Making Friends With Anxiety? - Jeff Foster

Jeff Foster talks about meeting "the anxious one inside", mindfully, carefully, slowly, in the present moment.... How we can turn towards our anxiety, sensing the intense sensations in the body, being aware of the scary thoughts in our minds, trusting the experience as much as we can, being the great Power that welcomes even the most uncomfortable states.... And how anxiety is natural and normal, and not our enemy... it's just trying to keep us SAFE, in the only way it knows how. It's intelligent, and there's nothing wrong with us, ever... and perhaps we can befriend our "anxious child inside", moment by precious moment...

[@briechilli4496]

I feel that behind my anxiety is an intense loneliness. I have no family and my life long friends either passed away or left to live in other countries.

[@lauramunicio3083]

Oh Jeff, It IS so good to know that you are feeling better.... So glad to see that you have energy enough to be back on KZbin and keep on publishing videos for your audience. Big Big hug from Spain. Thank you for generosity

[@JaysonT1]

I found this guy and can't believe I have never run across him before. He explains things very digestible for me

[@Gaurav.P0]

You should also check out "Awaken insight" KZbin channel.

[@janericdaniel3192]

For me, often meditation only clears the surface. I think more important question we should ask ourselves is WHY we feel anxious? and is the feeling justified? i suggest we ask this question WHILE meditating. I tried the same thing, meditating, meditating and meditating. But the anxiety was still always at the backround and it affected me in every moment. Not an enjoyable way to live life. Came a day I felt like ending my pain. And started to google my "symptoms". I discovered the root of my anxiety and what caused the anxiety in the first place in my early childhood. And this helped me A LOT because since i know the root, it is WAY easier to be aware of it and realize the feeling is not justified anymore, because there is no real danger here. I think the most powerful healing takes place when we integrate our "true nature" with our "form nature" and learn to respect BOTH, cause we are both.

[@haroldjeanjean]

Thank you Jeff, yesterday was a good day: the day I watched this video. I can enjoy watching, I can feel your love. Because I am safe, in the evening I meditate, breath in these sensations of anxiety. Then slept. Today was a beautifull day. I meditate again in the morning in the sensations. In the day, the anxiety feeling came again but I can continue living my life with the anxiety. WITH! Not against! (6 months I fight this… and it became bigger and bigger). With… and now (in the evening) the sensation are tiny :) on the good way to healing. I am so well now. I can’t believe, but it is true! A few hours to fix this 6 months of hell. Jeff, I knew your are an angel. Now I feel.

[@zain4019]

Bless you

[@lisaatherden2183]

Thank you for pulling me back into Presence, Jeff ❤ it's really helpful to be reminded that we are in an animal body. I remember listening to a book about natural navigation which got me thinking about how deer respond to a threat, then going out in nature and witnessing a squirrel 'freeze' when she saw me. Remembering that the instinctive responses of the body are so natural and are not within my conscious controll. It takes some of the shame out of it, stops it feeling so personal. Then at least there is some space to tend to it. Really good to see you back- I hope you are feeling as well as you look 🙏

[@Ciskuss]

CAN you make a video on shame? Shame can be really difficult to be with. Also dissatisfaction of people that loves you

[@oceansoul96-RI]

I second that! Yes, please consider that @Jeff Foster.

[@gra6799]

Yeah that would be great..!!!

[@pastamane7167]

Shame is actually indulgence in the ego. "Look at me how bad I am what a shameful person. Im notorious for all the terrible things I've done." Like your really not that bad there are rapists and murderers and dictators in this world. My sponsor in aa would ask me as I go on guilt trips "is there a word for it? If theres a word for it that means someone else has done the same thing at some point." The Buddha said all sin is really due to ignorance as you cant have "evil" without ignorance. Human beings are all born inherently good and innocent but can lose ourselves in the negativity and programing of the world. Bad person programming guilt programming - not truth but things we have been taught second hand by media school parents ect. Nothing in the universe has to do with being good or bad these are all notions from childhood.

[@Ciskuss]

@@pastamane7167 some things made by humans are really terrible. Judgment or not

[@ryanmullins2103]

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 bless you, same.

[@mariamkamal]

Just want to say thanks for being here, Jeff.

[@Anne_W._VerbundenSein]

This is so precious. Thanks so much 🧡🙏🕊

[@KieranHunter]

Great video, Jeff

Thanks, Jeff! I'm very happy to see you again, showing good health! Please keep posting videos on KZbin!

[@enja455]

Thank you for sharing ❤

[@ruth6833]

Brilliant video Jeff and perfect timing 🙏

[@michaelachurch4463]

I've missed you.....thank you!😍👍

[@craigtechno]

Your timing is impeccable Jeff, thanks 🙏🏻

[@lm5608]

Thank you so much for everything you do. So happy that you are back in google health, very grateful. Keep going and stay strong.

[@daylconstance7772]

I am so grateful for your beautiful light, Jeff. Your books and spoken words have helped me to heal from recurrent bouts of crippling anxiety and depression, which I have come to realize were caused by my unwillingness to be present in my ailing body and mind. This video is a lovely explanation of the healing process as I experienced it personally. Healing begins and grows with loving and nurturing the self tenderly, patiently; with inquiry and intuition. Thank you. ❤

[@Ilovelinaco]

Thanks for sharing 🙏💜

[@jellehoeks7172]

Welcome back brother ❤️ thanks for the amazing video

[@whocares6218]

tears flow from my eyes as i listen to you jeff.. thank you for the reminder friend..

[@marquetta2146]

Thank you so very much ! Your poetry and book and videos have been a great blessing I keep your courage poem has been on my fridge for over 5 yrs. Blessings to you

[@minoukhazaeli2921]

So grateful you do better strong warrior you look amazing Thanks for all you honesty ❤🎉

[@soulstar2401]

Good to see you here again, Jeff!!!

[@leesahughes777]

I really needed to hear this. Thank You so much ✨💫

[@evonsoulos4218]

Thankyou so much. Luv u 🙏❤💙❤❤

[@parisa1995k]

For me this was more helpful than the therapy sessions I've had. Thank you.

[@katyboyer266]

Thank You!!! I just learned about You from reading Your poem 'How I Became a Warrior' on a lovely friend's blog. THANK YOU for that as well! Been watching some of Your videos. You've brought me to laughter many times. Thank God! I truly appreciate You! Been having a very committed push-away session the past couple of days with some intense anxiety and fear. The timing is impeccable. SO very helpful. 🤗❤🙏🏼

[@ejeun9382]

I appreciate you

[@AllGood_Thingss]

this is a wonderful video and really opens your eyes to understanding anxiety better 🙏🏼 thank you for sharing your a beautiful soul for helping others xxxx

[@Lamapanty]

You just put into words, the process I have done with my anxiety. One day I realized I had it, took me a long time to realize since I had never struggled with it before. I lost all my secure anchors in life. Went through years of dealing with it, and one day not too long ago I realized, it's gone. What happened exactly? It now feels like I have lost a friend, apart of me. What did I do? I was not too aware of it, because it just... is gone, and I think I just... stopped fighting it, accepted my noisy mind and all the other things you speak of here. My drive force was that "Anxiety, you are not the boss of me", as in... yes you are apart of my life right now, alright but you don't get to rule it compleley. I was curious, very veery curious as to where it came from. I wanted to explore and find out every nitty gritty thing about it, to understand it. Who are you, where did you come from, what do you want? Whats going on now even ''"Shh, be quiet now, it's alright" So I sort of treated it as a person that I wanted to understand and accept. We had many long, very good talks too where I was able to be mindfully and calmly explain to anxiety great many things.

[@Creativehealing444]

Thank you dear Jeff. You walk your talk, and you share your infinite heart wisdom 🙏🏻❤🙏🏻

[@Gaurav.P0]

Beautiful video 🤩

[@gratefullife5741]

Thank you 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@swhite8381]

Ohh yay !! I haven’t seen you on KZbin for a while . I follow you on Facebook and your writing is EVERYTHING. It seems every time you post I feel so touched by your words . I am happy to see you are well ♥️

[@sethuunnikrishnan1508]

Thank you sir

[@whocares6218]

thank you jeff.. namaste

[@FernandoPerez-ci2hq]

Muchas gracias Jeff!!! Me alegra ver que estás bien de salud. Todo mi amor desde España. Eres una gran ayuda ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@dopelnizyciamonikaczublun5590]

Thank you for this video, for your authenticity, for being a non-expert but human. I am grateful :)

[@bizniskitty5138]

It's so hard to allow it and believe it's safe. My anxiety often comes with a blinding light energy in my head that makes me feel dizzy and unfocussed. I really don't like it and want it to go away, but I try to allow it because no force or strategy has worked to get rid if it.

[@defender7624]

Run towards the roar! Ask your anxiety theme to give you more. That breaks the resistance to it by saying give me more please. Most likely it won’t work at first but keep doing it over and over and over. Eventually you’ll retrain your brain that there’s no threat. Right now your amygdala is reacting to a false alarm fueled by second fear (self talk) It’s paradox

[@pumpkini586]

@@defender7624 This

[@sunflowerzelda45]

I sometimes find it hard to leave my yard. Large parties do not like anymore. live alone and the more I am alone the worse this has gotten.

[@spmgijsbers339]

Anxiety or wrong anxiety. You can judge it and therefore make having it heavier. Cos it's not just anxiety, there's also something wrong with you for having it. That's double. Think it's what you meant, he's, i understand xxx ty. Although I might still get into trauma therapy, it might help to allow the anxiety in the present moment. I have no idea where treatment fits in to the whole advaota teachings, nut I am human, jist trying things out to swing with anxiety, i think xxx.

[@spmgijsbers339]

Ty

[@108lukas]

You know, I haven’t even finished watching this but before I do, gotta say, I’m so Jealous of your Beautiful head of Hair! Lol 😂 ❤ Edit.. Loved this video! Very helpful for me and many many others whom I know struggle with anxiety. Have recently quit drinking which wasn’t really problematic but smoking pot all day and night too sometimes for approximately 30 years has left me in denial about my true self’s ability to hold all that. I have long been listening to a meditation by Rupert Spira whom I know you have deep respect for called “Kiss The Toad” which is seemingly the same strategy. But always having been stoned whilst meditating I always found the afflictive emotions were also sorta stoned and hence I was mostly just going through the motions sitting and praying something would shift. In the end I knew what had to shift was my addiction and I have been so scared that I’d never find that safe place within again during meditation because I felt I was just cheating and that spawned a million negative thoughts and doubts. Long story short I just did your meditation for meeting our toughest moments and I am very happy to say that all my “progress “ has not been illusory and I just want to say thanx Jeff…I’m SO glad you’re back here with us. You’ve helped restore my faith in my true Self and there are no words for that so I’ll just shut up finally! Much Love my dear friend! ❤

[@zain4019]

Thank-you for your deep compassion. It really touches me. "...this curious, loving, receptive, open attention..." Matthew 18.3-4 “Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

[@kareemmohammed5270]

resonate

[@claudelebel49]

Open and soften

[@vanshikathakur]

❤️

[@lourdesherran1168]

Es posible traducir a español los vídeos de Jeff?. Muchas gracias

[@sofiafantin5280]

I feel a BOMB in my belly.. it’s trying to explode , but can’t do it! I would like this bomb to explode.. but it never happens.. I’ m 24 and it started many many years ago… So I need to run all day and night long .. it’s a nightmare. I’ ve tried meditation, psychotherapy, I’ ve tried to welcome it, everything… nothing works . My nervous system can’t calm down

[@annaberg1200]

I feel you.

[@GreaterGoals]

Hi ! How is everything? Didn't see videos in a while. I hope your health is ok. I would be honoured to interview you on zoom. Can i email you? Thanks !

[@tancythukar9504]

Can we do the same with fear, depression etc?❤️❤️

[@ssburch3420]

Absolutely ❤️

[@ejeun9382]

which means thank you Maybe mistake for the grammar@@

[@stacielivinthedream8510]

No, it was not a mistake in grammer! Appreciation does mean Thank you! That was understandable and correct! Blessings to you! ♥️👌💯😊

[@ejeun9382]

@@stacielivinthedream8510 Thank you so much

[@stacielivinthedream8510]

@@ejeun9382 Awe, you're very welcome! So glad to help! 😊👌💯

[@andrewortiz5797]

After My Spiritual Awakening, Life was Great and I had such Joy. Then about 6 months to a year after My Awakening the ego came back and my Anxiety came back and with a vengeance. My Social Anxiety is effecting my Life and it's becoming debilitating. I want to socialize and connect with people and form meaningful relationships but my social anxiety prevents me from doing that which causes much Suffering. I can barely leads my room. I only come out just to go to work and even at work, my Social Anxiety is effecting my work and everyone is staring at me for some reason. I walk in the room and all eyes instantly gaze at me. It's creepy lol.

[@defender7624]

You’re going to have to be ok with feeling awkward, clumsy or whatever else your social phobia/anxiety’s telling you. I’ve had it my entire life and now I just don’t care anymore. If I make a fool of myself so be it 🤷🏼.

[@andrewortiz5797]

@@defender7624 I wish I had your attitude. It's not that easy when I get in fight or flight mode, I get stuck on autopilot.

[@pumpkini586]

Have you tried not resisting the anxiety? Not wishing it weren’t there?

[@andrewortiz5797]

@@pumpkini586 I need help with Accepting it. I try to become Aware of the Anxiety with Mindfulness but when I'm in the work building, the social anxiety kicks my ass and I fall back into unconsciousness. It's hard to remain In Awareness when in fight or flight mode.

[@pumpkini586]

@@andrewortiz5797 Yeah for sure, be easy on yourself, it’s a process. It’s a muscle you can train and you can get better at not falling unconscious. Just keep practicing becoming aware of the anxiety when you’re anxious. What is it that’s aware of the anxiety? What is that space that’s aware? In that space there’s no anxiety and there’s peace.

[@Lene1973a]

Your view is too narrow. About how "all other teachers are wrong"?? Hello. Its not only about acceptance. Its also about learning how to master the and focus the mind. I blame you for dissing other teachers. Accepting what is, is very important. But thats not all!

[@benjayk]

For me some kinds of anxiety can feel like a fire. An energy that keeps spreading and have destructive effects. Especially with your past experiences you describe I feel a bit surprised that your tone is so neutral about it. Still, running away itself might not be the best and most skillful response, like when there is a real fire just running around in panic might just get you deeper into the smoke and fire. And it definitely is not an enemy! Imagine getting into a fist fight with the fire, ouch!!! ⚠🔥 But at the same time, if there is a fire then feeling it, being curious or slowing down by itself will not resolve the fire and you might get hurt staying in the fire and smoke. Either it burns itself out or ideally we can help extinguish it, distance ourselves from it, find our way out (definitely mindfulness can help with that if we have the capabilities) or protect ourselves from it. Most likely we need support for that, too👩‍🚒🚒🧯. So I do think we have to distinguish healthy or tolerable anxiety that is contained within the bonfire or confined to the torch, so to speak. and the anxiety that has harmful effects like is rather frequent with mental health issues or also in panicked situations. Like for me when watching the video I can sense how the anxiety itself can sabotage that process of mindfulness in the sense that it can bring up other tendencies that inhibit mindfulness, like suppression, inner conflict, holding on to control, a freeze reaction (which "slows down" I suppose but not in the way you mean it) etc... So there treating it as just an emotion or energy that comes up is not quite enough, as it is important to acknowledge and honor the bigger context and everything that arises with it. Now as I do that I can actually also open more to the feeling as it feels safer and more present... 🤔