8. The Power of Now

This summer, I basically got paid to ding-dong ditch people's houses. I loved my job because I was able to listen to audiobooks and podcasts. I wasn't a fan of podcasts and audiobooks initially, just because I am a more visual and hands-on person. I love holding a physical book and being able to highlight and reread with ease. Eventually, I got used to listening to books, and I believe it has helped me immensely with my listening skills.

I love self-growth, self-development, and self-help books. Can they be cheesy at times? Of course. Yet, I always have at least one big takeaway after I am finished with the book and can implement it in my life to make me grow. It makes me feel like I am at an advantage when I implement better habits and thoughts in my daily life. Most of the books I read/listen to are targeted towards people twice my age, but I love knowing that I'm trying to work and understand myself more while still developing who I am.

This summer, I listened to eight different audiobooks, and I want to highlight the one I listened to twice, then go out and buy the physical copy. The thing with audiobooks is that I couldn't reread then highlight the passage that I resonated with like I usually would. Instead, I would have to hear what was said, hit the 10 seconds back button a few times, and then scream "PERIOD" if I was alone in my car or try and write down what I heard in my notes on my phone.

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle helped with my personal growth. I listened to it at the perfect time with so much uncertainty happening with the pandemic, uneasiness about remote classes, and my upcoming graduation. My most daunting thought of all during the summer was whether I would find a job after graduation. I know many students felt this way in the summer and may even still feel this way now.

"Realize deeply that the present moment is all you have. Make the NOW the primary focus of your life." It sounds obvious, but recognizing that we can not change the past and we can not expect the future but only live in the present moment is life-changing. I felt my anxieties about the future lift, and I quickly realized that everything I am doing in the present moment will help me, but I must focus on what I can do now and not what MAY will happen in the future. This was my biggest takeaway from the book, but I learned so much more and implemented more gratitude in my life.

I recommend this book to anyone feeling uncertain about the future or stressing about something in the past. Realizing the power we hold now is crucial for growth and acceptance! My classmate Amanda inspired me to write this blog post; follow her on Instagram for more book recommendations. I hope you have a safe and fun Halloween and weekend, make sure to follow me on Twitter and Instagram. I would love it if you commented your favorite book, if you have read The Power of Now, or what you are currently reading on my latest post :)