Overcoming Anxiety: Sir James Gray Robinson On Five Effective Strategies for Mental Well-Being
An Interview With Nancy Landrum
I remember that I am not my thoughts or my emotions. I recognize that thoughts and emotions are functions of my brain, and not my soul. If I connect with my soul, I am calm and happy. I also look for the humor in every situation.
Anxiety seems to be the dis-ease of our times. More people than ever are taking medications to help them cope with stress. Nearly everyone I talk to is consumed with anxious feelings that hijack any pleasure they could be getting from their lives. The pressure to “produce” combined with a perception of “not enough time,” combines to create anxiety, self-doubt, frustration and resentment. Resentment, then, is often taken out on your closest, most important relationships. As a part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Sir James Gray Robinson, Esq.
Sir James Gray Robinson, Esq. is a third-generation trial attorney who specialized in family law and civil litigation for 27 years in his native North Carolina. Burned out, Sir James quit in 2004 and has spent the next 20 years doing extensive research and innovative training to help others facing burnout and personal crises to heal. He has taught wellness, transformation, and mindfulness internationally to thousands of private clients, businesses, and associations. Remaining a licensed attorney, he is focused on helping lawyers, professionals, entrepreneurs, employers, and parents facing stress, anxiety, addiction, depression, exhaustion, and burnout.
Sir James is a highly respected speaker, writer, TV personality, mentor, consultant, mastermind, and spiritual leader/healer who is committed to healing the planet. He possesses over 30 certifications and degrees in law, healing, and coaching, as well as hundreds of hours of post-certification training in the fields of neuroscience, neurobiology, and neuroplasticity, epigenetics, mind-body-spirit medicine, and brain/heart integration. Having experienced multiple near-death experiences has given him a deeper connection with divinity and spiritual energy.
Sir James regularly trains professionals, high-level executives, and businesspeople to hack their brains to turn stress into success. He is frequently invited to speak at ABA and state bar events about mental and emotional health. His work is regularly published in legal and personal growth magazines, including the ABA Journal, Attorneys-at-Work Magazine, and the Family Law Journal. Sir James has authored over thirteen (13) books on personal growth and healing, including three targeting stressed professionals which are available on Amazon.
In addition to his extensive contributions, Sir James has starred in three documentaries that will be released in 2024, focusing on healing, mental and emotional health. “Beyond Physical Matter” is available on Amazon Prime and Tumi, “Beyond the Mastermind Secret” and “Beyond Physical Life:” will be available soon.
In recognition of his outstanding work and philanthropy, Sir James was recently knighted by the Royal Order of Constantine the Great and Saint Helen. Additionally, James won the prestigious International Impact Book Award for his new book “Thriving in the Legal Arena: The Ultimate Lawyer’s Guide for Transforming Stress into Success”.
Sir James was recently awarded the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award by President Joe Biden for his outstanding service to his community, country and the world. He will be awarded the prestigious International Humanitarian Award known as Men With Hearts in the fall of 2024, as well as The Power Couple of the Year with his wife, Linda Giangreco.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you tell us a bit about you and your backstory?
I am a third-generation lawyer who grew up and practiced law in North Carolina the first 50 years of my life. I am a baby boomer who grew up in a rich family. I was obese for most of my childhood and have been struggling with self-image problems for most of my life. I was forced to follow my father’s footsteps and became a lawyer which I hated. Ironically, I was very good at it and won numerous awards, but I was depressed most of that time. I had a nervous breakdown from stress in 2004 and quit actively practicing law and thereafter focused on recovery and helping others deal with stress. What most people don’t know is I was a cattle rancher for 20 years in Montana and a horse trainer, owned a restaurant for 3 years and was executive chef, and have been highly decorated for my many philanthropic donations to help underprivileged people. I have had 5 dear death experiences which has given me a different perspective on life.
As a successful person in your field, have you or do you experience anxiety? And if so, how do you manage, reduce or eliminate anxiety so you can work efficiently and enjoy your non-work hours?
Everyone experiences stress in their life. It is the natural biological response to what we don’t like. I have learned through years of research, therapy and medication that there is only one way to deal with it, and that is through learning the neurological processes that happen when faced with danger and how to deal with it. It is a simple process of mastering the autonomic nervous system, controlling the sympathetic nervous system and supporting the parasympathetic nervous system. See my TedX talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTueqWePVyI. The most effective way I deal with adversity is self-awareness, which is to say, “why am I thinking this?”, “why am I feeling this?”, and “do I want to think and feel this way?”. If I feel threatened (no matter the source), I ask myself “how do you want to feel?”, and do that.
Have you gone through a period of time in your life where you felt as though you were drowning in anxiety? If so, please share your experience and what you perceive as the reasons.
As I indicated, I had a nervous breakdown in 2004. I was a highly respected award-winning attorney earning millions of dollars and was totally stressed and depressed. I was going through my second divorce, lawsuits, and family turmoil. This was the result of poor nutrition, lack of exercise, mineral deficiencies, lack of sleep, self-criticism, isolation, and depression. I could not get out of bed for weeks, and often curled into a fetal position to hide from my fears. I totally understand what people who are dealing with depression experience.
What or whom did you lean on to help you cope with anxiety?
I have spent the last 20 years studying with spiritual masters, gurus and therapists who taught me how to deal with fear and anxiety. I learned how to master my mind, thoughts and emotions which have given me peace and joy. When you learn how to master you mind (in a neurobiological sense) and focus on your thoughts, you can change your reality.
What lessons did you derive from that dark period of time, that serve you now?
I am eternally grateful for this “dark night of the soul” because it freed me from the illusion that I was a failure, which was the message I continually heard from my family and opponents in law. I learned that I was me, which was a force of nature. I learned not to care what everyone thought of me, only to focus on what I thought of me. When I turned that from negative to positive, my life changed.
Do you have days or circumstances that still cause excessive stress?
No, I developed a sense of humor.
What are your dependable “go to” strategies that you use to restore balance to your emotions?
I remember that I am not my thoughts or my emotions. I recognize that thoughts and emotions are functions of my brain, and not my soul. If I connect with my soul, I am calm and happy. I also look for the humor in every situation.
Please name five tips, practices, beliefs or affirmations that you recommend to anyone going through a highly stressful time.
1 . Watch my TedX talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTueqWePVyI
2 . Audit your nutrition. Most of what we eat causes anxiety.
3 . Exercise.
4 . Educate, research and learn how to live a healthy life.
5 . Practice gratitude.
On a scale of one-ten, if 8–10 was your former, chronic level of anxiety, how would you score your usual level of anxiety today?
On an odd day, assholes can get me to 4.
Do you have daily practices that support you in maintaining peace, calmness or balance in your life?
Exercise, meditation, cold water baths, music, connect with my support group, and research new ideas.
Was there any particular saying, person, or book that taught you the skills that enable you to escape or avoid the higher levels of anxiety that used to plague you?
The most important saying I have ever heard was “You are not your thoughts.” It allowed me to separate myself from my ego. There is a library of books I have read, but I don’t want to name any because I want everyone to read everything they can get their hands on and not limit them to my bibliography. Right now, I am focused on nutrition because that is the most direct solution to stress and depression. I don’t want to promote any book, but most people should read “Healing is Voltage” by Dr. Jerry Tennant.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom with those who are reading this article. Are there also other ways you are sharing your wisdom?
I have books, videos, movies and a website, www.jamesgrayrobinson.com.
Wonderful. We are nearly done. Is there a person in the world, or in the US, with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. :-)?
Donald Trump and Kamala Harris because I want to understand them.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
Stand up. Empower yourself. Be human. I want people to know that they are good enough. Stop believing the nonsense we see on TV and social media. We all deserve love, support and understanding. We must realize that when we put food in the garbage, there are people who would need that. Can you imagine if we sent all the “expired date” food to the world? We are not alone, and we are responsible for the rest of the world. Having said that, we must stop poisoning the world. We are (at best) fourth in the world in health care. Most of what we eat is banned in Europe. We have a serious (obesity) problem. Hello?!!!!
How can our readers follow your work online?
Thank you so much for joining us. This was very inspirational.
About the Interviewer: Nancy Landrum, MA, Relationship Coach, has authored eight books, including “How to Stay Married and Love it” and “Stepping Twogether: Building a Strong Stepfamily”. Nancy has been coaching couples and stepfamilies with transformative communication skills for over thirty years. Nancy is an engaging interviewer and powerful speaker. Nancy has contributed to The Washington Post, Huffington Post, Authority, Medium, Yahoo, MSN, Psych Central, Thrive, Woman’s Day magazine, and more. Nancy is the Founder of the only one of its kind online relationship solution, www.MillionaireMarriageClub.com. Nancy coaches couples across the globe in person and via Zoom. Nancy’s passion is to guide couples and families to happy lasting marriages where children thrive and lovers love for life.
