--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You may remember the paradox of time we…" description: "\"You may remember the paradox of time we mentioned earlier: Whatever you do takes time, and yet it is always now. So while your inner purpose is to nega..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4e/eckhart-tolle-81_anxious_you-may-remember-the-paradox-of-time-we_1123529.jpg" --- # You may remember the paradox of time we mentioned earlier… ![“You may remember the paradox of time we mentioned earlier: Whatever you do takes time, and yet it is always now. So while your inner purpose is to negate time, your outer purpose necessarily involves future and so could not exist without time. But it is always secondary. Whenever you become…” quote by Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4e/eckhart-tolle-81_anxious_you-may-remember-the-paradox-of-time-we_1123529.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4e/eckhart-tolle-81_anxious_you-may-remember-the-paradox-of-time-we_1123529.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4e/eckhart-tolle-81_anxious_you-may-remember-the-paradox-of-time-we_1123529.jpg) > “You may remember the paradox of time we mentioned earlier: Whatever you do takes time, and yet it is always now. So while your inner purpose is to negate time, your outer purpose necessarily involves future and so could not exist without time. But it is always secondary. Whenever you become anxious or stressed, outer purpose has taken over, and you lost sight of your inner purpose. You have forgotten that your state of consciousness is primary, all else secondary.” [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. The present moment is primary; time is a construct for outer actions. Anxiety arises when we prioritize future over present consciousness. **In simple terms:** Stay present; inner purpose beats time. Key Takeaway Prioritize present awareness over future worries. Themes presence time consciousness anxiety inner purpose Mood peaceful thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - stress management - goal setting - spiritual practice Key Concepts mindfulness temporal paradox inner vs outer purpose Questions to Reflect On - What practices keep you anchored in now? - How does recognizing time as secondary change your actions? A Different Perspective Inner purpose can be hard to maintain amid daily demands. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anxious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxious/) [Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness/) [Paradox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paradox/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“Does it matter whether we achieve our outer purpose, whether we succeed or fail in the world? It will matter to you as long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/does-it-matter-whether-we-achieve-our-outer-purpose-whether-we/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Even if you achieve your outer purpose, it will never satisfy you if you haven't found your inner purpose, which is awakening, being present,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/even-if-you-achieve-your-outer-purpose-it-will-never-satisfy-you-if/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [The outer purpose belongs to the horizontal dimension of space and time; the inner purpose concerns a deepening of your Being in the vertical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/the-outer-purpose-belongs-to-the-horizontal-dimension-of-space-and/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Your inner purpose is an essential part of the purpose of the whole, the universe and its emerging intelligence. Your outer purpose can change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/your-inner-purpose-is-an-essential-part-of-the-purpose-of-the-whole/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“Does it matter whether we achieve our outer purpose, whether we succeed or fail in the world? It will matter to you as long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/does-it-matter-whether-we-achieve-our-outer-purpose-whether-we-2/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Whenever you become anxious or stressed, outer purpose has taken over, and you lost sight of your inner purpose. You have forgotten that your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/whenever-you-become-anxious-or-stressed-outer-purpose-has-taken-over/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Many people who are going through the early stages of the awakening process are no longer certain what their outer purpose is. What drives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/many-people-who-are-going-through-the-early-stages-of-the-awakening/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [It is precisely through the onset of old age, through loss or personal tragedy, that the spiritual dimension would traditionally come into people's lives.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/it-is-precisely-through-the-onset-of-old-age-through-loss-or-personal/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Your inner purpose is to awaken. It is as simple as that. You share that purpose with every other person on the planet -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/your-inner-purpose-is-to-awaken-it-is-as-simple-as-that-you-share/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Happiness is living by inner purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-augsburger/happiness-is-living-by-inner-purpose/) [David W Augsburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-augsburger/) > [Happiness is living by inner purpose, not by outer pressures. Happiness is having a sense of meaning, not a feeling of futility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-augsburger/happiness-is-living-by-inner-purpose-not-by-outer-pressures-happiness/) [David W Augsburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-augsburger/) > [You are the light. Your inner purpose is to connect with that light. Everything else will follow in time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/you-are-the-light-your-inner-purpose-is-to-connect-with-that-light/) Senoraroy > [Challenges arise to make us aware of our inner purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/challenges-arise-to-make-us-aware-of-our-inner-purpose/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Whether if soul did not exist time would exist or not, is a question that may fairly be asked; for if there cannot be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/whether-if-soul-did-not-exist-time-would-exist-or-not-is-a-question/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“Do not think that time simply flies away. Do not understand “flying” as the only function of time. If time simply flew away, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-ozeki/do-not-think-that-time-simply-flies-away-do-not-understand-flying-as/) [Ruth Ozeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-ozeki/) ## 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 Anxious quotes > [Most people do surprisingly poorly when dealing with a relative who is hurting, depressed, or anxious - we get defensive and try to solve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/most-people-do-surprisingly-poorly-when-dealing-with-a-relative-who/) [David D. 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Hold fast to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/be-lamps-unto-yourselves-be-refuges-unto-yourselves-take-yourself-no/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Even speed, when we are anxious, seems like delay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/even-speed-when-we-are-anxious-seems-like-delay/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [I'd like to be able to do complex math in my head. Any kind of adversity and I become very anxious, but if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-woods/i-d-like-to-be-able-to-do-complex-math-in-my-head-any-kind-of/) [Zach Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-woods/) > [There were times when depression, anxiety, whatever, would keep me from writing. I still get depressed and anxious, but I just don't let it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-st-john/there-were-times-when-depression-anxiety-whatever-would-keep-me-from/) [David St. John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-st-john/) > [The millennials were raised in a cocoon, their anxious parents afraid to let them go out in the park to play. So should we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/the-millennials-were-raised-in-a-cocoon-their-anxious-parents-afraid/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [He who believes in God is not careful for the morrow, but labors joyfully and with a great heart. 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