Mindfulness: Tao of Living not Surviving | Jeff Cartwright | TEDxJIBC

28 years as a Firefighter nearly led to Jeff becoming another statistic of first responders that are taken out by their mental health. Understanding the true meaning of Mindfulness and using this gift that is spoken about will change your life and allow you to control your own path to mental and emotional health. This inspiring talk will teach you how to "Live" and not just "Survive". After 28 years as a First Responder, Jeff transitioned into his work as a Crisis Management Specialist and Work Place Mental Health Facilitator. Jeff is an /instructor for the Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC) Fire Academy and an instructor for the Center for Counselling and Community Safety (JIBC). In the field of mental health, Jeff has developed many initiatives by introducing the latest techniques and training to the workplace. He is well respected for his ability to connect with people and provide them with direction to support mental health. Jeff was a valuable resource to the BC College of Pharmacists Robbery Prevention Task Force, which drafted new bylaws that came into effect September 15, 2015 in response to the opioid crisis. Jeff brings his admiration and knowledge of Eastern Philosophy into his life as a Facilitator for Workplace Mental Health Education and Leadership Training. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@farahjuniper9214]

"Post traumatic growth." This talk is a call to action to move from self pity. Really needed this talk today.

[@jeffcartwright3024]

I'm glad it helped you Farah. Your comment is very appreciated, thank you

[@emmatshields]

Nothing makes me smile and connect a little bit more than when someone refers to old tech like a pagers and a phone booth.

[@angelaharvey9868]

This talk was exactly where I need to be today! Beautiful

[@chelseasavage5990]

👏 🙌 👐 🤲Namaste Jeff, really great talk👏 🙌 👐 🤲

[@jeffcartwright9799]

Thank you so much Chelsea. You taking time out of your day to send me this comment is amazing! Have a fantastic day

[@williambessel4970]

Chelsea, great share.

[@t-bonebranson]

He's so fabulous

[@dimamoharev]

Mindfulness, gratitude, empathy and understanding - such amazing qualities to have in life. They bring so much peace. What a journey this man has had, and now he pays it forward with spreading the knowledge he has acquired. Taoism is such a humble way of understanding and directing our energy.

[@tterrydoyle]

it's amazing!

[@javadnajafii1035]

Thank you Jeff, this gives me understanding as I have no idea of what the front line feels like at the end of the day. It takes an exceptional person to do this, and recognize what needs to change.

[@jeffcartwright9799]

Thank you Javed for the very kind words. I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@theoriginaltedtok]

Surviving is something I see and feel everyday. When we see anger or become anger sometimes life is just too hard to process.

[@umitkrca]

Mindfulness, when you carry it and spread it you feel it - amen.

[@jeffcartwright3024]

Thank you 😊

[@jackiehathway]

Note to self, allow people to help you. Thanks Jeff

[@farahjuniper9214]

good note. think we could all do with it.

[@jeffcartwright3024]

You're welcome Jackie! We have to remind ourselves sometimes before we get too far out of balance. Thank you for sharing

[@felicityhalette]

I've watched a lot of people change and not for the good based on the responsibilities of career. Its wonderful to see messages like this to help people find their inner zen.

[@eric-tran]

i'm all about this!! we are all exactly where we are meant to be - what we can learn, how we can grow, well that's up to us. amazing tedtalk!

[@jeffcartwright3024]

Thank you very much Eric, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@kirstenviesitle]

Amazing!!! Such a good talk for right now!!!

[@jeffcartwright3024]

Thank you Kirsten, I'm so happy you enjoyed it!

[@eliseseveniegn]

Such an inspiration, your experience is helping us move beyond the chattering mind of destruction . Thank you Jeff.

[@jeffcartwright3024]

Thank you very much for your kind comments Elise.😊

[@eliseseveniegn]

@@jeffcartwright3024 Thank you for replying, you are so kind.

[@bachtran957]

Thank you, Jeff. You seems like a good person with the right kind of energy. That's so rare nowadays.

[@jeffcartwright3024]

Thank you Bach, I appreciate the kind words. I believe that the majority of the people we meet are good people with positive energy to share, they just need to be shown how to be conscious. Have a great day and thank you for watching.

[@dangeraldporter]

The more the world move to the Tao the closer we get to consciousness.

[@jeffcartwright3024]

Thank you Dan

[@dangeraldporter]

@@jeffcartwright3024 Namaste Jeff

[@ianrendle]

true Dan

[@therealmyyt]

If Trump wins we move further away!

[@alibabagurjiani]

this is so rad. ya can tell this guy believes in what he's talking about, he's got such an energy about him.

[@ma-T-oxic]

its zen bro, pure zen

[@jeffcartwright9799]

Thank you Alibaba

[@CDNFf02]

Thank you Jeff.

[@jeffcartwright9799]

Thank you brother, stay low and stay safe!

[@tterrydoyle]

It's so important to remember, even at our lowest, the people in our lives are not just background characters, they are the main characters in their own stories and our actions, our reactions, can and will affect how they travel. Be kind, be empathetic. Loved this man's story!

[@billyzwilliams]

So happy you shared this with me. So good!

[@jeffcartwright9799]

Thank you Terry and very well said 👍

[@jeffcartwright9799]

@@billyzwilliams Thank you Billy, glad you enjoyed my talk😊

[@felicityhalette]

loved this!

[@milagroczarnecki]

I love that, asking someone how they are and ensuring they tell you how they're feeling.. What a way to really get to the heart of peoples emotions and what drives them. So enjoyed this talk! Thank you!

[@michaelhunt635]

this guy has quite a spark hey

[@jeffcartwright3024]

This guy thanks you Mr. Hunt 😉

[@michaelhunt635]

@@jeffcartwright3024 wow and thanks back again.

[@jycintabrown]

We are in this together and yet all we ever hear about is how to succeed, how to measure it, and how to brag about it. All our systems drive humans to produce and put aside what we feel.

[@rusticsettings]

yes so true.

[@Elusive-Khan]

I just need to get through this and I'll be ok. I say this everyday and then just keep pushing on.

[@theothersideofego]

My new best friend, great talk and a better man. I aspire to have his sense of goodness.

[@chelseasavage5990]

Thanks for sharing this Mr. Gravenor!!

[@jeffcartwright9799]

Thank you very much Jonathan! I was so excited that someone with your experience and professionalism watched my talk. I am more excited that I can now call you a friend.

[@michealdrozd]

Yo JG, great share bro!

[@dangeraldporter]

Good share Jonathan, thanks for posting this.

[@therealbellasantarosa]

I saw your shout out on this, thanks its an awesome talk.

[@ermacohen]

Emergency workers are very special people.

[@tonyiquintero]

Well this wasn't what I was expecting when I was searching Taoism on youtube... But here I am feeling more inspired than ever. Jeff, you're incredibly resilient! Really grateful I've stumbled across this, this mission I've been on for a while now seems a lot more doable after watching you!!

[@jeffcartwright3024]

Thank you so much for the kind words Tony! The Tao is a way of life and now that your journey has started, it will make more sense to you as every day passes. I don't believe you stumbled across my talk....it was the right time for you to find it.😉

[@tonyiquintero]

@@jeffcartwright3024 True, thank you again!

[@olgasladekova]

Its great hearing this story from the front line, where it leads the mind and distorts the personality. Good work, great talk and everyone who is just surviving should listen.

[@jeffcartwright3024]

Thank you Olga. Very well said!!

[@thomashurbert]

I got so much out of this talk. I definitely need to do some research into Taoism now. Sounds so cool! I do have to say as well, I'm really happy you found a doctor who understood and listened to you. It's hard to find, especially with this Mental Health crisis.

[@sammyllee]

Spread the Tao of the lotus nature😍 🥰perfect man really perfect😍 🥰

[@josuelepiere]

Good add Sammy, this is solid!

[@jeffcartwright9799]

Thank you Sammy, you made my day! Kind words have power.

[@sammyllee]

@@jeffcartwright9799 Great talk Jeff, hope I get to see you live one day doing a talk!

[@konglum]

you can tell how at peace he is!! it's beautiful

[@alextwarburton]

I really liked this talk, made sense out of something I had heard about but didn't understand.

[@dennisdanilla]

wow! what a beautiful beautiful path this guy has taken. incredibly inspiring!!

[@jeffcartwright3024]

This guy is glad you found it inspiring Dennis. Thank you for the kind comment!

[@coopercrank]

Mental health and choice are often on a collision course. In some ways its easier to hold on to your pain and wear it as a badge. There is odd comfort in the safety of staying sick on auto pilot and numbness.

[@mangocantu5382]

Why is we must seem to have to suffer before we find peace?

[@jeffcartwright3024]

Thank you for watching my talk Mango. We don't need to suffer before we find peace or happiness, it's just that often times we need to have adversity and challenges to show us that we have had peace within us dormant all along. I would recommend you look at the 4 noble truths and the 8 fold path in Buddhism, this will give you some enlightenment and understanding of Dukkha. Carl Jung said "there is no coming to consciousness without pain" and "I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become." Be patient and be conscious in your daily life, soon you will find that the answer you're looking for was there all along. Be well, Jeff

[@chinadiggs543]

I know seriously we do!

[@rusticsettings]

love this talk Mango!

[@winnipooh3212]

exactly, so true.

[@mangocantu5382]

@@rusticsettings welcome welcome, be mindful!

[@georgiarouse]

Sharing your pain could be considered selfish because it makes you feel so much better, except remember it also helps others to heal.

[@mycrazylifeismine]

The Lotus Flower grows in filth, much to learn here with hands on experience.

[@kogordanuk]

I know a few firefighters who suffer some severe depression and PTSD!

[@jeffcartwright3024]

Thank you for watching Kogor, please pass on my talk and hopefully they will see that it can and will get better when you ask for help. We are trained to handle situations and ask for backup when needed. When we ask for backup we stay in command/in charge but never walk away. When it comes to our mental health, sometimes we need to walk away for a bit.

[@kogordanuk]

@@jeffcartwright3024 thanks Jeff, I have passed this on.

[@michealdrozd]

2nd time seeing this, popped up in my group today, does it seem to sound too cliche if I say I am grateful it did?

[@jeffcartwright3024]

Micheal, I'm grateful that I read your comment, kindness always prevails! Thank you for watching twice 😊

[@chinadiggs543]

Be a new normal, wow.

[@jeffcartwright3024]

😉

[@chinadiggs543]

@@jeffcartwright3024 thanks!!

[@BitBard302]

This is quite enriching. For a deeper understanding, pick up a book that delves into similar subject matter. "A Life Unplugged: Reclaiming Reality in a Digital Age" by Theodore Blaze

[@zackpinonet]

😍 🥰 😘Namaste😍 🥰 😘Perfect😍 🥰 😘

[@jeffcartwright3024]

Thank you Zack for the kind words, I wish you well.

[@jankyrose5449]

Luckily Daoism is starting to make a comeback! I genuinely believe if our Western Society was taught more about balance we wouldn't have half the issues we face these days.

[@milagroczarnecki]

Couldn't agree more with this!

[@gabor-kantor]

I remember reading an article about this a couple of years ago!

[@jeffcartwright9799]

I'm with you Janky

[@linknero1]

I can't believe someone could make a video like this, preposterous

[@eliseseveniegn]

why is it preposterous? have you looked into taoism? it's pretty awesome.

[@winnipooh3212]

Thank you Jeff, this gives me understanding as I have no idea of what the front line feels like at the end of the day. It takes an exceptional person to do this, and recognize what needs to change.