Releasing the subconscious resistance to change which holds us back
The more I use EFT with clients, the more fascinated I become with why we would sabotage ourselves. Logically, we want to change - become slimmer, change jobs, make more money, recover from an illness - yet subconsciously, we resist. Why is this? It's because our subconscious mind wants to keep us safe; and safe is here, where we are now. We might not like it, but at least we are familiar with 'here'. It's our safety net. And when we really think about it, why would anyone want to step out of the comfort zone when they could stay safely where they are?
Also, there can be secondary gains to staying where we are: if we change, we may not receive the attention we are getting now, and we may be expected to do, or be, more.
With this in mind, and after doing extensive training with Lindsay Kenny, I now approach how I apply EFT differently. I've added a pre-requisite to the tapping sequence, which I teach in my Advanced Practitioner Workshop (Level 3). I take it as a given that the client, or at least her subconscious, is going to resist the desired change. Then, as we tap, we state the opposite of what the client wants. For example, "Even though I don't want to lose weight/release this anger/change jobs/heal from this illness, I do want to accept myself".
By connecting with the subconscious and using language it can relate to, we enable a shift to take place. We are gently inviting the subconscious to consider letting go. It seems that by including this step in the EFT sequence, we clear any resistance; the intensity rating (SUDs level) drops far quicker, and relief is experienced much faster.
So before you start tapping on an issue, consider the opposite of what you really desire - how your powerful subconscious may be interpreting it all - and tap on that first.
Tap the two karate chop points together (this differentiates this part from the set-up part) and say:
Even though I don't want to _____________________ [let go of this resentment/lose weight/earn more money/finish writing my book, etc], I do want to accept myself
Even though perhaps I don't deserve to ________________________, I do deserve to accept how I'm feeling about this
Even though for whatever reason, I don't want or deserve to ___________________, I honour how I'm feeling
Even though there's a part of me which doesn't want to _______________________, there is a greater part of me which does want to move on from this, and I deserve to listen to this part of me.
Then start tapping as you would usually and notice if the intensity drops quicker than usual because your subconscious is feeling more willing to change.
Disclaimer: In tapping along to this transcript, you take full responsibility for your health and well being.
About the author: Annabel Fisher is a licensed NLP Practitioner and runs a successful EFT practice. Find relief from pain, chronic illness, fears and phobias, headaches and migraines, weight issues and more through EFT. Get your free "The Essentials of EFT Guide" plus one-hour EFT Q&A audio recording by signing up for her newsletter at: www.theefthealingcentre.com.