Don't wait to be successful at some future point. Have a

"Don't wait to be successful at some future point. Have a successful relationship with the present moment and be fully present in whatever you are doing. That is success." These words from Eckhart Tolle cut to the very heart of what it means to live a meaningful life. Too often, we are entranced by the allure of a distant future, where success, peace, and fulfillment await us. Yet, Tolle teaches that true success is not something we should chase after in the future, but something we must embrace in the present moment. The future, no matter how bright or promising, can never bring us fulfillment if we do not first learn to be fully present in the now.

The ancients, too, recognized this wisdom. The Stoic philosophers, such as Marcus Aurelius, repeatedly reminded themselves that life is fleeting and that the present is the only moment we truly control. They spoke of the necessity of mastering one’s own mind and being fully present, for only then could one experience true peace and purpose. The past is gone, the future uncertain—only the present moment is ours to shape. To wait for success as if it lies ahead, like a distant treasure, is to miss the gold that lies beneath our feet.

Consider the life of Leonardo da Vinci, whose greatness transcends time. He was not merely a painter, scientist, and inventor; he was a man who lived fully in each moment. It is said that Leonardo immersed himself in every task, whether it was sketching the anatomy of a man or contemplating the swirling clouds in the sky. He did not wait for success; he created it in the here and now, with each brushstroke, each observation, and each fleeting moment of inspiration. Da Vinci's success was not measured by the accolades he received or the future discoveries that would come to define him. His success lay in his unwavering presence in the work before him.

Tolle’s teaching invites us to adopt this same mindset. Success, according to Tolle, does not reside in the accolades we might receive or the wealth we might accumulate, but in how we live right now. Do we show up for the work before us with passion, awareness, and attention? Are we truly present with those we love, not looking over their shoulder to see where we must go next? The ancient Buddhist teachings also emphasize this. In the practice of mindfulness, we are taught to engage deeply with the present moment, for it is here that true peace and enlightenment reside. The future will come, but it will only be shaped by how we act in the present.

The lesson here is clear: success is not a future destination, but a continuous journey that unfolds moment by moment. Every action, every thought, every relationship is part of that journey. Consider the story of Nelson Mandela, whose life was a series of present moments strung together with purpose. Even while imprisoned for 27 years, Mandela found purpose and meaning in the small, daily moments. It was in his relationship with the present—his ability to remain present with his thoughts, his dreams, and his values—that he found the strength to continue fighting for a better future. Mandela did not wait for a future moment of victory. His success was in how he carried himself through each challenging moment.

We, too, can live in this way. In our own lives, we may find ourselves endlessly chasing after external markers of success—a promotion, a financial goal, recognition from others. But Tolle challenges us to look inward. How fully are we living right now? Are we giving our best effort to the work we do, regardless of its scale or outcome? Are we present with the people we love, offering them our undivided attention, our purest affection, without distraction or preoccupation with the future? If we can do this—if we can embrace the present and invest ourselves fully in the task at hand—we will find that we are already living in success.

Practical actions to take today: First, stop postponing your joy and fulfillment until the future arrives. Embrace gratitude for the present moment, no matter how mundane it may seem. Whether you are working, talking to a friend, or simply sitting in silence, give it your full attention. Breathe deeply, feel fully, and engage with each moment as though it is the most important thing in your life. And as you do so, trust that the future will unfold naturally, shaped not by your efforts to control it, but by your dedication to living in the present with full awareness. This is the path to true success.