Can you really “free” yourself of negative emotions by saying affirmations while tapping on different acupuncture meridians of your head, chest and wrists? That’s the gist of the much praised and highly maligned Emotional Freedom Technique, often called “tapping” that has been spreading like wildfire… even into a bit of actual scientific testing. I read about the technique and how to actually do it to myself right HERE at Mercola’s website and I figured…“Eh, what do I have to lose?”
I’ve seen tapping for years floating around LA, its cropping up in self-help circles… Marie Forleo made a video about it… I’ve read about doctors and therapists using it…
Tapping, I’ve learned, is something you can do to yourself. It takes very little time to learn and while you can work with someone who has mastered it, the idea is that anyone can do it to themselves. I like affirmations. I love acupuncture. The technique seemed weird at worst, but I couldn’t see how it would personally conflict with my beliefs philosophically or spiritually, so I decided to give it a go.
(Women’s Health shows the major “tapping points” in this technique)
First I had to pick my issue. As I come up upon the anniversary of my mom’s death, that was pretty easy. I had to “tune into” how I was feeling and where I was feeling it in my body. Then the affirmation, ” Even though I have this….. (anger about my mom dying- you’d fill in your own issue here)… I still completely love and accept myself.” Then, I did as instructed and tapped with my middle and index finger on the pinky side of my hand a few times, then on the top of my head, then atop my eyebrow, then on the side of my eye, then a bit below my eye, then under my nose, then my chin, then collarbone, then under my arm a few inches down… all the while restating my little affirmation. I repeated it one more time, this time affirming that its OK to feel good again. (I watched the video, it gave me tips: I watched but did not follow along with her words… see my note below!) and then….I was done.
Do I feel 100% better? No, nor did I expect to. But I did feel about 30% better for the night. (The idea is to repeat this as often as needed.) My personal conclusion about this tapping stuff: I dig it, for what it is. I don’t see it as the solution to anything emotionally but I do see it as a way to affirm my good, an interesting way to help break bad habits and, its free & always available. I’m sure I’ll do it from time to time.
My note: What I won’t do- and don’t encourage- is to follow others in stating affirmations through videos or even with a practitioner- where the affirmations are not my own. I ardently believe that I should write my own words, affirm my own personal truth and never give my power away to anyone to state things for me. I’d let an “expert” help me to write, but no one is putting words in my mouth- or my body! That’s my two-cents on that one 🙂
Of course, you are 100% responsible for your own decisions involving your emotions, energy & health. I am hardly a medical expert, but as we deal with energy in feng shui every day, I thought this little energy technique would be something fun to share. Have you done tapping??? Has it made a difference for you??? xoxo Dana
thanks for sharing this! i’ve been seeing EFT pop up legit everywhere–but I feel like I believe more in welcoming negative emotions, letting ourselves experience every aspect of them, and then setting them free. + I think meditation helps, too 🙂 xx Fel
I 100% agree with you… if you never have a negative emotion, how could you ever know you are happy?!?!
This stuff, I think, is/could me (? not sure yet, time will tell) useful for trauma, really heavy stuff where – you know- you are holding onto the negative emotion for way longer than its healthy. I’m pretty good at setting things free, but I’ve had a few things so heavy happen that its nice to have a little assistance shaking them 😉
@Fel I’ve done tapping before, and it’s been helpful for me to accept my negative emotions and stop feeling guilty for having them. I’ve also used tapping for working on my tendency to procrastinate; while I still have issues with this, it has been helpful – this is in addition to me slowly changing my habits and also using other things including meditation and reiki. Tapping has allowed me to be more accepting of myself as a “work in progress” (again, I emphasize that this is in combination with the other things I do that I mentioned earlier).
My condolences on the death of a loved one, but I think you should continue to live as far as the person will always be in our hearts.
Thanks for sharing D! I am definitely going to look into this more 🙂
Thank u so much 4 sharing this..