--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Stress is caused by being here but…" description: "\"Stress is caused by being here but wanting to be there, or being in the present but wanting to be in the future. It's a split that tears you apart insi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/eckhart-tolle-81_inspirational_stress-is-caused-by-being-here-but-wanti_229508.jpg" --- # Stress is caused by being here but wanting to be there, or… ![“Stress is caused by being here but wanting to be there, or being in the present but wanting to be in the future. It's a split that tears you apart inside.” quote by Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/eckhart-tolle-81_inspirational_stress-is-caused-by-being-here-but-wanti_229508.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/eckhart-tolle-81_inspirational_stress-is-caused-by-being-here-but-wanti_229508.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/eckhart-tolle-81_inspirational_stress-is-caused-by-being-here-but-wanti_229508.jpg) > “Stress is caused by being here but wanting to be there, or being in the present but wanting to be in the future. It's a split that tears you apart inside.” [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Stress arises from longing for a different time or place, creating inner conflict. **In simple terms:** Wanting to be elsewhere causes stress. Key Takeaway Focus on present moment. Themes mindfulness psychology well‑being Mood calm insightful Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - daily routines - goal setting - meditation practice Key Concepts temporal desire inner conflict Questions to Reflect On - How can you reduce longing for the future? - What practices help stay present? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Power of now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-of-now/) [Stress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stress/) [Tears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tears/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“Stress is caused by being “here” but wanting to be “there,” or being in the present but wanting to be in the future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/stress-is-caused-by-being-here-but-wanting-to-be-there-or-being-in-2/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Stress is caused by being 'here' but wanting to be 'there'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/stress-is-caused-by-being-here-but-wanting-to-be-there/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Are you stressed? Are you so busy getting to the future that the present is reduced to a means of getting there? Stress is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/are-you-stressed-are-you-so-busy-getting-to-the-future-that-the/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Nervousness is caused by wanting two opposing things at the same time, one consciously and the other subconsciously. The battle is resolved when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-levenson/nervousness-is-caused-by-wanting-two-opposing-things-at-the-same-time/) [Lester Levenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-levenson/) > [Scared to move forward, afraid to look back. 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Not unlike…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/don-t-get-stuck-on-the-level-of-words-a-word-is-no-more-than-a-means/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Unease, anxiety, tension, stress, worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/unease-anxiety-tension-stress-worry/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [You may not yet be able to bring your unconscious mind activity into awareness as thoughts, but it will always be reflected in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/you-may-not-yet-be-able-to-bring-your-unconscious-mind-activity-into/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) ## More by Eckhart Tolle > [“The voice in the head that never stops speaking becomes a civilization that is obsessed with form and therefore knows nothing of the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/the-voice-in-the-head-that-never-stops-speaking-becomes-a/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Thinking, or more precisely identification with thinking, gives rise to and maintains the ego, which, in our Western society in particular, is out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/thinking-or-more-precisely-identification-with-thinking-gives-rise-to/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“A powerful spiritual practice is consciously to allow the diminishment of ego when it happens without attempting to restore it. I recommend that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/a-powerful-spiritual-practice-is-consciously-to-allow-the/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [To become aware of the subtlety of nature you need to be alert. The moment you become alert you become still... thinking subsides. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/to-become-aware-of-the-subtlety-of-nature-you-need-to-be-alert-the/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [When you are not honoring the present moment by allowing it to be, you are creating drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/when-you-are-not-honoring-the-present-moment-by-allowing-it-to-be-you/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [On a deeper level you are already complete. 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