New Earth- Final Piece of the Puzzle

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This book- New Earth has brought completely new knowledge into my life and has helped me be more content no matter what’s going on.

I am Christian, so I risk being called a heretic, gypsy, hippy…..granola, etc. the list goes on for discussing this book. I don’t feel bad though because the author, Eckhart Tolle even cites quotes from the Bible.  Therefore, in my opinion this book is still in alignment with Christianity. This book completed my life puzzle  and added those final missing pieces.

This post is to encourage you to read New Earth. Never before has a book changed me in the way this one has.  Here are 3 Takeaways I had:

Realization of Living a Divided Life

There are basically two dimensions to our lives- the Human and the Being. Hence the word Human Being.  The human side of us knows form, objects, materialism. The Being side of us is consciousness itself and is connected to God.  You know that feeling you have deep inside you that something is missing?  That despite having perhaps a happy marriage, lovely kids, and a huge home that you have that nagging feeling?

I propose this is due to you NOT recognizing the being that you are.  This is what connects us to the higher power and makes us/causes us to KNOW how loved we are. When focused too much on form  (jobs, people, stuff) it acts as a  barricade to the Being side of us.

According to Tolle, it is identification with form that keeps us trapped in our ego.

He States, “What you see, hear, feel, touch or think about is only one half of reality, so to speak. It is form. In the teaching of Jesus, it is simply called “the world” and the other dimension is “the kingdom of heaven” or “eternal life”, P 220.

This is profound when you think about the ramifications of only being aware of one half of you. There is so much in this world that keeps us distracted that we don’t make time for the space needed (quiet, solitude, meditation) to connect with our being.

I no longer have that nagging feeling that I used to have that something is missing.  Having the awareness and connection with my being makes me feel whole and complete.

We Are Enough Already

Throughout my life, I have struggled off and on with my self esteem. Never feeling good enough- not worthy of friendship or a deep love.  I know I’m not the only one that has felt this way.  Unfortunately, this deep truth that we are worthy has been hidden from us. That the moment we are born, we are enough.  We are worthy!  Yes- we sin. Yes, there are people that do bad things. However,  I believe that the majority of people on this planet are good. But deep inside never feel like they quite measure up to society’s standards.

Once you read this book, it is my belief that you will breath the biggest sigh of relief.  You will realize the huge LIE that people are living in.  Who says we have to make a certain amount of money to be successful?  (I am not bashing on the wealthy- I do believe in Capitalism).  It’s only when people will base their self worth on how much money they make or the type of home they live in that it’s a problem.  The ego causes people to play roles that then bring upon comparing and judging.

 

Tolle states, “Why does the ego play roles?  Because of one unexamined assumption, one fundamental error, one unconscious thought. That thought is: I am not enough” pg 109.

He asserts that we cannot possibly be more because we are already one with life.  In form, you will always be inferior to some people and superior to others.  Since reading this book, it truly changed my thought process.  In some cases I was competitive or would have been jealous of someone else’s success.

Tolle warns us about this,

“The egos unconscious core feeling of not enough causes it to react to someone else’s success as if that success had taken something away from “me”. It doesn’t know that your resentment of another persons success curtails your own chance of success. In order to attract success, you need to welcome it wherever you see it”, Pg 123.

A specific example of how this concept has helped me is with my Photography.  Before it would have been difficult for me to learn from other women photographers. I would have compared myself and felt inferior.  Now- I want to learn from them and I’m happy for their success.  I can do this because all of my work with MO is not geared towards fame or fortune- I do this because I love it. Through connecting with my Being, I am now able to share my true passion and gifts in this world.  I love inspiring others to be active and live a healthy life.  I have started and stopped so many projects, businesses, etc in my life due to the feeling of not being good enough. I can finally say this is no longer the case.

Nature Plays a Vital Role

This was the biggest AHA moment for me in this book.  This brought me to the deepest level and connection people have with nature.  Form as we discussed earlier, keeps people busy and limits the amount of time they take to reflect.  Forms such as tall buildings, concrete, cars, pollution are stress inducers.  They keep your focus on the external- the rat race of life. Compare this with spending time in nature where it’s more conducive to quiet and reflection.  Nature is the perfect place to meditate and connect with your being.

Tolle states it best in relation to spending time in a forest, “As soon as you sense the hidden harmony, that sacredness, you realize you’re not separate from it, and when you realize that, you become a conscious participant in it. In this way, nature can help you become realigned with the wholeness of life”, Pg 195.

 

A couple of weeks ago I hiked with my Meetup in Sedona. No doubt this place is absolutely spectacular; I had an even deeper reverence this time.

If you don’t spend a lot of time outdoors, it is my belief that this book will help you make a decision in that direction.  Going to the mountains gives you a much different perspective -and will quiet your mind.  Away from the business of life, you’ll have time to truly reflect.

I’m fortunate enough to live in AZ where the landscapes range from desert to Pine. When I’m outdoors in beautiful settings I see and experience Gods love which gives me immense peace and serenity.

I highly encourage to read this book.  It will help you live a more complete life, worry less about what others think and encourage you to get into nature more often.

Thoughts?  Questions?  Would love to get your feedback- please leave a comment below.

 

Thank you for taking the time to read this article.  Have…an Amazing Day!!

 

 

 

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