No more fear of life | Marnix Pauwels | TEDxArnhem

Fear exists only in your mind. And Marnix Pauwels got scared ,not from what was actually happening in his life, but he got scared of the thought what could happen in his life.
Copywriter. Singer. Writer. Lover of life. Former addict. Spiritual realist. Very much in contact with my essence. Mindtraveler. Boob fan.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@SM-fm4eb]

I am going through this right now... fear of life, aging, single, past and future... fear of life every moment and life...

[@awesomeanimals2668]

William M exactly what I’ve been going through for about 3 months

[@johnisasexyname]

For me its fear of my loved ones not being happy and i just cant feel happy with out them being happy

[@khaos1185]

Me too exactly like you I thought I was the only one fear of a lot things it stops me from being happy it sucks

[@johnisasexyname]

@@khaos1185 do you believe in a God? Or any religion?

[@khaos1185]

@@johnisasexyname I believe in God just not in religion it's complicated

[@christian.dewanto7498]

a wise man said " humans never suffer life, they just suffer their own emotion"

[@mladendenni7062]

wtf

[@Gydjulind]

I’d rather say: ‘they just suffer THINKING ABOUT their own emotion’.

[@tman5066]

"I was scared of my 'THOUGHTS' about life...." Fear, Guilt, Shame will never disappear until you face them directly....! FEAR IS ABOUT STORIES in our head.

[@sandeepnagra9652]

O

[@sandeepnagra9652]

Gy

[@arandomperson2975]

@@sandeepnagra9652 ?

[@brattsrbija]

how to face my fears ?

[@evasall6901]

@@brattsrbija I wanna know to? How do you face your fears?

[@RFBRproductions]

I want to hug this guy.

[@digitalglutton]

Single best vid to watch if you are struggling with anxiety.

[@MarnixPauwels]

Thanks so much!

[@TheXuism]

I can not be my thoughts when I witness them. That's gold insight.

[@MarnixPauwels]

It is, right!

[@pastelpolestar1682]

When he said stop thinking, I ended up holding my breath. .__.

[@babalabumba]

I am so impressed with the sincerity of this real guy with his real felings ! I am grateful !

[@MarnixPauwels]

Thanks a lot!

[@bibinjacob846]

Same feeling

[@JGAMESOGsubscribenow]

i rly needed dis video cuz everyday i’m so afraid of life n what will go wrong everyday...to make da fear go away i wonder if i should jus take myself out of dis world

[@Rudeboii1k]

Noooo that’s never to right thing to do

[@aliveandwell3958]

You belong here.

[@Nick_Taylor.]

Stay

[@gabrielacolumna1830]

No fear should never equate to your life. Fear is a figure of your imagination. You are a being in present reality. You are worth every ounce of this life

[@Malaysiannightmare1969]

@@gabrielacolumna1830 and who is valuating us?

[@kennedynjuguna]

This is amazing to see. He truly is a real warrior. Not many people get out of drugs and depression but real warriors do.

[@MarnixPauwels]

Thanks, I like the sound of that! :)

[@tiagoribeiro885]

Some warriors die in batlles, you can't generalize. He is a great story, but some souls fought and perished.

[@kennedynjuguna]

@@tiagoribeiro885 yes that's so real.

[@Maiden4eva1995]

I wish I could thank this man some way. I keep coming back to this ted talk after completing more and more college. Just over a year and a half I watched this in a detox center and came to the great realization I could overcome all the BS that comes with alcoholism. His message also makes much more sense after taking philosophy and reading some books on it a year and a half later.

[@MarnixPauwels]

Well, you have just thanked me :) And I want to thank you back, and congratulate you on your insights and the obvious power of your journey. Keep transcending the BS my man!

[@pbat118]

I'm in this situation too it's like I'm addicted to being depressed I really need to start meditating actually set a time and force myself to just sit in silence and focus on the breath for as long as possible as it does actually work very well. me too sick of hiding from the brain...

[@PEGF4MG]

Paul Freeman - how are you going with the meditation?

[@mohammadifrahim]

Paul, have you improved?

[@sempressfi]

Hope things are going well 💜

[@AlbionRising]

Meditation and wim HOF method of breathing similar to yogic breathing but it all rewires your patterns. Anxiety depression become a pattern so is not just random. You need to get to the core. Try it out !

[@blowintrees4885]

Habits can be hard to build, especially in a negative state. Just stick to it, you know the benefits and the purpose of it

[@rinusworldzm]

I really need to hear this from this guy. I struggle with fear and hearing the guy has really helped me think about fear differently.

[@MarnixPauwels]

Thanks so much for sharing this!

[@VideoHostSite]

God, this man describes my life so accurately that it's scary.

[@MarnixPauwels]

Believe me: there are millions and millions of people out there living in fear or at least some pretty tough form of anxiety. It's very, very common, and getting rid of it is way less complicated than you might think! I wish you all the inspiration and good nudges in the world to realize that you're actually safe, okay and awesome!

[@110Hiba]

Just try step by step to come out. You can do that.

[@Bencrzn]

“Things like fear are often an illusion”

[@darrenwalshe8513]

Everything is an illusion xx

[@darshinikumar1601]

Wow. You just brought light into my life. This is the most honest and relatable speech I've ever heard... THIS IS want I wanted.. sir.. wherever you are ..more strength to you.♥️

[@MarnixPauwels]

Thanks so much for your beautiful words and share, really appreciate it!

[@tousifk3138]

@@MarnixPauwels can you help me

[@arifali6762]

Great talk. My take is don’t hurt yourself because of bad thoughts. Address them and then dissolve them. Be positive and keep moving. I would like to add, “Count your blessings and ignore your miseries”. Good luck every one.

[@MarnixPauwels]

Thanks Arif!

[@malgozata1875]

I just love Marnix's take on "thinking". I have recently concluded that I am what I believe. So, I have been putting a lot of time and energy into CONTROLLING my thoughts, instead of just SEPARATING myself from them, NOT INVESTING in them. I love this approach. It makes absolute sense. Thank all of you who have brought this wisdom to me. I was interested in finding Marnix's book "Free" in English. So far, I have only located Dutch copies of it. If anyone can help with this, I would appreciate it. Thank you.

[@jessicastalter2434]

He really explained this perfectly.. very happy I stumbled upon this tonight .

[@MarnixPauwels]

So cool that this is helpful for you!

[@ivanakrsteva4582]

This talk reminds me very much of the book New Earth by Ekart Tolle i read it awhile ago. That book it's truly a masterpiece and it does underline the essential truth that we are not our thoughts that we are so used to believe we are , that so many times has let us into destructive behavior and depression.

[@josegarcia303]

We are beauty truly. We ar ehumble and hard working and forgiving. Thats what we are we are moving being that just happen to go through hard terrains... But if we saw the beautiful being wr have inside that wr can change lives and progress things would be amazing.

[@disturbed1013]

@Marten Dekker every intense emotion has a reason for it. You can express it if you want, until the next time it comes up again, but if you stop for a moment, and look deep inside, you'll find out what really is bothering you, and then you can do something about it, change it. And release it.

[@soniasamivillin743]

I instantly liked this man when I saw his shaking hand while telling his story.

[@MarnixPauwels]

Thanks, it was quite intimidating at the start!

[@authorbandc8814]

Going through this right now. Fear of traveling to places that are out of my routine. Fear of death comes up all of the time…it’s agitating because I’m not living.

[@metoowahl]

when I find something interesting I have to share with people. you wanted me to stop thinking for a few minutes so I did. but when I opened my eyes, I only wanted to think of all the good things in my life. one of them was Robin Williams putting on one more show. I allowed him into my life a long time ago. he was funny and sometimes sad. but he always made people feel good about themselves just like you Mr Pauwels. I came to understand that I create my own problems, not spritualy but only in reality. people and actors tell stories and some are lived through experiences in a reality that we can't see, but the heart does I used to say that if I didn't think, I would have nothing to remember. But what good would that be to me? I wanted to live forever so I could help people get up through my life long experiences and lessons to give people a reason to live and love. but people get hooked on things that don't apply to living life. you said something about nature filling in the gaps? and so people do just that by filling it all in with rubish. people feel alone inside and out because we feel a higher purpose for living. This isn't all that I am. In fact this is just the beginning for me. so many people are heard on themselves because of failure. and some feel like they were in the wrong places at the wrong time. simply they need someone who understands. I know that I need someone that does.

[@marin803]

Every thought come and go, but I stay. Thanks! That was so good!

[@MarnixPauwels]

Yup that's right, thanks for your response!

[@namitagupta8241]

I really needed this Marnix, thank you so much. I feel some hope and light in your words.

[@MarnixPauwels]

And you should!

[@twoyears23]

For me--I have learned to take any fears in my life over time, and return them to my enemies times 10 each time. As time marches into the future--It tends to become overwhelming for those sources/peoples who try to put such things upon me--It in the now and forever future will be as such. My faith gives me my strength and backbone to do such. I see the world continuing to take shape in those places where such things happen and the world in general. Just my approach and full belief system.

[@dolarich]

Thank you so much, I really needed to hear your words

[@MarnixPauwels]

A littl late, this response, but thanks a lot and you are most welcome!

[@saminfatima6129]

Tht innocence coupled with honesty and truth...I'm ready to take this on...hats off yo this guy❤ May God bless u..

[@MarnixPauwels]

Thank you so much, my hat off for you too!

[@MarnixPauwels]

@SpaceSheep I believe in oneness, because that's what we fundamentally consist of. And I totally believe in finding that truth within a human experience. You can call it God if you want to!

[@MarnixPauwels]

@SpaceSheep Hi, well I think it believes in me, that's for sure! It's totally clear to me that we're essentially one, lost in the dream of being a separate being, so I feel very much guided and assisted by 'a higher power'!

[@violetdavis8570]

You found your courage. It is not easy to let go of fear and doubt but you did it and I applaud you. Thank you for sharing your story. It, you, are inspirational.

[@MarnixPauwels]

Thanks so much Violet!

[@gabrielacolumna1830]

I go back to this ted talk so many times. He has changed my life forever!

[@MarnixPauwels]

Oh, wow, thanks so much Gabriela, that means a lot to me!

[@Beebreezy21]

Incredible. Thank you Marnix pauwels your words hit home.

[@MarnixPauwels]

Sorry for responding so laten, but thanks and you are most welcome!

[@teresadeagle3079]

Bravo !! Beautifully said. I will open each envelope and make the amends that are so overdue. Thank you

[@MarnixPauwels]

Thanks a lot Teresa, awesome!

[@RabiRose]

I'm saving this to "embrace the idear"

[@jknell5031]

I have been doing meditation off and on for ever and it still hasn't worked. I'm meditating on the Koan, "What is my original face before my mother and father were born?" There's no answer and briefly no thoughts which means pure awareness.. But when Marnix mentioned there's a distance between you and thought something clicked. It was like I had a tool! I brought up a trauma then thought, that's not me. It worked. My shoulders shook then relaxed. I notice when I address my thought my attention goes up to the "third eye" when IT says, "That's not me." Dank U wel, Marnix Pauwels.

[@MarnixPauwels]

Wow, so cool that you heard something that's helpful!

[@MarnixPauwels]

Thanks so much for sharing your experience, this is really very touching!

[@vhenezatrocio-pastores3484]

Thank you so much for the wonderful insight sir.. You have the brilliance in helping and giving the idea of freeing a fearful mind... I learned something from your experience. I salute you!

[@MarnixPauwels]

Thanks so much for your thoughtful answer, I really appreciate it, and I love it that my talk was helpful!

[@TonyHaksma1990]

I love your speeches! Your mind is so clear and in balance it makes me almost jealous.

[@mkpoutopatrick1366]

Lol🤣

[@MarnixPauwels]

Thanks Tonnie!

[@gcarlin6771]

Great talk. Thank you Marnix Pauwels

[@MarnixPauwels]

Awesome, you are very welcome!

[@nonyt8185]

Thank you so much ! Your voice is so calming and the speech is powerful !

[@MarnixPauwels]

Sure thing, glad to be able to help a bit, thanks for letting me know!

[@IgnaChi1978]

I was waiting for this all my life. Thank you my friend!

[@MarnixPauwels]

How cool, you are most welcome!

[@davidjosephphotography4368]

Loved hearing this.

[@MarnixPauwels]

Thank you!

[@peterkramer5048]

Awesome!!.....Thank you for such sharing your amazing experience and insights!!...WoW!

[@MarnixPauwels]

Cool, thanks, and you are most welome Peter!

[@jayyyyjacks]

Truth I’ve watched many many talks about anxiety and fear and this is the best . He is one of the only people I’ve seen that actually makes sense of fear and how best to deal with it. Please watch if you are struggling. Worth it!

[@MarnixPauwels]

Wow, Justin, what a huge compliment, thanks so much!!

[@amberhayes6173]

This is pure gold

[@MarnixPauwels]

Thanks!

[@spoonyquine1584]

yes!! this guy!! and I stopped thinking for a minute. years of practice

[@WILLYLYNCH.]

You can't stop thinking.

[@MarnixPauwels]

Thanks!

[@rihamesper8758]

Love thissss talk thank u Marnix

[@MarnixPauwels]

Thanks, you are most welcome!

[@notgonnlie5119]

great words, inspiring and right to the point.

[@MarnixPauwels]

Thanks a lot, Marcos!

[@goneviral8814]

Brilliant man and a brilliant way of explaining things

[@MarnixPauwels]

Ooh, I really like that amount of brilliance, thanks!

[@josephmotzno3160]

Thank You for sharing. Very Inspiring message !

[@MarnixPauwels]

You are most welcome, Joseph!

[@NooriaMunir]

definitely one of the best ted talks out there

[@MarnixPauwels]

Well, thanks very much!

[@Ahmed1973]

God bless you man. You are amazing.

[@MarnixPauwels]

Thanks so much Ahmed, and bless you too!

[@raulmontesdeoca7843]

Thank you so much!

[@MarnixPauwels]

You are most welcome Raul!

[@johnrainford996]

Well done Marnix - an inspiration!!!

[@MarnixPauwels]

Thanks a lot, John!

[@dodgetruck2002]

Best TED talk I ever heard!

[@MarnixPauwels]

Thanks!

[@misssnuffy]

What a great guy! ❤️

[@MarnixPauwels]

Thanks, you are great too!

[@MM-se7eu]

Thank you Marnix. You speak the truth from you heart. Thank You!

[@MarnixPauwels]

Thanks Mark, you are very welcome!

[@shahinariannia3156]

The most important truth

[@jessicak4660]

So inspiring! Thank you so much for this talk! I‘m still struggling with my envelopes and could never talk to anybody about it. I was too embarrassed .

[@MarnixPauwels]

Hi Jessica, thanks for your response, and you are most welcome. I totally get your embarrassment, but let me tell you this: as a coach, I meet new people every day, and they ALL feel embarrassed and misunderstood and often lonely. You are not an anomaly, Jessica, it's just that most people hide their true feelings. I hope you will keep finding the courage to open you envelopes, and become a role model for others!

[@jessicak4660]

@@MarnixPauwels Thanks for letting me know! I really appreciate it! Inspired by your talk, I started addressing the problem, instead of avoiding it.

[@MarvintheMartian438]

I’m not Scared of dying I just have a fear of new thing, meeting people talking in Public and trying new things

[@TheXuism]

I have the same experience may help you out. I started at talking to passengers sit by my side on the bus . Just one sentence a time, gradually the fear of talking to strangers will decrease and even disappear.

[@mohammadifrahim]

thanks, it looked genuine and from the heart. Regards

[@MarnixPauwels]

Thank you, and you are most welcome!

[@senik64]

thank you so much for this.

[@MarnixPauwels]

Sure thing!

[@annaberg1200]

I'm afraid of everything. It's ruining my life. I have anxiety and depression. I know what he's saying is true, but it doesn't help the fear is there anyway..

[@biancahernandez4885]

Same for me 😢

[@vvp1229]

Loved this.

[@MarnixPauwels]

Thanks!

[@Wotan-Born]

Thank you sir

[@MarnixPauwels]

Sure thing, Kris!

[@kobygates]

For me the letter in the beggining is existence and why we're here

[@allimai]

I’m glad I stumbled onto this

[@MarnixPauwels]

Cool, me too! Glad that it somehow does something for you!

[@angel-zu4ry]

It makes me so happy just to hear that,

[@MarnixPauwels]

It makes me happy to read that it makes you happy!!

[@TolgaOzisik]

Great!

[@alessia_antonia]

Great and super nice, smart guy. Loved his talk

[@josegarcia303]

You look like my English teacher form 10th grade!

[@MarnixPauwels]

Thanks so much Alessia!

[@Charlotte757]

For the past 7 years I’ve been so paranoid and afraid to do things that I’ve learned to think how difficult it is to be alive. I’m healing and I’ve done the work but still everyday I think about how my day can go wrong. I lost my personality. Got into unloving/toxic relationships and began to hate myself. I’m tired of it and I want professional help because I have big dreams and goals but my negative thoughts control me

[@MarnixPauwels]

Go for it, professional help can make a huge difference!

[@kratosofspartareal]

This is so real

[@MarnixPauwels]

You are so right!

[@aranara_song]

My head was messing with me again. This helped me relax a little bit. Thank you :)

[@MarnixPauwels]

You're most welcome!

[@andreasdbs]

You can either be a host to God (dao) or a hostage to your ego

[@paulinewhalen6761]

Good talk and very wise advice

[@MarnixPauwels]

Thanks a lot, Pauline!

[@akb320]

I’m 18 and I feel this

[@adrianb6092]

Good speaking, and a very honest approach, I find fear fastinating, one mans fear is another man's excitement, we tend to fear things the more we hide from them, avoiding tells the protective parts of the mind that their must be a real threat because you are avoiding things, most fears come down to judgement on yourself and from other people, the thing is that what we think is personal and individual is usually offen very common it's just everyone hides what we believe weakness, and show our strength the real strength is showing up afraid, leaders are offen perceived as not having fear the truth is everyone is a afraid its just comes down to what degree you are afraid and what degree you try to hide it, most of us are baby's pretending to be adults, fair play great speech you can't have courage ever without fear we justify our feelings through stories.

[@MarnixPauwels]

Thanks a lot Adrian! Good comment!

[@maximhollandnederlandthene7640]

Your you Your thinking is from you inside. Try to ease or distract it in a good way. Be good and do good.

[@grantknott]

Awesome thank you

[@MarnixPauwels]

Sure thing Grant, you're welcome!

[@azaramoon4027]

I love these Ted Talks !

[@MarnixPauwels]

Awesome, thanks!

[@tonychow8120]

sincere guy with wisdom about fear.

[@MarnixPauwels]

Thank you!

[@viproom3426]

loved it ♡

[@MarnixPauwels]

I love that!

[@dianaboughner7977]

Wonderful message 👍👍💞

[@MarnixPauwels]

Thanks so much, Diana!

[@sunnybhachu1291]

Great & motivating

[@MarnixPauwels]

Thanks Sunny !

[@iandavis6952]

I thought I was fine but I was scared on the bus going home tonight. Its nice to know I'm not alone.

[@cutter3377]

Excellent speach and really resonates with me. Thank you. By the way marnix you look like mel gibson...

[@MarnixPauwels]

Thanks a lot, and I like the comparison :)

[@Trabajoprogresoyconocimiento]

Negative toughts sometimes are data about things are not so well in our lives or in our past.

[@CodeNovis]

As I'm writing this, I am afraid. Of writing a comment, Of tomorrow, of going back to work, of going to doctor to have my eye examined. But these are my thoughts. I should be able to observe them and not become them, not let them dictate me my life. Honestly it is difficult but I want to try to separate myself from them.

[@rhondapelletier2141]

Hope you faced your Fear, & found you could Handle it❤️🙏....... I’m in kinda safe place you were.....FEAR of virus ( as I am a germ Afobe during a pandemic!!!)..... The vax is not safe for me......

[@Slavic_Queen]

Great speach

[@MarnixPauwels]

Thanks!

[@JOHNATR]

Fear is nothing but story.

[@MarnixPauwels]

Absolutely!

[@torababdullah7952]

How a 17 minute talk can be so enlightening...

[@MarnixPauwels]

Thank you so much!

[@nota7660]

Amen

[@mentalhelp8474]

Ive been doing some of my own videos on this and you are right. :)

[@MarnixPauwels]

Awesome, thanks!

[@stanleymadu2119]

Good talk

[@MarnixPauwels]

Thank Stanley!

[@katemurphy1905]

I am afraid, but i'm trying.

[@kobygates]

Im with you

[@evasall6901]

How are you now?

[@katemurphy1905]

@@evasall6901 much less anxious nowadays, thanks for asking

[@francismausley7239]

Often Prayer helps;.. the Baha'i Writings has 100s of them. "Sometimes if the nervous system is paralysed through fear, a spiritual remedy is necessary." ~ Baha'i Faith

[@KingE9047]

Are you Francis the didi driver?

[@adamwill6943]

Thank you.

[@MarnixPauwels]

You are very welcome, Adam!

[@charliechase7390]

Being free should be free to take drugs. After all, none has a issue with a coffee and an ice cream to round off the evening meal at a restaurant. Or a glass of whisky for that matter. Real freedom is freedom to be free and let others be free to live as they choose, without doing harm or judgement towards others. Why is this such a difficult concept for "intellectuals" to understand?

[@missygoldstein12]

There is a huge difference between smoking the occasional joint and glass of wine than having them every day and night to block out the world yes ice cream and coffee are also stimulants. But apple's and oranges in terms of comparisons.

[@MrRappcity]

All of humanities problems stem from fear

[@JOHNATR]

I want to get on this show.

[@rwerskine4098]

excellent

[@MarnixPauwels]

Thank you!

[@tonychow8120]

the person is still in fear. although he has experienced a lot

[@ancientbehemoth6448]

Fear is a function of the Mind, so it is normal to be a part of you till you die. Active or present fears are what you are referring to. The fears we experience in the moment, or we have unresolved and keep repeating. So, there you have fear as the system and fear as the result of the system being triggered. You deal both with: - fears in the moment, that arise and are created now - and with fears that are already created, but are not resolved and are occurring again( it is the X time after the initial creation of that particular fear).