truth is all the answers you need you already have, you are already enlightened, you are already god. Just get out of your comfort zones and live.

[@TraceyHD]

I couldnt have said it better myself. Alot of people make things more difficult than they need to be. They tend to create drama and problems when there arent any. I believe they do it so they can feel alive. But youre right...there is a better way. Realize that keeping it simple is really the beauty of life. Take care.

[@lukepedlar1054]

Cheers guys, i agree with you Tracey that a lot of people do create problems when they are not needed, for example GroovyBooty there is no need to say something like that. ONELOVE

[@FreckleandSnow]

Thank you so much for this. This is all the learning I needed!

[@TorontosFinestKrew]

It is easy to give in to mind control. Your sub conscious is testing you throughout your whole life. Your mind is not conscious or mind control but the matrix has many games and operations to get what they want. 2015, the new resolution should be a higher level of enlightenment

[@LeetGamingTV]

traceyhd That is very easy for someone who has not undergone severe mental hardships (anxiety, depression, bipolar) to say. Once your brain turns against you like the mentioned mental disorders however, not over thinking becomes the greatest challenge you can overcome.

[@eoinbrennan3949]

Can we just marvel at the fact that this guy is 70 years old...........and he looks incredible. Theres a radiance about him. If there was ever an advertisement for being in presence and not in thought this is it. If we all were present cosmetic companies would be out of business over night. True beauty does come from being connected to and living in the now.

[@Randinator]

It's harder than it sounds

[@johnyjackson327]

Not really

[@eldani8095]

both at the same time

[@xGaMErZzZPrOx]

+Johny Jackson It depends on how much you are suffering also. It is easier for some, for some it's *nearly* impossible.

[@rodsavage8275]

Michael McCuin randy!

[@adunnou2075]

xGaMErZzZPrOx but its possible to anyone who has the will to do it

[@AzMovieMom]

Over thinking or the monkey mind as I like to call it was cured for me when I took a course in meditation. 10 days, no speaking. It's a free course, offered in cities all over the world. Amazing! Day 3 my monkey mind dropped out. It's not for everyone, but it changed my life. Now I can be present so easily. It's called Vipassana. A beautiful course.

[@48acar19]

A Romanian joke from Transylvania: In the morning: "Hey man, what are you doing here?" "I am sitting down and thinking". In the evening: "Hey man, are you still sitting down and thinking?" "No, right now I am only sitting down".

[@nm425]

48acar19 I don't get it

[@indigolynx243]

Dont get it

[@tinaomotoyosi]

Nick M & Indigo he is trying to show him the distinction between his two actions, experiencing life engagement/lack of thought and more doing, or the second one; engaging with life in a very cluttered way, with thoughts, expectations, the past, the future.. like mental road blocks. I don't know, that's my understanding of it

[@soulaioannou2382]

48acar19 y

[@reprogrammingmind]

'Sometimes I sit and think, sometimes I just sit.'

[@fancoy]

The great paradox: thinking about how to not do it. So true.

[@jamesbarclay7227]

One of the worst things a person can do is to give up independent and considered thought to another which people do with the teachings of Eckhart Tolle. Thinking, considering, dreaming, figuring and enjoying the creative workings of one's own mind is maybe the greatest human intellectual and even spiritual gift.

[@1Thedairy]

I suffer from negative thoughts and excessive thinking and I find the best way to overcome it is get into the garden or take a long walk. It is a very powerful tranquilliser so it emphasises how important it is not to divorce yourself from nature. So simple!

[@athdragoveskel9389]

I love Eckhart, such a beautiful man, he's healing the human condition within me with his words. To those that this doesn't make sense to, give it time, it all will. If you're looking for liberation out of depression/anxiety or just to reach your potential, these teachings will drastically change your life for the better.

[@mindfulmoments4956]

Here are some tips that can be used to calm the mind: 1. Walking meditation - focus on the movements of the feet, sensations, etc. 2. Loving-kindness meditation: this is also often useful to do before breath meditation. 3. A book titled “The Way It Is” by Ajahn Sumedho (a free book that can be found on the internet) describes a meditation practice where one can use a simple phrase such as “I am a human being” and then repeat it but watch the space between two phrases (and note the ‘aware’ and silent state where one is not getting entangled in proliferations). One can gradually make this space longer to make the aware state longer.

[@tommoconstantly]

i feel so emotional listening to him, he makes sooo much sense and he has this voice of wisdom which overpowers this small amount of anxiety, alone

[@trashcandatnoobwut2246]

Once you learn to break free of over-thinking, you become truly free. Only then can you witness the beauty of the simplicity of life itself: you become at one with your surroundings and experience inner-peace. I have found that I am only able to properly analyse anything when in this state of mind. It unlocks an innate potential that I believe we all possess, but have lost in the modern era. I don't think in a conventional way when in this state, but rather through visual concepts, numbers and just about anything - yet it all makes total sense to me.

[@couchdouglas]

From my own experience before ever hearing of Eckhart, he is spot on. Many years ago, my mind was racing so fast I couldn't capture and fully understand many wonderful insights. I found that putting effort into trying to think less or slower added more things to the thoughts stack, rather than lessening it, as well as adding stress from frustration. Eventually, I began to realize that on this, the human side of things, thinking is necessary, but simply needed to be put in its proper place in the scheme of things. So I would talk to it like it was an impatient curious 2-year-old, telling it (myself) that "yes, I see that thought...but right now I want to be quiet and in listening mode"...and would then return to being calmer. I didn't scold my thought machine, and if I found myself becoming upset with it (myself), I would do the same thing: "yes, I see you're using upset to get me to pay attention, but right now I want to be quiet and in listening mode". It's a little like the "broken record" technique used in assertive training when working with others who tend to use repeated requests to manipulate or break you down (where someone will acquiesce just to get them to shut up). After doing this for awhile, I found that it worked very well, and my thought machine became retrained into a new thinking habit pattern. This contributed in huge ways to make my life better and to allow me to capture and understand my own creativity and growing inner awareness.

[@clayryan1196]

His message may be the most important message and technique to the human race. It would solve so much if everyone did this.

[@1996Pinocchio]

And still it was only recorded for you. ;)

[@amandaarvan4556]

I absolutely love the fact that with every video I find both laughter and a sense of ease.

[@lansingday1453]

"Take One or two conscious breaths, here and there during the day"...from his bk "New Earth" works magic for me. Doing it right now makes me smile.

[@ToothTalks]

Thinking as addiction... that's a new concept to me but it has an undeniably pure truth about it.

[@boringshi]

I had the same feeling. Wasn't into this 'spiritual blabber', but after reading the first pages of the power of now I had to admit: there was a pure truth about it. ;) From the first sentences I thought 'Oh, here we go with this metaphysical B&^$it'. One page later about compulsive thinking I thought: 'well ok, that's undeniably true....'

[@bxlis]

the worst is happening to me is that while someone talking to me , i listen, then while i listen to her, i have a thought generates in my mind while she talks and i completely stop listening to her and start thinking the chatter of what she said previously to me , i endend up loosing it then the conversaton become very strange. it continues until she stops talking and beyond... its crazy

[@DEADLIESTMAN1]

same here, it's been happening since i was a child i was a very bad student in school, never concentrate on what the teachers were saying, i'm an adult now 30 some years old.

[@huna5923]

any more you're not alone

[@ShehramAkram]

And then you also lose what she was saying because you were involved with the chatter in your mind and so time for more stress thinking about what she said when I was there but not listening? I see you commented like 11 months back - have you managed to find a solution? Cheers

[@MaxiStandUp]

Tell your relatives this to be aware and help you 'come back' from that past or future asap.

[@dcomicsxjustin2585]

Same with me

[@leahnorton4028]

After reading several of Eckhart Tolle's books, noticed he used three words over and over. i called them the 3 A's. Started to use the 3 words to see if they could help get rid of panic attacks! They do! Soo this is how it goes! I am having a panic attack- I Allow this moment to be as it is! I Acknowledge this moment and I Accept this moment - by the time I have said this the panic attack it gone. Hope this may help others!

[@m9katchm9]

I have spent the last month stressing out and hoping to figure out how I can stop thinking about my ex. I was going insane and I swear I wanted to get some therapy. It was so bad! Then I played this video while I was working today. This has helped me so so so so much!! I feel like I'm in control of the bad thoughts! I can manage my thoughts to be positive if I just keep putting the present in my head. Thank you! I'm so happy:)

[@newstart49]

I'll have to give his answer some deep thought.

[@kennjt5015]

newstart49 I'm currently reading The Power of Now and I always have to pause to....I don't know. sometimes I just pause without thinking cause I know I wouldn't really understand when I think about it.

[@jhptsdx6275]

lolll

[@MarianaBossRamirez]

😂😂😂😂 right? 2 minutes later... "What IS the name of that flower??... if he Google's restaurants he would be able to narrow his search.... Is my life really this pathetic?...." lmao!!!

[@kaylajackson3520]

Oh the irony 😂

[@suzybowers3710]

So calming,intelligent,different,an angel perhaps? instant love!!

[@100musicplaylists3]

A truly liberated spiritual person is not introverted. The soul of an enlightened being is full of joy and happiness and lacks inhibition because they are liberated from the chains of social anxiety and are fully comfortable and confident being in their skin. They also don't sit on the fence on difficult issues in order to play the game and please everyone. They are strait to the point open and honest. There are many people today claiming to be enlightened and yet very few who genuinely are.

[@videoway]

This is amazing. When he gave the few seconds pause, the same thoughtless effect could be felt. I didn't want the video to end at all.

[@juny707a]

I've found that forcing myself not to think only makes the thinking increase. Along with these tricks Eckhart has mentioned, I've found that a consistent meditation practice (at least 2-3 times a day) really helps relax the mind and helps me experience true presence. It's a great thing to be doing if you are very addicted to thinking like I am. Thank you for your teachings, Eckhart. I've been watch your videos everyday for a while now, and I have benefited from it in so many ways. :)

[@susanbarnett4255]

Dear Eckhart Tolle Thank you for caring about me. It was only recently that I heard Deva Premal and Miten share that your journey had been from desperately suicidal to what you do and teach now, so it obviously comes from your heart and experience. I had not realised until then how much the care and support you have expressed towards me came from such an intimate and personal place. To my shame and embarrassment I do not keep up with all your teaching, but knowing and feeling that personal concern from you makes such a difference to my life. Thank you, so much. What a blessing and honour for which I cannot account. 🙏

[@rqf25yahooes]

I think Eckhart answer is spot on - His simplicity in explaining how to raise awareness or live more present is all the man (we) need to know - focus on your sense perception and thoughts will subside, use post it notes to remind yourself, create a habit in doing so, the mind is a tool - the more you know how to use it, better results you'll get - Once you're aware your thoughts have pulled you in - focus once again on your sense perceptions and it will bring you back to the 'now' - do it while waiting in a queue, or in public transport - instead of looking at your phone, do it while in stressful situations-to be transparent and not react emotionally to whatever you're encountering, The point is with just a bit of passion and daily practice putting this as a priority on your list, then my friends... you'll experience real change, And the most important your reactions to life circumstances or events would be conscious and thats when you change the course of your destiny by choice. Namaste

[@marthac2417]

I'm so grateful for the wisdom, humour and gentleness of Eckhart Tolle. His teachings have become the light in my life.

[@sarahsmile2883]

Does anyone ever look at an animal and think how lucky they are to be able to just exist . I have always wondered of animals think... in my brain they don't, they just ARE. Following instincts to action. No excessive thinking .. this is where I draw my inspiration to live in the present moment.

[@meron205]

Y’all I never realized that my overthinking was that bad till quarantine. I always liked that part of me that can think and leave the presence and block out everything but it’s been hell for me my brain has been going against me and thinking of things that are not logic and if your overthinking is not that bad be productive or find a hobby cuz it will get worse if you don’t find something to do cuz your brain will have more time to do whatever it wants

[@MrBreadisawesome]

I wish eckhart would mention more that keeping a consistent meditation practice where you actually sit down and listen is the most vital part in all of this. This is why people get so caught up in concepts. You can never understand this stuff by reading books and listening to videos. Not that those things dont have their place. Studying words is helpful but it just cant be compared to studying action. I know the advice he gave this guy was essentially to “study action” but i think theres a point to be made for actually sitting down every day vs just trying to be present here and there.

[@jazlanahn5027]

My ex husband told me something profound and completely unexpected. He was telling me something that I never imagined him ever thinking about before. I was thrilled and surprised. He stopped talking and I waited for more information... I asked him: "What else, is there anything else? Tell me more, that was wonderful! He said: "There is no more... You emptied my head". He is the hardest working human on the planet!. He physically works harder than anyone else I have ever met. When he has to say something profound it rolls out, other wise... well that's that. Physical work is one of the greatest teachers we can ever learn from. That is one of the ways I think to break the habit... Thank you for your video.

[@Eazy_Danny]

When Eckhart speaking about having pointers at 4:35, I'm using as those pointers gratitude. To become a daily practise, a habit, I've started using gratitude journal some 3 years ago, and now it's like a second nature. When you are looking for something to be grateful for during your daily activities you just have to be present, you can not be greatful and not present at the same time, you have to notice what is happening around you and also to direct your attention into your inner body how you are feeling. So the more you practise gratitude the more you become present, the more part of your consciousness stays inside you and not absorbed into something.

[@rickmcknight8717]

As you 'love' thinking, just fall in love with the feeling of bliss and you won't allow yourself to do anything but be in bliss and this is very close to a thoughtless state or a state where your thoughts only add to the bliss

[@ralpharances]

Eckhart’s voice is pure ASMR!

[@1greener]

I read all of the power of now thinking about how much left i have to read until i become 'enlightened' and mediated with the mindset of 'meditate daily to get to the goal of enlightenment' I soon went back to my old ways. I realise now i have missed the point and Will re-read and mediate again with this knowledge.

[@TheMidnightBandit]

I believe it is not the thoughts that we would want to stop entirely, it's how we react to them, how we let them contort our emotions and drag us down into a spiral of stress and negativity. Worry is not an efficient way of preparing for any situation or made up scenario, but worrying thoughts do and will arise. To stop them suddenly, trying to erase them completely, is to not accept them, but to resist them, or mark them as something that you do not want. This can create stress. Whatever you resist persists. If you want to feel the moment, practice equanimity. Although the mind can be turbulent sometimes, if we simply notice how we are thinking and do not invest our energy into our random thought processes, we will find the awareness he speaks of.

[@gustavosaucedo-gomez8040]

what if you have an idea and you want to research it? should we resist that also

[@FuturesTraderMorales]

there are two parts man your mind with all its sections of memory and education and the glowing light of awareness...u are your awareness going around to the part of the mind u need for each moment or situation. Get away from your native language and just observe your problems, worrys, thoughts, fears, and emotions. And work to solve and to let go the best you know how and don't look back once u decide on a plan or to just finally let go. than come back to the present and learn to stay in the present moment always bringing your focus back on one thing at a time. do not let the past, your present situation, or Especially tough one the FUTURE hinder you man. Be still , silent, and listen to that scanner to that intuition, scan thru you thoughts fast one time, unattached as if you had enough of this pain and u want to be present always. but just wake up already, just watch as your intuition is guiding you and accept that truth. Love u man. Please don't hur your self anymore or kill your self. I didn't so fuck that u stay with me here damn it

[@nicehernandez41]

that true yeah exacly

[@nicehernandez41]

jared thas true

[@KWOKAROTTO]

Thank you Mr Tolle for your teaching, it has really helped to calm my overthinking mind, to let go and just be present.

[@ghostisjustghost936]

I have been an excessive thinker...I sometimes get lost in my thoughts and imagination. But all these thoughts groomed me to become my better self. Now i am learning to let go of desires, the thirst for attention. And i can feel now that how it takes away my negetivity. So i don't wanna break off from my thoughts. I know it will slow down by time.

[@surrendersurvive7825]

Rewatch this video until you fully 'get it'. Most people (egos) watching this have no idea what he's talking about, unfortunately. I was suffering from cancer, chemo, and neurotic thought when I first watched this. I didn't understand it at all. I used Ativan to calm my mind, and I when I didn't, I ran to the woods everyday to find a moment of peace. I prayed to God on top of the hills, only to go back home to my own prison. It wasn't until months later that started practicing mindfulness that I slowly realized what it truly was. Eckhart is right, forget about the goal of being prepared to battle the thoughts. Just be present, constantly, in the now. Now, without thought, is the permanent solution to end your suffering. However, not only does it end your suffering.. but it opens your eyes to the beauty of life itself.

[@bobeofoshoo]

i have ocd and watching these types of videos really helps. my mind loves to wage war on myself and it trys to convince me i have aids, heart cancer, homosexual, a child or dog molester, suicidal psychopath, and imagines extremely perverted things just with about everything i see. I'm slowly fixing myself by watching these types of videos and i'm improving alot socially and im not staring at the wall for 2 hours debating on hurting myself. I think this type of thinking has to do with drug addiction because im also a drug addict.

[@AhdiniIzzatika]

he is so peaceful

[@EllieDrakeNow]

Yes!

[@goddessesanewconsciousness4540]

Thank You for sharing this :) Thinking is part of our nature, but thinking too much becomes worry.There are several ways to calm our mind. 1) Being conscious of our breathing. In other words. If breathing was not automatic we could not think about anything else but breathing, to prevent death. 2) Living in the present moment means to be aware that even what happened an hour ago, does not exist anymore. It was just a dream.. 3) Do not label anything as right or wrong because when we do, we become slaves of that judgment. In truth, everything is part of creation, even dirt from where flowers are born. Have fun as much as You can 💋

[@iriichan]

how thoughts go from im a little hungry to how dreadful my life is SO TRUE

[@jacoblopez8173]

I love how he uses humor to understand the nature of the human mind lol makes it that much more enjoyable 👍🏼

[@kbpadilla11]

At the start of reading The Power of Now, I could not grasp the idea of being present simply because the book is very deep but as I go along the chapters it made me realize I am addicted to thinking I had lost the presence everytime and now I appreciate what the power of NOW really is and started practicing it. Really great book! Super great!😊

[@ahmedmulhim4849]

I just love the comments section in that video

[@chopin4321]

this man is wise and wonderful , love it at the end when he imitates so funny his dog following a scent...to explain what our minds do with us...and was so great and revelatory at 7:26 - "what is primary is the underline state of consciousness, which is presence, but you can´t talk about that...it is underlined...a sign that is working is that while you listen there is no thought, there is just alert presence. and when the teacher stops speaking for a moment the alert presence remains, and it does not need to be filled with anything."

[@vsgurumani444]

We live in an age of information and mental overload. These most often lead to an overload of thoughts. Applying the 80:20 rule, the vast majority of them are useless and simply make us waste away our precious moments. This short talk gives us some simple ways to deal with this challenge. I particularly liked the example of the dog which runs away following his sense of smell... Great!

[@Antithropocentric]

True indeed. And smartphones are notorious for grabbing people's attention with shifting thoughts and taking them out of the present. People walk around these days with their mind in the digital cloud.

[@TraceyHD]

United Humanity Power of now was great. Thanks for the suggestion. Im going to order "The Present-Universal Truth" from Amazon. Take care.

[@TraceyHD]

Thanks. Im checking it out right now I appreciate it. Take care.

[@circuittreez3785]

But what he failed to mention about that story is, the dog is simply following his nature, if he shall run into danger he will run into danger, if he runs into beauty he will run into beauty, is either better than the other? The dog is simply taking risks and following his nature as a dog. To me the metaphor almost says don't follow your dreams due to the risk involved, you could say its saying follow you dreams cautiously, but sometimes thats the whole problem being overly cautious, sometimes you just gotta run when you get the scent!

[@TraceyHD]

Circuit Treez Beautifully put.....I couldnt have said it more simply. I totally agree.Take care.

[@manbirsingh3669]

What a great teaching to become free from unwanted thoughts. Thank you eckhart tolle for helping millions of people.

[@freemagonia52]

From a child i had the ability to disconnect my body and just let thoughts course through my mind and out the other side, not attaching emotion or reaction, just letting it flow. My parents used to worry, because i would sit totally relaxed and enjoy being elsewhere, i used to get annoyed at being brought back to this world. As i grew up i still do this, but the thoughts seem to flow towards a definite direction now, and it has become a creative process, its not frantic or obsessive, its gentle and aware, letting thoughts resolve into a direction of understanding and new possibilities. According to this talk i seem to be doing exactly what i shouldnt be doing, but i write, i love music and words, i love the earth and human beings far more than i ever did as a child, i no longer get annoyed at being in the world, i deal with situations easily, i don't get upset at every day situations and i have learned to be happy with myself and accept that everything is just as it is, all i have to do is to be the best way i can? Is this seen as wrong?

[@cynthiat5215]

I could listen to him speak all day, that's calming in itself! What amazes me is when I listen, he has such a calm pace my mind almost is dying to race ahead, racing all around at a hurried speed to where I notice I have to calm down. This is how I know I have a lot of work to do, lol. Baby steps right? Absolutely love this ❤️♥️

[@crisformuladatransformacao]

Thank you very much Eckhart for your great message !

[@akku6238]

The guy asking the question looks so tensed, I hope he feels better.

[@oldsagelessons7735]

Inner peace is always a constant struggle. Love your demeanor. It shows that your peace has become who you are

[@rewaskipper880]

I also have trouble with over thinking. like the scenario of going to eat. We have many moments where dealing with bills or meeting new people. These are choices that build our journey. It just seems difficult when you say be present like enjoying your home, then planning situations like money family etc without losing the present. I struggle with the well being and survival of my life and family. I need to be pro active and consider the needs for survival in a very demanding world.

[@SuperCheco33]

This is now one of my favorite videos. Thank you so much. I'll be listening to this everyday as a reminder.

[@williamwhite2830]

Ive taken a holiday to get back to basics with my mind and its brought me here.

[@goodmanvolley]

Dear Eckhart, A couple years ago you showed me the way to consciousness. I would probably have made it but not quickly as I did. I appreciate your helping me locate the video you said the following. I want to quote it in my book. Eckhart Tolle said in one of his KZbin videos, “The most powerful prayer, one well-nigh omnipotent and the worthiest work of all is the outcome of a quiet mind. The quieter it is the more powerful, the worthier, the deeper the more telling and more perfect the prayer is… To the quiet mind all things are possible.” And what is a quiet mind? “A quiet mind is one which nothing weighs on, nothing worries, which free from ties and from all self-seeking, is wholly merged into the Will of God and dead to its own.” BTW I can never thank you enough.

[@aafsterlife9647]

I love both people in this video so much.