4 Lessons from Ekhart Tolle to Awaken to Your Life’s Purpose

Most people sleepwalk through their life feeling a loss of who they are, busying being what they think they should be.

After reading Eckhart Tolle’s book, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose, there are many lessons that resonated deep into the core of my being that helped me to realize what truly matters to me.

“Life isn't as serious as my mind makes it out to be.”

Young 25-year-old Eckhart Tolle was riding the train on his way to university when we sat across from a woman who happened to be mumbling to herself in anger. He thought she was absolutely crazy and everyone else did too as no one sat by her on the train. As his stop was nearing, she happened to get off at the same time as him. Making his way towards the University, it seemed like he was following her there too. It was until then did he realize that they were going to the same building. Tolle was astounded as he saw her take the elevator up to another floor. He questions whether she was a student or maybe even a professor.

Thinking compulsively to himself about what that crazy babbling lady as he used the bathroom. He thought to himself, “I hope I don’t end up like her”. Suddenly, the man next to him looked at him. “Oh my god, I’m already like her.” As he suddenly realized that he was thinking out loud exactly like that woman.

With a big-bellied laugh of sanity, Tolle realized “Life isn’t as serious as my mind makes it out to be.”

How you can apply this:

The first is to acknowledge the absurdities of life. And with the recent pandemic, that might have helped you become more aware of that.

I realized that taking life seriously came with judgment, close-mindedness, the need for control, and especially anxiety and depression.

However, I have learned to laugh in the face of adversity and fears by aiming to be conscious to step out and become the observer of my thoughts.

Just as I was encouraging a friend who was venting to me about an irrational fear of starting a new creative project to opening up in a new relationship. Why aren’t I able to do that for myself — becoming an outside observer of my own thoughts and emotions.

Become an observer of your thoughts and you can cease to dig yourself in a deeper hole of compulsive thinking.

I can tell you it is easier said than done. But, with continuous effort and practice, it will become more natural as you find techniques that work for you.

The beauty of mediation is that it can be accessed and anywhere. All you need to do is focus on your breath. As you realize your breath, your monkey mind can realign itself.

The Ego Thrives on Reactivity

As you scroll on Instagram, you might feel the tug of your ego telling you, “why don't I have what they have?”. Or you might look at your own LinkedIn profile thinking, “Wow, this is who I am. These job experiences, rewards, certifications, and posts are who I am.”

When you identify “us” against “them” and even of “me”, you are triggering the ego.

The ego is not personal, therefore, it is not who you are. It is not who they are.

“Instead of overlooking unconsciousness in others, you make it into their identity. Who is doing that? The unconscious in you, the ego. Sometimes the “fault” that you perceive in another isn’t even there.”

We all succumb to a sort of narrative that we conjure in our minds. We play a role in another’s narrative, and we are the main character of ours and vice versa.

This moment of separation and claim to our “me” is a reaction to the ego.

Going further, we react to what damages the ego. “How dare they do that to me.” “How dare they copy me.” “How dare they treat me this way.”

This was the first time I really felt conscious of the ego. I couldn't help but laugh. I wasn’t angry. I wasn’t bothered. I was hurt at first, but I wasn’t actually hurt, it was merely my ego.

The ego will always be there. You cannot suppress the ego. Eckhart Tolle understood that we all have a pain-body that we carry. It is the matter of becoming aware, pausing, and questioning your reaction.

How to apply this to your life:

This is something that takes practice. There are situations where it’ll be easier to pause your reaction and question your ego. And there will be situations that test your awareness and patience.

This is a practice. You will not get it perfect every time, but you can continue to learn something new every time.

“What’s my relationship with life?”

Keep asking yourself this question until you no longer need it. Asking yourself, “What’s my relationship with life?” will guide you back to the present moment. You are present when you realize that your relationship with the present moment is dysfunctional.

“The moment you see the dysfunction, it begins to dissolve.”

The first time I asked myself this question, I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity. My relationship with life dictates how I treat every moment.

How to apply this:

Start journaling. You can write this question as a daily journal prompt. You can call upon this question to check in with yourself throughout your day.

Write the question on a stick note and slap it on your bathroom mirror. It’s a wonderful question to ponder on while brushing your teeth — morning and night.

Inner values + Alignment of Outer Actions = Purpose

I’ve always talked about wanting to find a career that I’m passionate about. I want my work to be meaningful. But, deep down, I didn’t know what this meant.

I was in search of meaning adventuring outside of myself, when all I needed to do was look inward.

One simple list of my inner values brought more insight than a long trip far away from home.

When we become clear of what specifically is meaningful to us, we can align our actions, which are when we live out our purpose.

During Quarantine, many have found themselves isolated at home, being far from friends and family. It’s because your feelings of loneliness and loss can stem from the disruption of harmony between your values and actions. You value community. So, when you are forced to stay isolated from others, there's a loss of purpose.

How to apply this:

Grab a blank sheet of paper. Set a timer for 5 minutes. And with no other distractions, list as many values as they are important to you. Don’t filter yourself during these 5 minutes. Whatever comes to mind, spit it out on the page.

When the 5 minutes are up, read what you have written. Then, circle the top 5 that hold the most value to you.

These top 5 values that you have come up with will be your starting focus to align your actions. Keep these 5 values written or anywhere visible to you where you can always refer to this list.

You can keep asking yourself when you need to if the reason you may feel you lost your purpose is if you are in harmony with these values.

Your priority of values may evolve and change over time, update your list. You can keep your draft of the many values you wrote and can cycle through each one according to what is most important to you.

“Acknowledging the good that is already in your life is the foundation for all abundance.” — Eckhart Tolle

Life is too short to live without purpose. We are each meant for something. It may come easily to others. However, along the way we are granted lessons to realize their purpose.

Just because you may seem off track now, looking inward and uncovering your values is the first step to aligning yourself to create your purpose.