--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Waiting is a state of mind. Basically, it…" description: "\"Waiting is a state of mind. Basically, it means that you want the future; you don't want the present. You don't want what you've got, and you want what..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c5/eckhart-tolle-81_conflict_waiting-is-a-state-of-mind-basically-it_194639.jpg" --- # Waiting is a state of mind. Basically, it means that you… ![“Waiting is a state of mind. Basically, it means that you want the future; you don't want the present. You don't want what you've got, and you want what you haven't got. With every kind of waiting, you unconsciously create inner conflict between your here and now, where you don't want to be, and…” quote by Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c5/eckhart-tolle-81_conflict_waiting-is-a-state-of-mind-basically-it_194639.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c5/eckhart-tolle-81_conflict_waiting-is-a-state-of-mind-basically-it_194639.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c5/eckhart-tolle-81_conflict_waiting-is-a-state-of-mind-basically-it_194639.jpg) > “Waiting is a state of mind. Basically, it means that you want the future; you don't want the present. You don't want what you've got, and you want what you haven't got. With every kind of waiting, you unconsciously create inner conflict between your here and now, where you don't want to be, and the projected future, where you want to be. This greatly reduces the quality of your life by making you lose the present.” [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. Waiting keeps the mind fixated on an imagined future, causing inner conflict and diminishing present‑moment joy. **In simple terms:** Waiting steals present happiness. Key Takeaway Focus on now, not imagined future. Themes mindfulness presence inner conflict quality of life Mood reflective calm thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - therapy sessions - daily meditation - goal setting - stress management Key Concepts psychology temporal perception attachment Questions to Reflect On - What does your mind hope to avoid by waiting? - How can you cultivate presence in daily tasks? A Different Perspective Waiting can be a symptom of deeper anxiety or unmet needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) [Here and now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/here-and-now/) [Inner conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inner-conflict/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Means Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means-want-530588/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [State of mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-of-mind/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Waiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting/) [Waiting State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting-state-781519/) [Waiting Unconsciously](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting-unconsciously-2047299/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-future/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [“Waiting is a state of mind. Basically, it means that you want the future; you don’t want the present.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/waiting-is-a-state-of-mind-basically-it-means-that-you-want-the-2/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Waiting is a state of mind that says we want what we don't have. Therefore, with every kind of waiting we produce an inner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/waiting-is-a-state-of-mind-that-says-we-want-what-we-don-t-have/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Give up waiting as a state of mind. When you catch yourself slipping into waiting...snap out of it. Come into the present moment. Just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/give-up-waiting-as-a-state-of-mind-when-you-catch-yourself-slipping/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“So give up waiting as a state of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/so-give-up-waiting-as-a-state-of-mind/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Don't look for any other state than the one you are in now; otherwise, you will set up inner conflict and unconscious resistance. Forgive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/don-t-look-for-any-other-state-than-the-one-you-are-in-now-otherwise/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“Don't look for peace. Don't look for any ther state than the one you are in now; otherwise, you will set up inner conflict…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/don-t-look-for-peace-don-t-look-for-any-ther-state-than-the-one-you/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“Don't look for peace. Don't look for any other state than the one you are in now; otherwise, you will set up inner conflict…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/don-t-look-for-peace-don-t-look-for-any-other-state-than-the-one-you/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [An enlightened person or business is not concerned primarily with making money, because when you are concerned with making money you want the future…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/an-enlightened-person-or-business-is-not-concerned-primarily-with/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Wherever you are, be there totally. If you find your here and now intolerable and it makes you unhappy, you have three options: remove…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/wherever-you-are-be-there-totally-if-you-find-your-here-and-now/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [If I find here and Now unacceptable, I have three choices: 1-Totally accept it. 2- Change it. 3-Remove myself from the situation. That is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/if-i-find-here-and-now-unacceptable-i-have-three-choices-1-totally/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [All you realy need to do is accept this moment fully. You are then at ease in the here and now and at ease…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/all-you-realy-need-to-do-is-accept-this-moment-fully-you-are-then-at/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“You break me, wife," he said, his voice hoarse and low as he turned back to her. His eyes shimmered beneath narrowed brows. "You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-b-brown/you-break-me-wife-he-said-his-voice-hoarse-and-low-as-he-turned-back/) [E.B. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-b-brown/) > [When a girl tells you to 'Have fun.' it means she want's you to have a horrible time without her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-a-girl-tells-you-to-have-fun-it-means-she-want-s-you-to-have-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I love you" means I want you to be happy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/i-love-you-means-i-want-you-to-be-happy/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [I will always want to do whatever it is that my heart is in, and whether I get paid for it or not means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-diaz/i-will-always-want-to-do-whatever-it-is-that-my-heart-is-in-and/) [Cameron Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-diaz/) ## 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. When you realize that, there is a joyous energy behind what you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/on-a-deeper-level-you-are-already-complete-when-you-realize-that/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness. How do you know this is the experience you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/life-will-give-you-whatever-experience-is-most-helpful-for-the/) [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/) > [“War is a mind-set, and all action that comes out of such a mind-set will either strengthen the enemy, the perceived evil, or, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/war-is-a-mind-set-and-all-action-that-comes-out-of-such-a-mind-set/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Whenever you step out of the noise of thinking, that is meditation, and a different state of consciousness arises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/whenever-you-step-out-of-the-noise-of-thinking-that-is-meditation-and/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Get the inside right, and the outside will take care of itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/get-the-inside-right-and-the-outside-will-take-care-of-itself/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [It is very hard to tell when I started to be a spiritual teacher. There was a time when occasionally somebody would come and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/it-is-very-hard-to-tell-when-i-started-to-be-a-spiritual-teacher/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Most people spend their entire life imprisoned within the confines of their own thoughts. They never go beyond a narrow, mind-made, personalized sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/most-people-spend-their-entire-life-imprisoned-within-the-confines-of/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Let the end of the world be inside you, then you don't need to fear the end of the world out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/let-the-end-of-the-world-be-inside-you-then-you-don-t-need-to-fear/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“Jeste li zabrinuti? Razmišljate li često: »Što bi bilo da sam...?« To znači da ste se poistovjetili s umom, koji se projicira u neku…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/jeste-li-zabrinuti-razmi-ljate-li-esto-to-bi-bilo-da-sam-to-zna-i-da/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) [Explore all 1,493 Eckhart Tolle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) ## More Conflict quotes > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The U.S.-Mexican border es un herida abierta where the Third World grates against the first and bleeds. And before a scab forms it hemorrhages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-e-anzald-a/the-u-s-mexican-border-es-un-herida-abierta-where-the-third-world/) [Gloria E. Anzaldúa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-e-anzald-a/) > [There is a conflict in the Middle East between two entities, and they're both right, each in their own way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reuven-rivlin/there-is-a-conflict-in-the-middle-east-between-two-entities-and-they/) [Reuven Rivlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reuven-rivlin/) > [Conflict isn't negative, it just is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-crum/conflict-isn-t-negative-it-just-is/) [Thomas Crum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-crum/) > [I have lived in countries that were coming out of conflict: Ireland, South Africa, the Czech republic. People there are overflowing with energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/i-have-lived-in-countries-that-were-coming-out-of-conflict-ireland/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [Africa, being the major target of colonial plunder, therefore becomes a major source of conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-horne/africa-being-the-major-target-of-colonial-plunder-therefore-becomes-a/) [Gerald Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-horne/) > [All drama is conflict. Without conflict, there is no action. Without action, there is no character. Without character, there is no story. And without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd-field/all-drama-is-conflict-without-conflict-there-is-no-action-without/) [Syd Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd-field/) > [The irrepressible conflict propounded by abolitionism has produced now its legitimate fruits - disunion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-irrepressible-conflict-propounded-by-abolitionism-has-produced/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“These are all good things, I said. But no one knows where your country is or who you are. You don't have a familiar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/these-are-all-good-things-i-said-but-no-one-knows-where-your-country/) [Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/) > [I understand the formula that producers hire directors and directors are hired to direct and actors are hired to act. I don't have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-trejo/i-understand-the-formula-that-producers-hire-directors-and-directors/) [Danny Trejo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-trejo/) > [“While there is battle and hatred men have eyes for nothing save the fact that the enemy is the cause of all the troubles;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-butterfield/while-there-is-battle-and-hatred-men-have-eyes-for-nothing-save-the/) [Herbert Butterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-butterfield/) > [UN peacekeeping operations are now increasingly complex and multi-dimensional, going beyond monitoring a ceasefire to actually bringing failed States back to life, often after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/un-peacekeeping-operations-are-now-increasingly-complex-and-multi/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [All men have an instinct for conflict: at least, all healthy men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/all-men-have-an-instinct-for-conflict-at-least-all-healthy-men/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [I didnt like the Survivor shows because of the mean-spirited aspect, and women certainly were part of whatever conflict they would create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-lawrence/i-didnt-like-the-survivor-shows-because-of-the-mean-spirited-aspect/) [Sharon Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-lawrence/) > [“How we traverse the space between us when conflict arises has a profound effect on the health and longevity of our relationships.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/how-we-traverse-the-space-between-us-when-conflict-arises-has-a/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) [Browse all 3,969 Conflict quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Waiting is a state of mind. 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