TS: Overcoming Anxiety with the Teachings of Eckhart Tolle, a Teleseminar with Chris Collins (8/7/09)
On this installment of our teleseminar series, we explore how to use the teachings of Eckhart Tolle to overcome social anxiety in its extreme and mild forms. Listen to the recording of our call with Chris Collins as he shares his personal experiences overcoming social phobia and anxiety. We discuss how Eckhart Tolle’s teachings help us understand anxiety and its relationship to avoidance of the present moment.
Our special guest, Chris Collins is the founder of the Long Island Eckhart Tolle Silent Meet-Up Group and facilitator of the Anxiety Disorder support group for New York’s Suffolk County Mental Health Association. His web sites are http://www.chriscollins.net and http://www.meetup.com/thepowerofnow/
In a heartfelt and inspiring conversation, Chris shares
- his own personal battles with anxiety,
- how he’s overcome the debilitating stories of the ego,
- and how he’s discovered inner peace and presence through accepting the Now.
We also discuss how support groups, creating alternative stories, cultivating presence, and meditation can all help you overcome the fears, paralysis, and discontent surrounding anxiety.
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LWT Teleseminar (8/4): Understanding & Overcoming Anxiety Through Presence
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Our next call is scheduled for August 18th, 5:30PT/8:30ET.
Our teleseminars are free and are held on the first and third Tuesday of every month.
On the first Tuesday, we are joined by a special guest. On the third Tuesday, Greg leads us through an exploration of a specific aspect of Eckhart’s teachings, a Q&A, and a guided inner body meditation.
Peace,
Comment by Derya on 7 August 2009:
Hi Greg, thank you so much for this teleseminar on Overcoming Anxiety. Chris Collins, thank you so much for sharing your story. I too through Eckhart’s teachings learned to cope with anxiety. Your talk has really resonated within me because you reminded me so much of myself. Greg, thank you for the guided meditation.
Comment by Terry Lyle on 14 August 2009:
Confession:
I started to listen to this (the podcast)on my way to work this morning and after a few minutes thought…this isn’t serving me.
Truth:
Tonight I decided to try again. I am so glad I did.
Chris’ comments really hit home and I know where he is coming from. Now, I believe I’m substantially older than Chris (as well as Greg and Leo), therefore I’m thrilled that you are entering this path that took me 50 plus years to discover.
In regards to meditation, I urge you to consider Holosync (centerpointe.com) as a recommendation to your followers. My wife and I will both attest to the miraculous benefits of this “guided” meditation. It’s based not on vocal guidance, but on sound waves meant to put you in a medative state. Visit my page to see my opinion
http://www.sownsew.com/SOWNSEW.COM/CENTER_POINTE_HOLOSYNC.html
Here’s a brief synopsis: I’ve sufferd from fear my entire life and anxiety attacks were daily occurances. After trying drugs (legal) and booze I happpend on Holosync. I now am free from anxiety attacks. Little things that annoy me are easily dissapated. Very similar to Chris’ comments.
My second recommendation I urge you to consider is Mike Dooley.
http://www.tut.com
When Chris mentioned at the very last minute that he changed from thinking “everyone is thinking bad things about me” to “everyone thinks I’m womderful”..is exactly Mike’s message!
Mike’s “Leveraging the Universe” and “Manifesting Change..it Couldn’t be Easier!” are among the most uplifting teachings you can listen to.
Mention that Terry Lyle sent you. They won’t know me…until hundreds of people tell them that I sent you. But the real advantage is that they are augments to your teachings. They come from different points of view (I love Bill Harris’s “practical zen” and Mike’s “magical thinking”…they both work for me).
Lest you think otherwise, I too am captured by Ekart Tolle. I agree with Oprah when she said that Ekhart “is a prophet”. Yet, although Eckhart sees the reality of human existance and it’s future,our race is far from awareness, let alone enlightenment.
But, of course, that is okay.
My absolute best regards and may you keep on keeping on (oops…may show ny age)
Terry
Comment by Greg on 15 August 2009:
Thank you Derya and Terry for your feedback!
And thank you Terry for recommending Holosync from Bill Harris and Mike Dooley’s teachings.
I don’t have any personal experience with Holosync, but from what I’ve gathered from reviews and feedback from people I respect, it seems like an effective program.
I would encourage anybody looking for tools for growing in presence power (and minimizing the effects of ego and pain body) to explore various guided meditations until you find one that works for you. There are many available today and the sound technologies, such as Holosync, can be very advanced.
Regarding Mike Dooley’s teachings, I think it is much easier to practice “magical thinking” after you have “presenced” yourself via a meditation practice. I feel meditation is very important for withdrawing energy from negative or egoic thought patterns.
As you mention Terry, there are many teachings and practices that can augment the teachings of Eckhart Tolle. Again, it is just a matter of seeing what works for you at that point in your life. I have found that it changes as I evolve. However, I also feel that Eckhart offers some of the most profound insights into the human condition - priceless insights that have truly transformed my life!
I really want to acknowledge you trusting that inner voice and taking a second listen! And then stopping by and sharing with the community your experience and providing some useful tools. I appreciate that!
Take care, Greg
Comment by Chris on 17 August 2009:
Your welcome Derya, One of the most powerful moments for me was when I realized that I wasn’t alone in my struggle with anxiety and that many people had thoughts and feelings just like mine. That was eye opening and exciting and scary at the same time. My thinking was if I wasn’t aware of that and that was here all the time what else is here in the Now that I’m not aware of? Of course the answer is everything. Chris
Comment by Chris on 17 August 2009:
Thanks Terry, Much gratitude for your recommendations those messages and tools are powerful indeed. I’m not imagining that your much older then me…of course I’m never sure how to compare something that requires the concept of time…which I do my best not to believe in. Although I confess that I’ll always be a big fan of lunch time…and thats okay. One thing I would say from my own experience is that it was/is very exciting to discover truth from within myself first and last. Remembering that all that can be, will be or every was, is inside me Now waiting to be unveiled…that’s my journey and that is truly exciting. Chris
Comment by Terry Lyle on 17 August 2009:
Chris,
Thanks for you comments. I appreciate your thoughts on “time”, it’s something that I have come to regard as “illusion”…like all “things”.
I must say that, if I choose to accept time as reality…my favorite time is lunch time also. I spend an hour or so eating my lunch and walking in a beautiful park here on the allegheny river…all the while practicing being present.
Chris, I was moved by your comments because I too faced a lifetime of fear. I never sought professional help so can’t name the things I struggled with. But, I’ve known what it’s feels like to want to kill myself. Even overcoming that, fear was my constant companion for many years.
I admit that. looking in, you would see a fellow that has had a pretty successful life, but few on the outside knew the pain that I harbored inside.
Now I know that I am responsible for all of those experiences and that each one was meant to bring me to the present moment. I also know “that is my story” and look back and think “Huh?”
When Eckhart did the Oprah series on the internet one of the comments he made that I’m reminded of almost everyday is “I have little use for the past and seldom think of it”. Up to that point, certainly most, if not all, of my story was lingering in the past (pains, fears, regrets, etc.)
So, before two or three years ago, I experienced panic attacks daily and several times a day. Some days it was just driving to or from work and I thought I would have to stop the car in order to survive. I dreaded going into the building where I work. I hated hearing the phone ring. I would never want to be at a party or gathering and used any device I could to beg off. I missed many business opportunities because I was terrified of flying (so much so that I would start panicing several months before I had to go anywhere).
Well…you get the gist of it.
With the advent of the teachers that I’ve mentioned, as well as some others (well now, you, Greg and Leo must be included) I have reached a point of peace in my life that I would have NEVER believed possible.
Thinking again about the “age thing”, are we, any of us, really any younger or older than the other?
T
I would also like to mention that one of the greatest “teachers” of my life has been my wife, who has put up with so much “drama” over the years and is the one who led me to my current path. Hurrah for Dorothy!
Comment by Greg on 20 August 2009:
Thanks Chris and Terry for continuing this conversation and sharing your experiences. The ego likes to think that “I’m all alone” and your sharing helps to break open that illusion!
They dysfunction is on the collective level and a deep part of society - and each of us has a unique experience of this collective unconsciousness. So don’t take it personal and don’t confuse it for who you are. A big part of forgiveness for Eckhart is to look through (or beyond) the conditioning and see the authentic self in another. And you can do the same for yourself - to see through the dysfunction of your conditioning and sense the authentic you.
I would also like to add that one of my greatest teachers has been my wife - a true saint! Hurrah for Sarah!
Comment by Chris on 20 August 2009:
Thanks so much for your sharing this story Terry. I can really relate to everything you said..wonderful. If we are nothing else we are living examples of the power of the present moment and of humans beings ability to become more then they could have ever possibly imagined. My greatest hope is that all persons reading these posts and listening to this seminar can feel that acceptance, joy and an exciting life is available to everyone Now.