How to Master Mindfulness Through "The Power of Now"

Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now is a fascinating read that outlines why you should, and more importantly, how you can truly live in the present moment. Tolle teaches that through the Now, we can achieve happiness, fulfillment, and even spiritual enlightenment. He urges us to observe our ego and become present rather than follow its whims. 

The book is written as an interview, laying out the questions on everybody’s mind about Tolle’s philosophy. This makes it easy to digest and leaves plenty of opportunities to take breaks. The book isn’t too long, but it’s something that requires constant reflection to comprehend what’s written inside entirely.

And what is being said, you ask? That the Now is all there ever is or will be. By the time tomorrow comes around, we call it today. That’s because we are always in the present moment. Our minds just tend to wander elsewhere.

If you have one of those wandering minds, then crystals are a fantastic way to keep you in the present moment. We’ve included a shortlist of crystals that improve mindfulness at the end so you can combine the teachings of the book with the power of crystals.

The Core Lessons 

Let go of the ego

“The secret to life is to ‘die before you die’—and find that there is no death.”

Arguably the most important message in the book is to let go of the ego. Tolle reiterates time and time again that the ego is your thinking mind, and if you aren’t present, it completely and utterly runs your life on autopilot. The ego strives to keep itself alive. Doing so relives the past—the events that created it—and perpetuates itself into the future. It encourages you to procrastinate from doing life-changing things because it’s terrified of becoming something other than what it already is. 

“Ultimately, all fear is the ego’s fear of death.”

If the ego—your thinking mind—senses something will change it on a fundamental level, it creates resistance. Tolle thinks the idea of resisting yourself is ludicrous. He says, “What could be more insane than to oppose life itself, which is now and always now? Surrender to what is. Say ‘Yes’ to life—and see how life suddenly starts working for you rather than against you.”

 

Tolle associates the ego with time. He states that “to the ego, the present moment hardly exists. Only past and future are considered important.” He says that all thoughts of past and future are the ego at work, seeking to affirm its existence. 

It is because the ego derives itself from what you’ve done, where you came from, the things you’ve achieved, and the mistakes you’ve made. Tolle says, “[the ego] is always concerned with keeping the past alive, because without it—who are you? [...] It says, ‘One day, when this, that, or the other happens, I am going to be okay, happy, at peace.’ [...] Or it reduces the present as a means to an end.”

And that’s the kicker. By focusing your energy away from the present, you set yourself up for emotional failure. You might say that a new house will make you happy, but in truth, you won’t enjoy it unless you’re present. Your ego won’t let you. You’ll already be focusing on the next goal, ignoring what you actually have.

Develop a relationship with yourself

“If I cannot live with myself, there must be two of me.”

One of the fundamental aspects of the book is its approach to the self. Tolle emphasizes that we need to feel comfortable in our own thoughts, bodies, and minds. Without serious self-analysis or introspection, our ego will drive our entire life without us even realizing it. We’ll coast by as if everything is down to chance. Developing your power and taking advantage of free will requires you to acknowledge that you are not your ego. 

According to Tolle, there is a simple way to see what is the ego and what is not. He says, “The beginning of freedom is the realization that you are not the possessing entity—the thinker. Knowing this enables you to observe the entity. The moment you start watching the thinker, a higher level of consciousness becomes activated [...] all the things that truly matter—beauty, love, creativity, joy, inner peace—arise from beyond the mind.” 

In simple terms, you are not your thoughts, and by observing them, you can become highly conscious. You become aware. By definition, you become enlightened.

“The moment you realize you are not present, you are present.”

Tolle talks about the idea of intention-setting and how it affects us. Obviously, setting goals of any kind is looking to the future. Is that inherently a bad thing? Tolle says, “There is nothing wrong with setting goals and striving to achieve things. The mistake lies in using it as a substitute for the feeling of life, for Being.” He issues a warning: “If you then become excessively focused on the goal [...] the Now is no longer honored. It becomes reduced to a mere stepping stone to the future, with no intrinsic value.” 

This is something that should be remembered when setting intentions, especially if you do so with crystals. Dream big and aim high, but remember that “Pleasure is always derived from something outside you, whereas joy arises from within.” You can only truly feel joy when you are mindful of the present moment.

Integrate your learning

“Instead of quoting the Buddha, be the Buddha.”

It’s all well and good reading self-help books, quoting people, and understanding things on the surface level, but unless we utilize what we’ve learned, it goes to waste. Implementing your findings is the most important thing you could ever do to evolve spiritually. The same argument could be made when buying a crystal; if it’s just going to gather dust on your shelf, then its benefits go to waste.

 

So how can you begin to use the power of Now? Tolle states over and over that asking the question of how to become present is your ego’s way of avoiding the simple process of just becoming present. Everyone can do it. It takes zero seconds.

“Don’t seek to become free of desire or ‘achieve’ enlightenment. Become present.”

There is no hidden path to enlightenment. It’s as simple as becoming aware of the Now. Tolle hammers home the simplicity of it: “You may think that you need more time to understand the past or become free of it, in other words, that the future will eventually free you of the past. This is a delusion. Only the present can free you of the past. More time cannot free you of time. Access the power of Now. That is the key.”

There are some tips that he gives to become more present, more often. He suggests you pay attention to the silence between sounds and the space between objects, rather than the sounds and the objects themselves. This way, you become aware of the Unmanifest—that which is yet to exist. Pure, unbridled creation.

“The contemplation of space can become a portal for you.”

Like other mindfulness preachers, Tolle says that your breath may act as the ideal gateway: “If at any time you are finding it hard to get in touch with the inner body, it is usually easier to focus on your breathing first. Conscious breathing, which is a powerful meditation in its own right, will gradually put you in touch with the body.”

Some people might be confused by such guidance. How can I be present if this is happening tomorrow, or that just happened yesterday? His methods may be referred to as passive, or pretending that everything is okay, when in reality, it’s not. His response is as simple as it is beautiful: “You are not pretending anything. You are allowing it to be as it is.”

One final tip from Tolle to become present more often: “Whenever you feel negativity arising within you, whether caused by an external factor, a thought, or even nothing in particular that you are aware of, look in it as a voice saying ‘Attention. Here and Now. Wake up.’”

Crystals for mindfulness

Remaining present 24/7 is no walk in the park, especially with work, relationships, and other day-to-day activities. While it’s a noble goal, having a memento to bring your focus back to the present moment regularly is a great idea. 

Crystals fulfill this need perfectly. Not only are they small, portable, and full of positive energy, they are also bursting with qualities that can enrich your life in other ways. Here’s a shortlist of the best crystals for mindfulness. These are guaranteed to keep your attention on the present moment so that you can master The Power of Now.

Hematite 

A powerful grounding stone, only feeling the weight of this crystal is enough to bring you down to earth. It roots you to the ground yet still provides the freedom to dream. A stone for the root chakra, hematite diminishes fears by helping you stay in the present moment. 

Black Obsidian 

Another grounding stone for the root chakra, black obsidian is excellent for reducing trauma of any kind. It enables deep self-reflection and was even used to create ‘magic mirrors’ by Mesoamerican cultures. This is the ideal stone to look inwards and find the silence between sounds.

Shungite 

Shungite is an excellent protection crystal that defends against EMF radiation and other forms of geopathic smog. It clears physical, mental, and emotional pollutants, making it easier for you to remain mindful. Holding this stone helps you center your energy and experience the Now. 

Amethyst 

Amethyst brings calmness to the body, releasing tension and enabling you to relax more easily. It removes negative energy from your environment and helps to purify your aura. It’s always been known as a crystal for self-discipline and control. It reinforces that you are not your ego, and you don’t need to reward yourself with material things to feel good.

Black Tourmaline

Another good protector against EMF radiation, black tourmaline shields you against psychic attacks and toxic energy directed your way. It transforms negative energy into a lighter vibration and gives you the confidence to see past fears and explore your mind. Use the grounding stone to remove negative thoughts and embrace the Now.

If any of this sounds interesting to you, there’s far more to be discussed on the topic by Eckhart Tolle himself in The Power of Now. It’s well worth a read, but if you only take one thing from this, it’s to become present. Right now. Crystal or no crystal, give it a try.