First of all, I have to put it out there that I’m a HUGE fan of Eckhart Tolle. Some may think he’s all new age mumbo-jumbo, but his teachings resonate with me deeply.
I was recently reading A New Earth when I came across the following quote:
You don’t have to wait for something “meaningful” to come into your life so that you can finally enjoy what you’re doing. -Eckhart Tolle
This got me thinking quite a bit.
Why is it that we’re so consumed with finding meaning?
I’ll be the first to admit that this is something that’s definitely consumed a lot of my time. I think many of us think that there is some magic answer out there to what will give us meaning in our lives. I’ve talked about this before, but I thought it was worth digging into a little deeper.
It really all comes down to not accepting the present moment as it is, doesn’t it? I mean, if we’re constantly searching for meaning in our lives then that must mean there’s something wrong with the way things are right now. In reality, there isn’t because all we have is the present moment. It can be a tricky concept to grasp, but once you do, it can profoundly change the way you look at your life.
When you’re searching for meaning in your life you’re always focused on the ‘future.’ More than that, you’re under the impression that some ‘thing’ will bring you that meaning whether it’s a job, another person or some object. Obviously this is never the case, which is why people often get trapped in a perpetual state of searching.
It’s extremely difficult to get out of the cycle, so whenever you find yourself in this searching mode tell yourself this: You’re never going to find happiness and meaning if you search for it. To be happy, just be.
Ok, enough of the heavy stuff, what about an example?
Travel. I think one of the reasons that so many people love to travel, including myself, is that we are naturally drawn to the present moment when we travel. Think about it. If you’ve ever gotten off a plane in a country or location you haven’t visited, you’ll know what I’m talking about.
All of your senses are focused on the new smells and sights. You take everything in almost as a child who is seeing something for the first time, which you are if it’s your first time to the location. This is why I love traveling so much. It’s one of the easiest ways to get me in the present moment. Work is off my mind. Other people are off my mind. The only thing that is ‘on my mind’ is what is happening to me right at that moment.
Extreme sports are another example. Why else would someone be crazy enough to jump out of a plane or bungee jump off of a bridge? It’s because doing those activities put you in an ultra-intense state of presence. It’s in those moments that you’re one with the present moment.
There are some inherent problems with this though. We’re still always waiting for the next experience. The next new country or city to visit. The next ‘high’ we’ll get from jumping out of a plane or climbing a mountain. Don’t get me wrong here. I’m all for traveling and new experiences, but how do we fill the gaps?
Stop waiting and start living
The “waiting to start living” syndrome is one of the most common delusions of the unconscious state – Eckhart Tolle
Maybe you’re not happy with your job or your present situation. There are a couple of things you can do:
- Accept your current situation as it is (which you should always strive to do).
- Take action to change the situation if you’re not happy with it.
I know, I know, it’s easier said than done. For many people it’s not like they can just quit their job on a whim. In that case, start being more present in your job. Accept where you are at. Put presence into the work you are doing. Again, I want to try to keep it real here so you don’t think I’m getting overly spiritual, but this does work. You’ll be amazed to see the changes within yourself when you stop resisting life and start living it.
Acceptance of what is and what you are doing right now will do wonders in reducing the amount of stress in your life. I can give you a personal example. I used to get so crazily stressed out when I drove my car. If someone wasn’t going fast enough I’d get pissed off. If someone cut me off, I would get angry and take it personally. Sitting in a traffic jam? Forget it. I would freak out.
Finally, one day I said enough is enough. I can’t control all of these outside influences, so I’m going to accept things as they are right now. Now if I get into a traffic jam, I don’t mind it. I’ll sit in relaxation or crank up some tunes on my iPod. There’s no point in getting all worked up, wishing I could be out of the present situation. It is what it is.
So, what about you? Are you caught in a search for meaning in your life? What do you do to bring more presence into your life?
I’m Nate, a writer, mindfulness practitioner and student of the inner workings of the mind.
This is a beautiful article. I’m glad I bump into your site. I love the example you have given. And I think it hits the bullseye. And you’re absolutely right. Life is not about searching. And those who actually search for meaning know that that isn’t the case as well. I rather think it has a lot to do with prolonging the inevitable. That life isn’t all about having fun. I think deep down, we all know what needs to be done. Either you follow your heart and try to survive or follow the masses by going through the 9-5.
Very true Karlil, and thanks for stopping by. I’m still doing some soul searching and thinking on the traditional corporate environment. For some, I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad thing. You know, for those who truly love what they do with a passion…and many do. The problem is for most, this is not the case. They have followed the traditional life path of school – work – more work – retire -die. So, for some, this is ok…and that’s fine.
However, there’s a huge portion of the population that are not happy with this way of life and they feel trapped. The first step to get ‘untrapped’ is to start to be more present. Don’t get caught up in grand life ideas and magic answers. Just start with being more present.
Nate! You outlined what was to be one of my next posts: How travel forces you to be present in the moment, to be constantly engaged in the reality that surrounds you and nowhere else. This is one of my favorite aspects of traveling somewhere new; my mind baggage is checked out, because there’s no room for it. It’s funny, because I think a lot of people might be more stressed when traveling, worrying about x, y or z, but in my experience I am always actually less stressed, more tranquil and able to focus on the moment.
The other thing:
“There are some inherent problems with this though. We’re still always waiting for the next experience. The next new country or city to visit. The next ‘high’ we’ll get from jumping out of a plane or climbing a mountain. Don’t get me wrong here. I’m all for traveling and new experiences, but how do we fill the gaps?”
Do we have to fill the gaps? I might just keep on doing crazy, insane things on one big, giant continuum.
Also:
“Maybe you’re not happy with your job or your present situation. There are a couple of things you can do:
1. Accept your current situation as it is (which you should always strive to do).
2. Take action to change the situation if you’re not happy with it.”
While I see your point in number one, in the context with this post, I think you are actually a counter example of this–in a really good way! You have chosen not to accept the current situation, i.e. the status quo, and instead you’re choosing to “remain fearless” and continually seek new experience to challenge yourself.
Love this post, Nate. Keep it up!
.-= Ash´s last blog ..Give Me Liberty, Or Give Me Death (Bow-Chica-Wow-Wow) =-.
Hey Ash! Yeah, travel is for sure the first thing that came to my mind with getting into the present moment. I also think it’s why some people think they can start new if they move to a new city. Unfortunately, the novelty and ‘newness’ of moving somewhere new quickly fades away and you’re kind of back at square one. This is why people really need to focus on looking within.
On your other comment….but, you are filling the gaps! See, doing crazy insane things on one big continuum IS filling the gaps. For most people it’s not the case. They’ll go on a one week vacation…or maybe if they’re real adventurous, a two week vacation. After that, it’s back to the same ol’ stuff and not being present.
I agree that the example of traveling is excellent. What you describe also reminds me of the way one should wash his dishes, according to Buddhist monks. Focus on the dish, not on the glass of wine you’ll have afterwards. Because if you do the latter, you will lose the present moment and this behavior will then prevent you from being present and mindful during all your life.
While this example might sound extreme, I really like it and often think of it while performing minor tasks I’d rather avoid…
.-= Fabian´s last blog ..The Power of your Idle Brain (And the Cream Bucket Dilemma) =-.
Fabian – Great comparison there. A lot of Eckhart’s teachings align with Buddhist teachings and their way of thinking. I’m not sure if you’re into meditation or not, but if you are you should check out the book Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn. It’s an amazing book.
Hey Nate, excellent article, I really enjoyed it. I agree that happiness is a state of mind that we can have anytime.
.-= Oscar – freestyle mind´s last blog ..How To Keep Track Of What You’ve Learnt =-.
I saw this post a few days ago and definitely appreciated it, but it wasn’t one of those “hey, this blog post blew my mind” moments. Funny thing though, it keeps popping into my head. This line specifically: “Why is it that we’re so consumed with finding meaning?”
This isn’t the first time I’ve seen this question or pondered this question. I think it just highlighted the fact that I answered the question for myself but hadn’t translated it into an English sentence. It turns out that I simply reject the implication that there is any other meaning to find.
That sounds a lot like stopping the incessant search for meaning as you propose, but it feels a little different. I can’t stop searching for something if I think it’s there. It’s the proverbial itch that has to be scratched.
I don’t want to sound all cynical and say that there’s nothing has meaning; I just reject that there has to be some philosophical layer of meaning beyond our perception. That requirement seems artificial. I’m opting out.
Wait a second… after everything that’s been written in the last couple dozen centuries, did I just completely revert back to grappling with Plato? What does that mean?
.-= Andrew MacPherson´s last blog ..My Favorite Irreverently Enticing Blogs =-.
Andrew – Thanks for the comment.
I think you’re getting to it here. There doesn’t necessarily have to be a philosophical layer of meaning beyond our perception. Also, when people search for meaning it is usually from some outside search…via a job, experience, another person, etc.
If there is a way to ‘find meaning’ then it has to come from within and it has to come from being more present. Even people who practice meditation still search…they think that enlightenment is some stage to reach or a goal. That’s just not right. I guess when it comes down to it, life doesn’t have to be as complicated as everyone makes it out to be. I think taking things less seriously and excepting what is, is one of the first steps towards living a more fulfilled life.
Great post! I love Eckhart Tolle’s books. Some great practical examples here.
thanks again
Jen
.-= Jen´s last blog ..Make Fast Decisions =-.