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A Guide to the Present Moment
The #1 Amazon Bestseller in Counseling, Zen, & Stress Management
Downloaded by over 100,000 people...
Your Unwanted Emotions Are Created By Thoughts, Not By Facts
If your romantic partner isn't cheating, but you think that they are, how do you feel? Hurt. If your romantic partner is cheating, but you think that they love you, how do you feel? Great. If your child isn't injured, but you think that they got hurt, how do you feel? Sad. If your child is injured, but you think they are safe at a friend's house, how do you feel? Fine. If you aren't going to get fired next week, but you think that you'll be fired, how do you feel? Fearful. If you are going to get fired next week, but you think that your job is safe, how do you feel? Great.
When the facts are "good", but you think they are "bad", you suffer. When the facts are "bad", but you think they are "good", you are happy. This demonstrates that the facts don't create your happiness or suffering. It is only your thoughts that create your emotions.
A Powerful 5-Step Process That Can Immediately Bring You More Peace
Do you want to stop living with stress, unworthiness, social anxiety, insecurity, anger, or sadness? It certainly seems as though these emotions are inevitable, and directly created by our circumstances, our situations, and the people in our lives. However, it is possible to discover that all your unwanted emotions are actually created by the thoughts in your mind. More importantly, each of these emotions can vanish in an instant if you just stop believing the thoughts that create them.
When You Don't Believe Words, Those Words Don't Create Emotions
If a random person tells you, "The world is going to end tomorrow", and you believe them, how would you feel? You would likely experience fear. But if you didn't believe them at all, then how would their comment make you feel? You almost certainly wouldn't be emotionally affected. This demonstrates that when you believe someone's words to be true, those words create emotions. But if you don't believe someone's words, those same words don't have the power to create emotions.
The same is true of the words (thoughts) in your mind. If you believe a negative thought about yourself or your life, that thought will create an unwanted emotion. However, if you don't believe that thought, it quite simply won't create the unwanted emotion.
This Book Will Show You How To Disbelieve The Thoughts That Create Your Unwanted Emotions
As soon as you stop believing a thought that is creating one of your unwanted emotions, that emotion will instantly dissolve. As you disbelieve more and more of the thoughts that create your suffering, you will be happier in more and more situations, the more you will be living in the moment, and the more peace, freedom, love, laughter, wholeness, enthusiasm, and gratitude you will experience in your life.
This Book Will Help You To:
- Experience peace in situations that used to be filled with anxiety and stress
- Lose the sense of lack in your life, and live with a sense of a wholeness and completeness
- Put an end to your feelings of unworthiness and insecurity
- Enjoy less arguments, resentment, and disappointment in your relationships with others
- Experience the freedom to act how you feel without worrying about others' opinions
- Live in the moment or live the power of now
- Experience the fulfillment you have been searching for
Downloaded by over 100,000 people...
Your Unwanted Emotions Are Created By Thoughts, Not By Facts
If your romantic partner isn't cheating, but you think that they are, how do you feel? Hurt. If your romantic partner is cheating, but you think that they love you, how do you feel? Great. If your child isn't injured, but you think that they got hurt, how do you feel? Sad. If your child is injured, but you think they are safe at a friend's house, how do you feel? Fine. If you aren't going to get fired next week, but you think that you'll be fired, how do you feel? Fearful. If you are going to get fired next week, but you think that your job is safe, how do you feel? Great.
When the facts are "good", but you think they are "bad", you suffer. When the facts are "bad", but you think they are "good", you are happy. This demonstrates that the facts don't create your happiness or suffering. It is only your thoughts that create your emotions.
A Powerful 5-Step Process That Can Immediately Bring You More Peace
Do you want to stop living with stress, unworthiness, social anxiety, insecurity, anger, or sadness? It certainly seems as though these emotions are inevitable, and directly created by our circumstances, our situations, and the people in our lives. However, it is possible to discover that all your unwanted emotions are actually created by the thoughts in your mind. More importantly, each of these emotions can vanish in an instant if you just stop believing the thoughts that create them.
When You Don't Believe Words, Those Words Don't Create Emotions
If a random person tells you, "The world is going to end tomorrow", and you believe them, how would you feel? You would likely experience fear. But if you didn't believe them at all, then how would their comment make you feel? You almost certainly wouldn't be emotionally affected. This demonstrates that when you believe someone's words to be true, those words create emotions. But if you don't believe someone's words, those same words don't have the power to create emotions.
The same is true of the words (thoughts) in your mind. If you believe a negative thought about yourself or your life, that thought will create an unwanted emotion. However, if you don't believe that thought, it quite simply won't create the unwanted emotion.
This Book Will Show You How To Disbelieve The Thoughts That Create Your Unwanted Emotions
As soon as you stop believing a thought that is creating one of your unwanted emotions, that emotion will instantly dissolve. As you disbelieve more and more of the thoughts that create your suffering, you will be happier in more and more situations, the more you will be living in the moment, and the more peace, freedom, love, laughter, wholeness, enthusiasm, and gratitude you will experience in your life.
This Book Will Help You To:
- Experience peace in situations that used to be filled with anxiety and stress
- Lose the sense of lack in your life, and live with a sense of a wholeness and completeness
- Put an end to your feelings of unworthiness and insecurity
- Enjoy less arguments, resentment, and disappointment in your relationships with others
- Experience the freedom to act how you feel without worrying about others' opinions
- Live in the moment or live the power of now
- Experience the fulfillment you have been searching for
305 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 25, 2012
648 people are currently reading
3340 people want to read
About the author
Noah Elkrief
3 books45 followersNoah Elkrief has been supporting individual clients to resolve their painful beliefs and emotions for over a decade. His book, "A Guide to The Present Moment", has been downloaded by over 100,000 people and was the #1 Bestselling Counseling book on Amazon. In addition to his private clients, Noah offers online courses, and runs a Youtube channel that has over 200,000 subscribers and over 20 million views.
From the time Noah was just six years old, he started meditating every day. While devoting himself to meditation, Noah also managed to achieve worldly success as he worked on the trading floor at Goldman Sachs in New York, traveled around Europe as a corporate strategy consultant based out of London, and was accepted into the prestigious Mensa society.
In the summer of 2009, Noah's life drastically changed when, in one moment, the vast majority of his thoughts just vanished from his mind. Without almost all of his thoughts, Noah was left with the indescribable experience of peace, freedom, and wholeness that he had always been longing for. As it turned out, this wasn't just a passing experience, and almost all of his thoughts barely attempted to return.
Once Noah's mind had become predominantly silent, any time a new thought entered his mind and tried to create suffering, he could see very clearly how the thought wasn't true. What he discovered was that when he didn't believe his thoughts, his thoughts stopped creating emotions, and they stopped taking his attention. That left Noah with the virtually uninterrupted experience of peace. Noah then left the corporate world to dedicate his life to helping others to live in peace.
From the time Noah was just six years old, he started meditating every day. While devoting himself to meditation, Noah also managed to achieve worldly success as he worked on the trading floor at Goldman Sachs in New York, traveled around Europe as a corporate strategy consultant based out of London, and was accepted into the prestigious Mensa society.
In the summer of 2009, Noah's life drastically changed when, in one moment, the vast majority of his thoughts just vanished from his mind. Without almost all of his thoughts, Noah was left with the indescribable experience of peace, freedom, and wholeness that he had always been longing for. As it turned out, this wasn't just a passing experience, and almost all of his thoughts barely attempted to return.
Once Noah's mind had become predominantly silent, any time a new thought entered his mind and tried to create suffering, he could see very clearly how the thought wasn't true. What he discovered was that when he didn't believe his thoughts, his thoughts stopped creating emotions, and they stopped taking his attention. That left Noah with the virtually uninterrupted experience of peace. Noah then left the corporate world to dedicate his life to helping others to live in peace.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 42 reviews
March 4, 2018
This is a book to remind us of what really controls our attitude / thoughts in life. The entire book discusses how important it is for us to question our feelings whenever we experience any type of animosity / guilt / anger / sadness. Our minds tend to automatically jump to conclusions / judge people / make us feel a certain way, and sometime if we just take a second to stop and question whether there is a reason why we may feel this way, it will help us change our feelings toward a subject. I think what is important to remember the next time you have a strong feeling toward a subject is just question your feeling and ask if there is a reason why someone did this action. Sometimes questioning yourself allows you to see that maybe you were overreacting / misinterpreting something and you will ultimately feel much better. Our feelings have a mind of their own and unless we question them, they are sometimes uncontrollable.
November 26, 2015
Reading this book and watching Noah's videos on YouTube have been two of the most meaningful things I have done in my life in order to find happiness. The book helped me to start this spiritual journey which has been responsible for the increase in my overall happiness and emotional peace. At the time of writing this review, I'm almost 21, and a few months ago, the only time I could remember being truly happy was during my childhood. I took it for a fact that that kind of happiness only exists in humans as a child and that rest of my life is going to be stressful and full of mental suffering, like witnessing the lives of most people in our society leads us to believe. This book changed my perception of life, consciousness, and emotions in a very profound manner, and though I'm just beginning the practice of regular meditation and giving myself time to observe my thoughts neutrally and recognizing the difference between me and my thoughts, I can confidently say that I have started to experience peace for longer time periods and that I have begin to live my life by actually being in the moment, and not in the story that my thoughts are telling me. Now I love more, laugh more, have more meaningful conversations, and enjoy the little things happening in life better. I'd suggest reading this book along with watching Noah's videos and also the book 'Waking Up' by Sam Harris as a good start to one's spiritual journey.
June 4, 2014
Very repetitive
Very repetitive
could have been summarized into 50 pages. used the same examples over and over again so I skipped ahead to the end!
Very repetitive
could have been summarized into 50 pages. used the same examples over and over again so I skipped ahead to the end!
June 4, 2017
If you ever feel that you have an internal battle inside of your head where you have a lot of contradictory thoughts about yourself ,about others and you are trying to stop thinking a certain way so you can be at peace and contente ,well this book can help you alot to quenstion your thoughts and to see how your brain works .
February 14, 2017
I started this book with a lot of promise and I didn't finish it. I rarely don't finish books. The main take away I got from the little I read was that I don't have to let one shitty moment ruin my day. I can be upset about the thing but not walk around with a little cloud over my head for the rest of the day.
My biggest issue with this book was that it seemed a little too victim blamey. He expands on the fact that none of us are perfect so how can we judge others for "imperfect behavior" when we don't know what the right behavior is? He talks about how as a society we accept things that are "wrong" (the author uses quotation marks around bad behavior, good behavior, wrong, and right) but are they *really*?
It sounded a lot like he was condoning emotional and physical abuse on a level of "my emotions about the thing is what's upsetting me. Not the actual action of the other person". There's a huge difference between not being happy because you want a new car instead of recognizing that you're blessed to have a car, and being unhappy because you're in a dangerous situation.
I understand that people make their own happiness, and that's something to remember. I tried reading it with a grain of salt but I couldn't do the apples to oranges comparison any longer. Maybe people will shit on me for this review, because it seems to be a popular book, and maybe they won't. Who knows? And do I care? Not really. I get the point he was trying to make and I'm going to take his ill worded point and make it suit my own situation in life.
This book could be potentially dangerous in the wrong hands and in the wrong situation.
Now onto the actual book:
Homeboy needs an editor something fierce. He also needs to take some classes on writing. Though in his defense he did state at the beginning that he isn't a writer. What little I did read it was like he was repeating the same thing over and over again. This whole thing could have been edited down to a 20 page essay as opposed to an entire book.
My biggest issue with this book was that it seemed a little too victim blamey. He expands on the fact that none of us are perfect so how can we judge others for "imperfect behavior" when we don't know what the right behavior is? He talks about how as a society we accept things that are "wrong" (the author uses quotation marks around bad behavior, good behavior, wrong, and right) but are they *really*?
It sounded a lot like he was condoning emotional and physical abuse on a level of "my emotions about the thing is what's upsetting me. Not the actual action of the other person". There's a huge difference between not being happy because you want a new car instead of recognizing that you're blessed to have a car, and being unhappy because you're in a dangerous situation.
I understand that people make their own happiness, and that's something to remember. I tried reading it with a grain of salt but I couldn't do the apples to oranges comparison any longer. Maybe people will shit on me for this review, because it seems to be a popular book, and maybe they won't. Who knows? And do I care? Not really. I get the point he was trying to make and I'm going to take his ill worded point and make it suit my own situation in life.
This book could be potentially dangerous in the wrong hands and in the wrong situation.
Now onto the actual book:
Homeboy needs an editor something fierce. He also needs to take some classes on writing. Though in his defense he did state at the beginning that he isn't a writer. What little I did read it was like he was repeating the same thing over and over again. This whole thing could have been edited down to a 20 page essay as opposed to an entire book.
May 27, 2017
Deep respect to the author. Noah was one of the first people who helped me to discover that I am not my thoughts or feelings: they simply arise and fall. I highly recommend this book to all people seeking freedom from issues like anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and OCD. Brilliant!
October 7, 2013
Fantastic! A great book ! It has distilled years of meditation for me into a complete nutshell. Thank you Noah! xxx
June 16, 2016
Moment
EVERYONE should read this book. Learning to let go of guilt and the like is the greatest gift! Read this book!!!
EVERYONE should read this book. Learning to let go of guilt and the like is the greatest gift! Read this book!!!
July 28, 2020
I wish I could rate this lower. This guy has no understanding of how the brain works. I am pretty sure he basically said anyone with a mental health condition can just be better if they just stop thinking. Wow, if it were only that easy.
I am also pretty sure he said that if you rape someone, its ok, because you didn't have full control over your thoughts so therefore you didn't have control over your actions.
I will give this one star since it did prompt me to discuss more than ever before with my partner about a book I am reading...
I am also pretty sure he said that if you rape someone, its ok, because you didn't have full control over your thoughts so therefore you didn't have control over your actions.
I will give this one star since it did prompt me to discuss more than ever before with my partner about a book I am reading...
June 10, 2016
Fantastic methods and teachings, but like others say, very repetitive, not meant to be read start to finish but meant to be used as a guide to be used and read as needed I think. Noahs videos are extremely powerful and they are on his youtube channel, I found those first and they are pretty much everything in this book. His videos to me were more helpful than the book but that may have been because I knew what was coming in the book due to me watching the videos. Either way both are awesome and I recommend all of Noahs work.
September 20, 2015
Learning to stay in the present moment is one of the keys to lasting happiness in all areas of life. This book has a valuable message to share which is that you unwanted emotions are only caused by your thoughts about an event and not actual facts pertaining to an event. Yes, this is a crucial realization. However, this idea can easily be expressed on one page rather than drug out over an entire book.
Read
February 23, 2013to read
July 2, 2019
I came across Noah Elkrief on Youtube and was instantly mesmerised by his videos. I found them incredibly insighful and helpful when dealing with feelings of shame, anger and guilt amongst others.
I purchased this book and it is a fantastic companion piece to the videos and essential reading for going through the process of disbelieving a thought.
I regard Noah Elkrief as one of the if not the most important individual I have ever encountered. His approach has challenged and changed my thinking towards my feelings and the straightforward prose of this book will be of great benefit to any reader who might otherwise find such subjects daunting, as I did initially.
I cannot recommend this book and the teachings of Noah Elkrief highly enough for showing that in this age of prescribing medication for everything, the answers to our lasting happiness might be easier to find than we think.
I purchased this book and it is a fantastic companion piece to the videos and essential reading for going through the process of disbelieving a thought.
I regard Noah Elkrief as one of the if not the most important individual I have ever encountered. His approach has challenged and changed my thinking towards my feelings and the straightforward prose of this book will be of great benefit to any reader who might otherwise find such subjects daunting, as I did initially.
I cannot recommend this book and the teachings of Noah Elkrief highly enough for showing that in this age of prescribing medication for everything, the answers to our lasting happiness might be easier to find than we think.
December 1, 2019
Our emotional reactions are created by our belief in our thoughts, not external circumstances. By following a structured approach of understanding the connection between thought and emotion while questioning the veracity of thought, we can chart a course to a more full and balanced life.
Very good beginners guide to the way thought drives our emotional selves. Could have been much, much shorter. The concept of questioning thoughts is not unique to this author, and his approach has 34 different questions which in my view are unnecessarily complex. Still valuable insights for the beginner who has not had exposure to this approach to understanding.
Recommend
Very good beginners guide to the way thought drives our emotional selves. Could have been much, much shorter. The concept of questioning thoughts is not unique to this author, and his approach has 34 different questions which in my view are unnecessarily complex. Still valuable insights for the beginner who has not had exposure to this approach to understanding.
Recommend
February 11, 2019
“”””””””
Too many “” it was distracting, I got the point. At a certain point in the book skimming was not enough. I tried to focus and felt I understood concepts but the writing distracted me. My biggest take away is that I can re-evaluate what my beliefs are and determine what is good or bad.
Too many “” it was distracting, I got the point. At a certain point in the book skimming was not enough. I tried to focus and felt I understood concepts but the writing distracted me. My biggest take away is that I can re-evaluate what my beliefs are and determine what is good or bad.
March 21, 2020
"March 20, 2020 –
100.0% "Noah Elkrief is like bible of how to lice day to day life...
most our problems... come from thoughts and lavels of good and bad...
Once most of those things get removed life gets easy."
March 20, 2020 –
100.0% "Its bible for the present moment!"
March 17, 2020 –
50.0% "Thats whats happenig here... if you don't skip...
Few pages...
Few chapters...
You are stuck in sone kinda loophole...
Yeah... I got it...
Thoughts about the circustamces... create horrible emotions and feelings..."
March 17, 2020 –
50.0% "88 out of 189...
Have you ever had the feeling that you are stuck in some kinda loophole?"
March 17, 2020 – Shelved
March 17, 2020 – Started Reading"
100.0% "Noah Elkrief is like bible of how to lice day to day life...
most our problems... come from thoughts and lavels of good and bad...
Once most of those things get removed life gets easy."
March 20, 2020 –
100.0% "Its bible for the present moment!"
March 17, 2020 –
50.0% "Thats whats happenig here... if you don't skip...
Few pages...
Few chapters...
You are stuck in sone kinda loophole...
Yeah... I got it...
Thoughts about the circustamces... create horrible emotions and feelings..."
March 17, 2020 –
50.0% "88 out of 189...
Have you ever had the feeling that you are stuck in some kinda loophole?"
March 17, 2020 – Shelved
March 17, 2020 – Started Reading"
Read
January 15, 2021Love Noah
After watching his videos on YouTube I got the book and loved it. You need to look at things from another perspective and us humans really need help with that. We are so one sided in the way we think and it keeps us stuck and unhappy. Noah seems like a beautiful soul and i find this book really helpful. Open your mind and your heart and enjoy this book. Thank you Noah
After watching his videos on YouTube I got the book and loved it. You need to look at things from another perspective and us humans really need help with that. We are so one sided in the way we think and it keeps us stuck and unhappy. Noah seems like a beautiful soul and i find this book really helpful. Open your mind and your heart and enjoy this book. Thank you Noah
June 18, 2021
Detailed help
Thru reading this book, i have experienced freedom on a new
level. This book clearly explains why we have certain thoughts and what to do about it. The tools and questions are helpful in getting to the bottom of why, why we do what we do. Try it, it might set you free.
Thru reading this book, i have experienced freedom on a new
level. This book clearly explains why we have certain thoughts and what to do about it. The tools and questions are helpful in getting to the bottom of why, why we do what we do. Try it, it might set you free.
January 19, 2020
Love It!
I choose this book because I wanted PEACE. I truly wanted to be here, NOW. True to it’s word that exactly what the book helps us do. So glad I gave it a read! Highly recommend to anyone else who also is in a similar situation or wants help with being PRESENT.
I choose this book because I wanted PEACE. I truly wanted to be here, NOW. True to it’s word that exactly what the book helps us do. So glad I gave it a read! Highly recommend to anyone else who also is in a similar situation or wants help with being PRESENT.
February 6, 2017
I did enjoy this, it actually brought up some interesting points on how our own thoughts have more control over us then we realize.
November 14, 2017
Best book I read all year. It is a process not a fast read. It’s a book everyone should read. It allow me to think of another way to be in the present moment.
February 28, 2018
A Great Book
One of my best 2018 recommendations! I do not know how I found this book. However, I have been searching for it for a long time. Life in the present moment is freedom.
One of my best 2018 recommendations! I do not know how I found this book. However, I have been searching for it for a long time. Life in the present moment is freedom.
April 24, 2018
This book gave me great insight to my thought process. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to live in the moment.
May 8, 2018
Interesting concept....but not sure if I buy it.
October 13, 2019
As the title suggest
A very good book in today's world where anxiety and stress are prevalent . Made me stop distracting myself from my emotions
A very good book in today's world where anxiety and stress are prevalent . Made me stop distracting myself from my emotions
April 22, 2021
This book helped me a lot and help me frequently, mainly about how to deal with unpleasant emotions
June 24, 2021
This book in general is very interesting
June 6, 2017
Not applicable to me. I read just the first and last chapter. Remember yourself before you were 5 and try to continue to think that way, with no worries.
July 19, 2023
A truly amazing book with brilliant ideas, but in some parts I felt that Noah is taking the idea of disbelieving your thoughts a little bit too far.. I mean, in some parts it's more like you don't need to have thoughts at all, or to believe in something objectively. May be I am wrong, but I hope the book doesn't lead some people to that! But it's definitely a good read, especially in this era of escapism, constant entertainment, and huge internal insecurities.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 42 reviews