Comments on: The Most Important Thing I Ever Learned http://www.raptitude.com/2009/04/the-most-important-thing-i-ever-learned/ The gentle art of sanity amidst civilization Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:44:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Raju http://www.raptitude.com/2009/04/the-most-important-thing-i-ever-learned/#comment-21100 Raju Sat, 31 Dec 2011 09:37:34 +0000 http://www.raptitude.com/?p=538#comment-21100 Wonderful article. I first learned about ' living the present moment' concept from Eckhart Tolle's book. Completely changed my life Wonderful article. I first learned about ‘ living the present moment’ concept from Eckhart Tolle’s book. Completely changed my life

]]> By: Laxman http://www.raptitude.com/2009/04/the-most-important-thing-i-ever-learned/#comment-21016 Laxman Mon, 26 Dec 2011 07:22:53 +0000 http://www.raptitude.com/?p=538#comment-21016 Thank you David, your message has given clarity about being present to the moment. The statement "The mind doesn’t automatically make a distinction between experiences and thoughts about experiences". I firmly believe being present to this distinction will help one to focus on the present moment. Thank you David, your message has given clarity about being present to the moment.

The statement “The mind doesn’t automatically make a distinction between experiences and thoughts about experiences”. I firmly believe being present to this distinction will help one to focus on the present moment.

]]> By: David http://www.raptitude.com/2009/04/the-most-important-thing-i-ever-learned/#comment-20798 David Tue, 13 Dec 2011 22:48:32 +0000 http://www.raptitude.com/?p=538#comment-20798 Thanks Dar. <em>they have no impact on me when I am not thinking them</em> This really is the important part here. Thoughts can do something to us, they do affect our body and our experience in the moment. But the past events that they represent are not real, and the negative effects of those past events is limited to what a present moment thought can do to you. And like you say, you can't ever deal with those events. They are static impressions, and your thoughts will always represent something unchangeable. But you can deal with your thoughts. Thanks Dar.

they have no impact on me when I am not thinking them

This really is the important part here. Thoughts can do something to us, they do affect our body and our experience in the moment. But the past events that they represent are not real, and the negative effects of those past events is limited to what a present moment thought can do to you.

And like you say, you can’t ever deal with those events. They are static impressions, and your thoughts will always represent something unchangeable. But you can deal with your thoughts.

]]> By: Dar http://www.raptitude.com/2009/04/the-most-important-thing-i-ever-learned/#comment-20795 Dar Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:47:17 +0000 http://www.raptitude.com/?p=538#comment-20795 I stumbled upon a post of yours the other day and took a look around. I decided everything here is worth reading. I'm beginning with your oldest posts and making my way forward. So far everything you've said is...in line with my goals and with my own thoughts. I'm having trouble articulating it but, it's as if everything you've said so far is a well worded version of my thoughts and desires that I've found hard to put into words and it really helps to see it all written out so clearly. This particular post made me cry, I've been at times obsessed with a painful event in my life that occurred now 6 months ago and still it's rare for a day to go by without it crossing my mind. This single event seems to have pulled me out of the 'now' time and time again. But the idea that the past isn't 'real' is comforting, after all it's no longer happening. They are just thoughts now, they have no impact on me when I am not thinking them, and those thoughts certainly can't be found in the world around me. They effect only me and they come from within. This I have known but it still is touches me to read this, "Neither the future nor the past can ever be dealt with, and they don’t need to be." They don't need to be, it echoes in me. They don't need to be... Thank you for those words, they do inspire me. I stumbled upon a post of yours the other day and took a look around. I decided everything here is worth reading. I’m beginning with your oldest posts and making my way forward. So far everything you’ve said is…in line with my goals and with my own thoughts. I’m having trouble articulating it but, it’s as if everything you’ve said so far is a well worded version of my thoughts and desires that I’ve found hard to put into words and it really helps to see it all written out so clearly.

This particular post made me cry, I’ve been at times obsessed with a painful event in my life that occurred now 6 months ago and still it’s rare for a day to go by without it crossing my mind. This single event seems to have pulled me out of the ‘now’ time and time again. But the idea that the past isn’t ‘real’ is comforting, after all it’s no longer happening. They are just thoughts now, they have no impact on me when I am not thinking them, and those thoughts certainly can’t be found in the world around me. They effect only me and they come from within. This I have known but it still is touches me to read this, “Neither the future nor the past can ever be dealt with, and they don’t need to be.”

They don’t need to be, it echoes in me. They don’t need to be…

Thank you for those words, they do inspire me.

]]> By: 88 truths… « Kristin & Ben http://www.raptitude.com/2009/04/the-most-important-thing-i-ever-learned/#comment-20586 88 truths… « Kristin & Ben Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:34:59 +0000 http://www.raptitude.com/?p=538#comment-20586 [...] 12. You never have to deal with more than one moment at a time. [...] [...] 12. You never have to deal with more than one moment at a time. [...]

]]> By: 88 Important Truths I’ve Learned About Life « I am cacon http://www.raptitude.com/2009/04/the-most-important-thing-i-ever-learned/#comment-20577 88 Important Truths I’ve Learned About Life « I am cacon Tue, 29 Nov 2011 04:54:42 +0000 http://www.raptitude.com/?p=538#comment-20577 [...] 12. You never have to deal with more than one moment at a time. [...] [...] 12. You never have to deal with more than one moment at a time. [...]

]]> By: ROD 092111 | next level performance http://www.raptitude.com/2009/04/the-most-important-thing-i-ever-learned/#comment-19643 ROD 092111 | next level performance Wed, 21 Sep 2011 04:37:59 +0000 http://www.raptitude.com/?p=538#comment-19643 [...] course! I once called this the most important thing I ever learned. Nobody has ever experienced anything that wasn’t part of a single moment [...] [...] course! I once called this the most important thing I ever learned. Nobody has ever experienced anything that wasn’t part of a single moment [...]

]]> By: 88 Important Truths I’ve Learned About Life « IMΛGIПΣ ƬΉΣ ƧPIЯIƬ http://www.raptitude.com/2009/04/the-most-important-thing-i-ever-learned/#comment-19500 88 Important Truths I’ve Learned About Life « IMΛGIПΣ ƬΉΣ ƧPIЯIƬ Sun, 11 Sep 2011 07:12:24 +0000 http://www.raptitude.com/?p=538#comment-19500 [...] 12. You never have to deal with more than one moment at a time. [...] [...] 12. You never have to deal with more than one moment at a time. [...]

]]> By: Musings of a curious human http://www.raptitude.com/2009/04/the-most-important-thing-i-ever-learned/#comment-17727 Musings of a curious human Sun, 07 Aug 2011 11:27:59 +0000 http://www.raptitude.com/?p=538#comment-17727 [...] moment with awful feelings in it — awkwardness, pain, shame, guilt, horror, angst. Life unfolds only in moments, so what else could the problem be except some of the moments that you might run [...] [...] moment with awful feelings in it — awkwardness, pain, shame, guilt, horror, angst. Life unfolds only in moments, so what else could the problem be except some of the moments that you might run [...]

]]> By: Gene Herd http://www.raptitude.com/2009/04/the-most-important-thing-i-ever-learned/#comment-16700 Gene Herd Wed, 06 Jul 2011 04:10:23 +0000 http://www.raptitude.com/?p=538#comment-16700 Somebody said it: Now is the great Is/Was. The portal through which all future plunges into the past. Somebody said it: Now is the great Is/Was. The portal through which all future plunges into the past.

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