It’s easy to get caught up in the race for future goals or feel burdened by past experiences. We’re so focused on the “doing” that we often forget to stop and ask what we truly desire—the “being.” Eckhart Tolle’s wisdom has been a game-changer for me in this sense. His teachings remind me that we can reconnect with ourselves by shedding the distractions of the ego and tuning into the present moment. This isn’t just a mental exercise, it’s a doorway to a life that feels both fulfilling and purposeful.
Being in the Now, Letting Go of Time
Tolle talks a lot about the “Now,” about how true presence exists right in this very moment. And I can’t help but agree. When I allow myself to drop the constant pull of time—whether it’s worrying about what’s coming next or dwelling on what’s been—I realize that I’ve been free all along.
Tolle says, “Time ceases to matter when one focuses on feeling the present moment.” It’s liberating when you think about it. We often forget that the present moment is where life actually happens. When we step into it, we stop feeling controlled by time, by aging, by expectations. We just are. It’s like a floodgate opening up, and all that matters is now.
Life’s Meaning is in Sensory Experience
For so much of my life, I tried to “figure it all out,” thinking that answers would come through intellectualizing. But in reality, the essence of life isn’t something to be figured out. It’s something to be felt. “The meaning is to experience existence (life) in sensations.” I get it now. The meaning of life isn’t abstract or far away—it’s in the feel of the sun on your skin, the sound of the rain, the comfort of a warm drink in your hands. These moments, fleeting as they are, are where the richness of life lies.
We often walk through life distracted by what’s ahead, but when we open ourselves up to these everyday moments, the world becomes vibrant and full of meaning.
Release of Ego and Personality
Here’s something that’s been big for me: letting go of the ego—that seemingly alive concept of who I am. But it’s not who I am – truly. This false concept – is the one thing that often keeps us from being present. For years, I built this personality, this image, to fit into the world—based on what others expected of me or what I thought I needed to be. But when I step back and let all of that go, I find clarity. I am not a set of ideas of who I should be or whom I seem to be… I am the whole Existence itself.
I am not saying I am God, nothing like that. But as soon as I stop and decide that I am no longer the “Natasha Chernavska” – that “avatar” or whom she seems to appear to this world, – and embrace that I am the world, I am that energy that fills everything inside and around me, – EVERYTHING changes.
And this is something I’ve really started to understand. When I release the layers of self and identity that I’ve held onto, I simply experience the moment. I stop identifying with everything I’ve been told I am, and instead, I just exist. And the result – a deeper connection to myself and to everything around me. No more noise. Just being.
We Are All One
This one’s been huge for me, too—the realization that we’re all connected. When “I am existence, and existence is me.” – everybody is me a little. And I am – a little – in everyone. When I stopped seeing myself as separate, when I saw that I’m part of the same energy as everything else, the whole world felt different. We’re all interconnected. There’s no “me versus the world” anymore. Instead, there’s just us, part of a vast, intricate web of life.
When you realize this, the fear of being alone or disconnected begins to melt away. You start to see everyone, everything, as an extension of yourself and yourself as an extension of everything and everyone. The boundaries you thought existed between you and others—between you and the world—dissolve. You feel whole.
The Magic of Letting Go
Here’s a little secret I’ve learned along the way: when we stop forcing things and simply let life unfold, magic happens. Miracles occur when we let go of attachment to the ego and allow life to flow through us. I’ve noticed that when I’m too attached to outcomes or trying to control everything, I create resistance. But when I let go—when I trust that life will unfold as it should—things start to fall into place, often in ways I couldn’t have imagined.
The less I strive, the more things seem to come to me naturally, just fall into place. It’s like a flow that you don’t have to force; you just have to step into it. It’s like you’re allowing life to work with you, not against you.
You Have the Power to Create Your Life
One of the most empowering realizations I’ve had is this: I’m not just at the mercy of whatever life throws at me. I have the power to shape my own experience. Each person’s unique journey is precious, and through clarity and certainty, we can manifest our desired experiences. This isn’t about ignoring external circumstances or pretending everything’s always perfect. It’s about realizing that you have the power to choose how you respond, how you create, how you show up.
Life doesn’t have to just happen to you. You are part of the process. By being present, clear, and intentional, you become an active creator of your reality. You’re not a passive observer—you’re the one writing the script.
Be Timeless
So, what does all of this mean for us? It’s more than just an intellectual exercise. It’s a practice. It’s about shedding the constraints of time, ego, and separation to step into the fullness of life. It’s about reconnecting with the present moment, seeing our unity with the world around us, and realizing that we are co-creators in the unfolding of our lives. When we let go of what weighs us down—whether it’s past trauma, future worries, or the incessant noise of our egos—we step into a place where anything is possible.
This is where true peace, connection, and purpose lie. It’s in the present moment, and it’s available to all of us. You just have to show up and be.
