Love Life Purpose
Featured Image: Amazon: The Power of Now Journal.
Some of you may recall that I used to share monthly blog posts inspired by Eckhart Tolle’s teachings. These reflections came from a beautiful little book titled The Power of Now Journal.
For those who don’t recall—or for new readers—let me provide some context.
The Power of Now Journal is just that: a journal, filled with blank pages for you to write whatever you wish. What makes it unique, however, is that at least half of its pages feature a quote from Eckhart Tolle.
On each of those pages, I would write about what the quote meant to me and how it had influenced my life. The writing came easily enough; applying those lessons, on the other hand, proved to be much harder. Still, each entry motivated me to live more consciously and to integrate Tolle’s philosophy into my daily life.
I stopped publishing these reflections in December 2024 due to time constraints. However, I’ve decided to start again—not because I suddenly have more time, but because I’ve learned to manage my time more effectively. As I often say: “Time cannot be found—it must be made.”
So, let’s make time, shall we?
“Forget about your life situation and pay attention to your life:
Your life situation exists in time.
Your life is now.
Your life situation is mind-stuff.
Your life is real.”
— Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now Journal
For as long as I can remember, my attention was always on my life situation—never on my life.
Let me tell you a story.
My earliest memories go back to the post-war years of the late 1940s. During the war, my father served overseas as a pilot in the Air Force. My mother was left at home to care for me and my four siblings, relying on a small allowance from the military. Her older brother returned from the North African campaign a broken man—a chronic alcoholic. Her younger brother never returned at all; he was killed in action.
Life was a constant struggle, and we often went without. I didn’t know what a struggle-free life looked like. Eventually, my mother, overwhelmed and unable to cope, also turned to alcohol. If not for my grandmother—who came to care for us on her modest pension—I don’t know what would have become of us.
Looking back now, I realize I grew up surrounded by negativity. I never saw the sunshine behind the black clouds; I always expected the worst. Of course, there were moments of joy, laughter, and fun—but they felt like brief pauses before the next storm rolled in. How could the sunshine last when the clouds always seemed to return?
Later came marriage and children. These brought happiness, pride, and deep satisfaction—but they also introduced a new companion: stress. Like the tides of the ocean, moments of joy were inevitably followed by waves of worry, and then calm again, and so on.
For years, the voice in my mind told me that the events of my life had defined me.
But Tolle’s teachings helped me see something far more liberating: those events didn’t define me—they refined me.
Today, I try to live guided not by the noise of my mind, but by the quiet voice of spirit within me—here, in the present moment.
Throughout history, there must be countless stories like mine. Perhaps you see yourself in some part of it. In truth, it’s a struggle most of us share.
We get caught up in the endless situations that fill our lives—each tied to a specific time: yesterday, last week, five years ago. We label our lives according to when things happened. Do you see the trap?
Tolle invites us to shift our focus. Living your life happens now—right in this very moment as you read these words.
When we bring our attention to the present, we open ourselves to experience it fully—to savor it, to understand it, even to endure it with greater clarity. The beauty of presence is that even in difficult moments, awareness gives us perspective.
And here’s the truth: the moment you’re living in now cannot happen yesterday or tomorrow. As Kris Kristofferson put it,
“…yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow’s out of sight…”
What’s done is done, and what’s ahead remains unknown.
As Tolle reminds us, “Your life situation is mind-stuff. Your life is real.”
In other words, our circumstances are shaped by the thoughts in our minds—but honest living happens only in this moment, one breath at a time.
Do you get it? If you don’t, have a look at this article.
See you next month on or about this date.
Love and blessings,
Peter-James Pienaar
©2025Peter-JamesPienaar
Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear your thoughts.
And if this post resonated with you, feel free to share it with someone who might need to read it.
Oh, and by the way – Always expect a miracle.
I want to reassure you that I never store or use your details. I do not bombard my readers with post distribution. If I post eight a month, that would be a lot. At the moment, I post a maximum of four.
This site can be reached with any of the following: https://lovelightpurpose and https://sirpeterjamesdotcom.com.
Love Your Life Adopt Your Purpose 
Take the leap to comment, I personally respond to each.