New Years is a time that promotes reflection and goal setting, two of my favorite things. Today I have taken a few minutes to look over the book “A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose” by Eckhart Tolle. 
I originally read the book in 2008 and revisited a few pages in which I had folded down the corner of the edges. The points below yet again put my attention in a chokehold and I am hoping that moving forward I can exist with the following in mind.
1. Focus on healing the inner and the outer will follow
I.e. my inability to lose weight is the physical manifestation of all that I carry
2. No longer use the words I, me, my, or myself unless necessary (the rest of this post will be difficult to write-lol)
I.e. avoid engaging with people in a way that puts personal opinions or preferences at the center of dialogue
3. When in doubt believe the following: Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness. How do you know this is the experience you need? Because this is the experience you are having at this moment (Tolle).
4. Know the difference between a fact and an opinion
Tolle explains that we often perceive an event in relation to our reaction to the event, thus leading to confusion. He further explains that an instinctive response is the body’s direct response to an external situation. An emotion is the body’s response to a thought.
5. Redirect unhappiness (this is related to number one)
Tolle says: “Unhappiness is an ego created mental-emotional disease that has reached epidemic proportions. It is the inner equivalent of the environmental pollution of our planet.” Tolle asks: “Can you see that your unhappiness about being unhappy is just another layer of unhappiness?”
6. Accept that it is so…..
Using a quote by Shakespeare and focusing on perception again, Tolle reminds us that events and happenings “are as they are. What is dreadful is your reaction, your resistance to it, and the emotion that is created by that resistance.” Shakespeare’s words, “There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.”
7. Become a better listener (this ties in to number two)
I.e. in conversation or in reading and writing allow others to go through their own process. Tolle states that the power of allowing lies in noninterference, nondoing.
8. Stop being over dramatic about the past
Tolle encourages us to know that whatever we learn through self observation or psychoanalysis is about you. It is not you.
9. Live in the moment
Tolle suggests that we frequently ask ourselves: What is my relationship with the present moment?
I can say I right now because this is solely about me 
. In closing these are the lessons I am guided by beginning right now.
Where have your reflections led you to today?
