Last night was an incredible evening in DC with my favorite, Eckhart Tolle. Two hours of pure wisdom mixed with his usual subtle humor. And there he was, sitting calmly in the middle of the stage, a quiet presence that filled the entire room.

There’s so much noise in the world. Our minds absorb endless information, always chasing the next thing. But Tolle describes it with his usual simplicity that makes so much sense and reaches deep inside.

Some lines from my notes yesterday:

• When one conditioned mind meets another conditioned mind, progress does not happen. Isn’t that so true? How can we ever move forward if we show up already locked inside fixed beliefs? We need to learn to agree to disagree.
• If I am not the thoughts and emotions I identify with—if I am not my story—who am I?
• Most humans live inside a narrative and call it “Self”, but the story is never fully satisfying.
• The world is not here to make you happy. It’s here to challenge you. Every challenge deepens the presence in you
• What you do is secondary. How you do it is primary. This one is such a great reminder. It’s the way we show our attitude, presence, and awareness—that makes the real difference.

He spoke of the deep unconditioned awareness that sees without labels. Animals don’t carry a mental image of themselves. They don’t overthink who they are. They simply are. And we, too, can access that same presence when we step back from the endless identification with our thoughts. Seeing without labels—imagine how different our conversations, our decisions, and our world could be.

It’s a reminder that ego creates most of humanity’s problems, and that a shift in consciousness—not more doing—is what brings a more conscious world.

What a fantastic night full of deep insights, quiet reflection, and a reminder to come back to what’s real.

What helps you quiet the noise and stay present?