Change Your Emotional State Quickly
Growing up with two doctor parents who were trained in the eastern and western modes of healing, exposed me to many health modalities. From breathing techniques to improve lung function and the latest medicines for cancer (my dad) to supplements like Vitamin B for stress and seeds you soak overnight and then eat as a tonic (my mom).
One technique they were not trained in that I learned a couple years ago is called EFT, or Emotional Freedom Technique. It is based on stimulating acupoints on the body’s meridians by TAPPING on them with your fingertips. With my parents’ science-based background, I was skeptical about EFT, but decided to attend a training and give it a try.
I was BLOWN AWAY by the quick effectiveness of the technique – in less than 2 minutes, I went from STRESSED TO CALM. How many tools can do that? I know the situation causing me stress didn’t change but my emotional state did dramatically.
I’ve since learned that there are over 100 clinical research reports published in medical journals showing EFT works. Ready to give it a try? Here’s the technique I learned:
Say a positive statement about yourself (more details below), while you move through tapping on ~10 different spots on your body.
Step 1: RATE your emotional state from 1 to 10. Don’t skip this step.
Step 2: Come up with your STATEMENT by filling in the blank: “Even though I am ___________________, I love and accept myself fully.” Fill in the blank with your emotional and/or physical state, like anxious, stressed, angry, disappointed, in pain, etc. Such as “Even though I am stressed and in pain, I love and accept myself fully.”
Step 3: Do 2 rounds of TAPPING: Start with the top of your head and move down. Below is a picture of the tapping points. (TOH = Top of Head; EB = Eyebrow; SE = Side of Eye; etc.) You will use both hands’ fingertips on the head, then your hands will tap on the points on the respective side of the body (e.g., the right hand taps on the right eyebrow while the left hand taps on the left eyebrow.) Here is a short video showing the technique.
Step 4: RATE your emotional state post- tapping from 1 to 10. If you are still above 5, continue tapping until your rating decreases.
Drop me a quick note and let me know how it goes. If you want to tap with me to ensure you are doing it right, you can find a spot on my calendar. And if you know someone who is stressed and could use a coach who is knowledgeable about multiple modes of stress management, I would love an introduction. Life is short – don’t let stress negatively impact your relationships, career, and state of mind.