4 Books That Defined the 4 Decades of My Life

Counting down from 40

40–30. Practicing the Power of Now

BY ECKHART TOLLE

We come across texts that change the course of our lives; this is one of them.

A mentor I deeply respect recommended this book. In his words, “most of my success is tied to what I learnt from this small book.” He bought me a copy and asked me to read it with an open mind. Coincidentally, I was at a rocky phase in my life where my relationship with my partner was souring, and my inherent contradictions, like spilled bile, was starting to poison the rest of the meat.

After I read Practicing the Power of Now, something shifted in my subconscious and opened my mind to a daring new world. This book introduced me to myself. Through it, I learnt to watch my emotions more closely and ask the questions that set me on the path to self-mastery. I learnt to accept the limitations of my unconscious tendencies and embrace the change that can only come from self-reflection. I learnt to see myself as a part of the problem and not just the victim; and with that, I learnt to change — that insidious concept that renders our most resilient will helpless. I started to listen more. I became kinder to myself and by extension to others. I also became more self-critical than I had been before this book found me. I became more careful with my words, thoughts, and actions and in a general sense, more spiritually aware.