Over the past several weeks I have been participating in the live web class with Oprah and author Eckhart Tolle on the book “A New Earth, Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose”. Approaching this particular book from this perspective, for me, was highly effective and also consuming. I was involved in the learning process on a deep and transforming level, so it was difficult for me to write about anything else during the course. My reasons for exploring the concepts in this book was to see how I could connect it with my work with Coach-Align and the benefits it could provide to both me and my clients.
The purpose of the book is to bring conscious awareness to the ego and the many ways in which it plays out in people’s lives. The classes started the beginning of March. As we went through the first couple of chapters I actually was thinking that I had little to change. Then I got to chapter 3; uh oh…what? Did he write that about me? I was marking all the comments that I connected with, and finally had to give up the highlighting, because really, it was just every word. The section I was reading was about complaining and resentment and I have to admit that it was embarrassing to recognize myself in the words. It was hard to accept these ideas even though no one was witnessing this recognition except for me. But then I realised that is the point of the book; my ego was trying to protect and justify. That recognition and acceptance allowed me to begin the process of letting go of some of my oldest and deeply held resentments. It also helped me to recognise beliefs that were self defeating and holding me back.
When I first picked up the book, I had the hope that it would be different and a skepticism that it was going to be a waste of time. I don’t think that I would have gained as much from this book had it not been backed up by the web casts. It was the combination of reading, watching and then listening on my I Pod that help me to begin to understand the concepts and bit by bit become aware of my pesky ego and how it manifests itself in my life. Even still after all that, I still would benefit from a replay. Fortunately I have the book and the videos and the Pod casts for a refresher whenever I feel the need.
So, as to my original intention for participating in the class; I found it on page 258 where Eckhart says “Your inner purpose is to awaken. It is as simple as that. You share that purpose with every other person on the planet-because it is the purpose of humanity. Your inner purpose in an essential part of the purpose of the whole, the universe and its emerging intelligence. Your outer purpose can change over time. It varies greatly from person to person. Finding and living in alignment with the inner purpose is the foundation for fulfilling your outer purpose. It is the basis for true success. Without that alignment, you can still achieve certain things through effort, struggle, determination, and sheer hard work or cunning. But there is no joy in such endeavor, and it invariably ends in some form of suffering.”
Simply stated, your outer purpose happens when you become aware, or “awaken” as Eckhart says. Being awake to who we are offers us the opening to how we express that in the world. At the moment I would say I’m partially awake, but aware enough to know that I’m heading in the right direction and still moving forward!
Warm Regards, Karen
