Last weekend, I taught my EFT Level 1 Workshop, the Essentials of EFT, to a fabulous group of people wanting to develop their EFT skills.

One of the teaching segments is on how to get specific when you tap. One of the biggest impediments to successful EFT results that I observe in clients and new students is when they are too global in how they are describing the problem.

Of course, to them, when they start tapping, the ‘problem’ they are presenting doesn’t seem “global” at all – it seems very real, very present, and very exact.

However, most often, when you present a problem, it is usually a deeply rooted belief (e.g. I’m not good enough), or a physical experience (e.g. I have a migraine), or a strong emotion (e.g. I’m overwhelmed). This is actually the symptom showing up; the surface level experience. When we tap we need to address what has caused that symptom to show up in the first place.

This could be a specific event, or series of events. It could be a message you heard or observed, modeled to you by a person in authority. It could have been a way of life that was very familiar and normal to you.

When we tap, it is those things that we need to be addressing: those specific events, and those messages we heard or saw and took on as truth.

When we address those root causes, we do get the results we want when we tap.

When you decide to tap on a problem, make sure you are clear on the following:

1. When did this problem start? That is, when were you first aware of feeling the way you do, either physically or emotionally? E.g. when was the first time you considered you were not good enough? When did you have your first migraine? When did you start to feel overwhelmed?
2. Have you answered the “W” questions? Who was involved? What happened? When did it happen? Where did it happen? Why did you respond the way you did at the time?
3. Consider how you feel NOW about presenting the problem. Perhaps you feel angry, hopeless, sad, etc. Make sure you incorporate that into your tapping.
4. How is your body feeling right now? Don’t forget, your body responds to unresolved painful past experiences by trying to protect you from experiencing them again. Observe how your body feels as you recall that past event, and notice how your body response changes as you tap.

Now you have the specifics, you are ready to get tapping! Imagine you are describing the experience to a close friend or loved one, and vent as you tap.  When tapping takes you to the core of your problem, the EFT results you get will help with the root cause of the problem.  You’ll be amazed at how quickly you experience deep transformation – far quicker than if you were to tap mechanically on presenting the symptom.

Even though we consciously want to move out of “stuckness” and into a different reality, there is most usually a very powerful part of us which absolutely refuses to let go and create the changes we desire and deserve.

Stepping into the unknown can be scary, but what if it could also be exciting, exhilarating, and expansive?

Fear and excitement come from the same place, so what if, in actuality, you aren’t afraid, but you are excited about the possibilities that await you!

What if instead of feeling stuck you look forward to becoming unstuck?  What are the possibilities then?  Does the vision of a new world unfold in front of you?  Has your perspective shifted?

The language we use in EFT plays a huge part in shifting our perspective, and I’ve been playing around with the 3 R’s recently: Reluctance, Resistance, and Refusal.

When we accept the subconscious for the crucial role it plays – to protect us, or else – and we combine that with language that acknowledges that part of our mind, we are able to create the changes we’re looking for.

So when you start with the EFT set up, acknowledge the powerful subconscious: speak its language, comment on its reluctance to let go of existing behaviour patterns and its resistance to release old beliefs, and observe shifts happening much more quickly. Notice how you feel when you change the language from “I feel so stuck” to “I’m getting unstuck.”

If you are new to EFT,  click on tapping points to view a map of the meridian points.

You may find the following useful:

Even though I refuse to __________________ [and state what that it is that you want, e.g. stop smoking, be organized and tidy, complete my book, etc ], I’m also really excited to _______________.

Even though I am resistant to __________________ I’m also really excited to __________________.

Even though I’m reluctant to _________________, I’m also really excited to ________________.

Head: I refuse to __________

Eyebrow: I’m resistant to ____________

Side of eye: I’m reluctant to ____________

Under eye: Maybe I’m scared to ___________

Under nose: maybe I’m excited to _______________

Chin: I’m open to the possibility I can ______________

Collarbone: I’m ready and willing to ______________

Under arm: I deserve to ________________.

Now close your eyes and take a deep but comfortable breath.   Notice any changes you may feel in your body after tapping.  You might find that you need to repeat this process as new aspects emerge. Also, remember that the phrases you use are simply a way of outwardly expressing how you’re feeling. You don’t need to be creative or get hung up on finding the “perfect” wording – just state what’s on your mind.