"The conditions of your life are not here to please you." This line in particular struck me. I often forget that life has tough times built in. It's not a mistake or my fault if something isn't going the way I think it should. It's by design!
That's a wise insight, Parker. In our culture, which eulogizes never-ending happiness, it's easy to mistake difficulty for personal shortcomings. I know I did and still do at times.
You remind me of a quote from Jack Kornfield: 'We must be willing to let go of the way things were supposed to be and open anew to the mystery.'
Thank you Ryan. Eckhart Tolle has been a midwife (his term not mine) for so many of us on the journey. I too am grateful to him for his persistence and simple messages, that eventually get through..... "Maybe life was just being life". I often link that sentiment with the Star Trek idea..."resistance is futile". Surrendering resistance is a constant practice worth doing...I have been at it for a few years now, and I think I am getting better at it. 🙂. Thank you for your beautiful straight forward writing.🙏🏼
"That eventually get through" has been my experience, too. Some messages have taken dozens of listens and years to "get through."
It's funny. I just said, "Resistance is futile," to my daughter a few days ago. We both laughed. I have no doubt you are getting better at surrendering resistance. :o)
Yes! You know what it's like to hear something profound that you must remember and contemplate. And I'm confident they helped you be freer. I appreciate you reading and sharing this.
One of my absolute most favorite parts of the creator retreat curriculum is the part where we get to explore the concept of LETTING GO. It always amazes me what people admit to holding onto, and the things I discover I’m holding onto, and all the ways holding on holds us back. In the creator retreat, we as a community will share with each other all the strategies we use to let go. The one I use is a simple 10-second action that makes me giggle every time I do it. I’ve had other clients teach me theirs that make them cry. And others teach me their tricks that make them scream. Letting go comes in so many forms, and when it happens, especially collectively in the safe container of community, the results and after effects are fantastical.
I can attest to the fantastical results of learning to let go. Letting go is comparable to awareness's ability to transform our lives, and I can't wait to teach it in The Creator Retreat 🌳. It's truly a life-changing skill.
Here are the names of the two talks and one audio CD (set) by Eckhart Tolle that I have. Unfortunately, I don’t know which one contains the quote I mentioned in my article. Regardless, all three are excellent.
Living a Deeper Level of Consciousness
Touching the Eternal (India Retreat)
Self Realization (I think the full title is The Secret of Self Realization)
Whoever sold us the lie that life should be easy really did us all a disservice. (I reckon it was some kind of advertising agency in the 1950s, Mad Men style, trying to sell us vacuum cleaners or something).
Everything worth having in life lies on the other side of discomfort, and it's a massive skill to learn and accept that...
"The conditions of your life are not here to please you." This hits hard. I, too, used to believe that if I became perfect, life would reward me. But it hit me hard when I realized that life is inherently challenging. Problems don’t disappear. Instead, you grow stronger in facing them.
Ryan, this was an amazing piece of writing. When working with athletes, especially youth athletes, I focus on the acceptance and openness to the discomfort and challenges of sports and life.
I always use the 'two sides of a coin' metaphor to emphasise this, you can't have the good moments without the bad. It is only when we start to accept and embrace the difficulties that life throws at us that we can truly experience the good moments. Just like a coin, you can't have heads without tails.
That Eckhart Tolle quote is so powerful, thanks for the potent reminder. If life always went the way we wanted, where would be the learning and the growth, what would be the point of our human journey?
You're right. We say we want life to be easier, but I'm confident if it were too easy, we'd get bored and complain that life isn't challenging, stimulating or engaging enough.
'The conditions of your life are not here to please you. They're here to challenge you, to frustrate you, and to wake you up.'
It's so easy to fall into the trap of believing that life should be easy, that we deserve to be happy all the time. But as you so eloquently pointed out, life is full of challenges, and it's through those challenges that we grow and learn. Accepting this truth is the first step towards true freedom.
I relate to this so strongly, his book changed my life profoundly. I’ve recently started listening to his talks on his podcast and he is still inspiring
Great read that resonates with me a lot, thank you. Other drivers are my barometer for how I’m doing generally. If I’m getting annoyed at them I know I’m slipping back into an outside in way of processing thoughts.
Such a self aware and wonderful post Ryan! Thank you for sharing its so so important to get reminded. I love Eckhart Tolle, a really wise, calm and healing man.
Love the message here, Ryan. I think so much can be said for regaining our personal power by looking inward so that we can guide our lives, rather than the conditions of our lives guiding us.
Thanks for sharing this piece Ryan.
"The conditions of your life are not here to please you." This line in particular struck me. I often forget that life has tough times built in. It's not a mistake or my fault if something isn't going the way I think it should. It's by design!
That's a wise insight, Parker. In our culture, which eulogizes never-ending happiness, it's easy to mistake difficulty for personal shortcomings. I know I did and still do at times.
You remind me of a quote from Jack Kornfield: 'We must be willing to let go of the way things were supposed to be and open anew to the mystery.'
I was struck by that line too. I have very similar thoughts as well that you articulated nicely.
I'm glad this line landed and triggered thoughts, Sam. It sure did for me - life-changing.
Thank you Ryan. Eckhart Tolle has been a midwife (his term not mine) for so many of us on the journey. I too am grateful to him for his persistence and simple messages, that eventually get through..... "Maybe life was just being life". I often link that sentiment with the Star Trek idea..."resistance is futile". Surrendering resistance is a constant practice worth doing...I have been at it for a few years now, and I think I am getting better at it. 🙂. Thank you for your beautiful straight forward writing.🙏🏼
"That eventually get through" has been my experience, too. Some messages have taken dozens of listens and years to "get through."
It's funny. I just said, "Resistance is futile," to my daughter a few days ago. We both laughed. I have no doubt you are getting better at surrendering resistance. :o)
Your feedback feels good, Ian. Thank you.
Yes! I have a note in my phone from like five years ago with two lines from an Eckhart Tolle podcast:
“Whatever you fight, you strengthen.
And what you resist persists.”
I reread those words all the time.
Yes! You know what it's like to hear something profound that you must remember and contemplate. And I'm confident they helped you be freer. I appreciate you reading and sharing this.
One of my absolute most favorite parts of the creator retreat curriculum is the part where we get to explore the concept of LETTING GO. It always amazes me what people admit to holding onto, and the things I discover I’m holding onto, and all the ways holding on holds us back. In the creator retreat, we as a community will share with each other all the strategies we use to let go. The one I use is a simple 10-second action that makes me giggle every time I do it. I’ve had other clients teach me theirs that make them cry. And others teach me their tricks that make them scream. Letting go comes in so many forms, and when it happens, especially collectively in the safe container of community, the results and after effects are fantastical.
I can attest to the fantastical results of learning to let go. Letting go is comparable to awareness's ability to transform our lives, and I can't wait to teach it in The Creator Retreat 🌳. It's truly a life-changing skill.
I’ve learned that engagement with water in its many shapes and forms is fundamental helping me LET GO.
Magnificent, Ryan! Do you by any chance have a link to that Tolle talk?
I missed your comment the other day, Kelly.
Here are the names of the two talks and one audio CD (set) by Eckhart Tolle that I have. Unfortunately, I don’t know which one contains the quote I mentioned in my article. Regardless, all three are excellent.
Living a Deeper Level of Consciousness
Touching the Eternal (India Retreat)
Self Realization (I think the full title is The Secret of Self Realization)
I hope this helps!
Thank you, Ryan! If someone asked me where I had found a quote by Ram Dass for instance, my answer would be, "The Internet." 😂
😂
@Christine Perkett
Thank you my friend 🥰
Whoever sold us the lie that life should be easy really did us all a disservice. (I reckon it was some kind of advertising agency in the 1950s, Mad Men style, trying to sell us vacuum cleaners or something).
Everything worth having in life lies on the other side of discomfort, and it's a massive skill to learn and accept that...
Great insight, Lou. You know.
A New Earth changed my life. It was recommended by my therapist during a time when I was grieving the loss of my Dad. It started my own awakening.
I see that the book has special significance and meaning for you. It was insightful for me, too. Similar yet different from The Power of Now.
"The conditions of your life are not here to please you." This hits hard. I, too, used to believe that if I became perfect, life would reward me. But it hit me hard when I realized that life is inherently challenging. Problems don’t disappear. Instead, you grow stronger in facing them.
I admire how you discovered that challenges never go away, no matter how "good" you may be. I appreciate you reading and commenting, Akanksha.
Master your mind to master your day, right? Should be taught in all schools as Life 101.
You make an excellent point. Everything we experience is experienced through the mind, so we only need to tend to it, not the entire world.
Ryan, this was an amazing piece of writing. When working with athletes, especially youth athletes, I focus on the acceptance and openness to the discomfort and challenges of sports and life.
I always use the 'two sides of a coin' metaphor to emphasise this, you can't have the good moments without the bad. It is only when we start to accept and embrace the difficulties that life throws at us that we can truly experience the good moments. Just like a coin, you can't have heads without tails.
What a terrific insight and life-changing lesson to teach young athletes, Dylan. I wish you were my coach when I was a kid!
Thank you, Ryan! I also wish I had this knowledge and someone like us to share it with us when we were younger!
That Eckhart Tolle quote is so powerful, thanks for the potent reminder. If life always went the way we wanted, where would be the learning and the growth, what would be the point of our human journey?
You're right. We say we want life to be easier, but I'm confident if it were too easy, we'd get bored and complain that life isn't challenging, stimulating or engaging enough.
'The conditions of your life are not here to please you. They're here to challenge you, to frustrate you, and to wake you up.'
It's so easy to fall into the trap of believing that life should be easy, that we deserve to be happy all the time. But as you so eloquently pointed out, life is full of challenges, and it's through those challenges that we grow and learn. Accepting this truth is the first step towards true freedom.
Especially in the West, right? I appreciate your reading and commenting, Alex. 🤗
I relate to this so strongly, his book changed my life profoundly. I’ve recently started listening to his talks on his podcast and he is still inspiring
Ah, you, too, Elizabeth?
Sounds like we're both grateful he's here on this earth.
for sure
Great read that resonates with me a lot, thank you. Other drivers are my barometer for how I’m doing generally. If I’m getting annoyed at them I know I’m slipping back into an outside in way of processing thoughts.
You, too? Drivers are one of my many barometers as well. Thank you for reading and sharing your practice here, Marc. 💛
Such a self aware and wonderful post Ryan! Thank you for sharing its so so important to get reminded. I love Eckhart Tolle, a really wise, calm and healing man.
He is exceptional and is from your land. :) Thank you for your kind comment.
Love the message here, Ryan. I think so much can be said for regaining our personal power by looking inward so that we can guide our lives, rather than the conditions of our lives guiding us.
Thanks for your kinds words, Alex. I agree wholeheartedly.