Tap Into Well-being
In common years no other month starts on the same day of the week as August, though in leap years February starts on the same day. August ends on the same day of the week as November every year. Reading about this started me thinking about patterns. No where do patterns play a more auspicious role than in the shaping of our behaviors.
Recently, I was allowed the privilege of sharing the benefits of EFT (commonly called just “tapping”) with my nephew as he is working on developing a new lifestyle. After we worked a while, Randy said, “I am beginning to recognize hope.”
Thousands of people around the world are now using tapping in their daily lives.
Why do so many find that tapping is very effective? It is really quite simple: when a person is in emotional distress, the physiology (brain) goes on alert. At that point, clear thinking is diminished greatly and the immune response is compromised. We can explore this chemically and discover when a person is feeling anxious, the body is producing stress-related hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol. Looking at the breathing patterns of a person in stress, you will observe shallow and irregular breaths.
These responses originated long, long ago when your ancient ancestors were facing tigers and warring tribesmen. All of the body’s defenses had only one goal in mind: survival. This is the fight/flight/or flee habit pattern. While this pattern is very handy when a person is actually faced with a hungry tiger or an attacking warrior, it wreaks havoc with relationships and health.
The tapping points (ends of meridians) that are generally used include: side of hand; eyebrow point; side of eye; under the eye; under the nose; chin; collar bone, under the arm; and top of the head. Most often you will see the sequence listed in an abbreviated manner using the following: SH; EB; UE; UN; CH; CB; UA; TH.
Research at prestigious scientific institutions— including Harvard Medical School—have shown evidence that stimulating the meridian acupoints decreases activity in the amygdala (part of the brain associated with fear). Further, Dr. Dawson Church, Ph.D., confirmed substantial reduction in the cortisol levels and psychological symptoms.
I began tapping regularly last winter while I participated in the World Tapping Summit. Recently I noticed how often my body would go into tension and stress any time I felt like I had too much to do. Here is a tapping sequence I created to relieve that stress:
SH: Even though I can’t relax with so much to do, I love and accept myself.
Even though I cannot relax with my endless to-do list, I love and accept myself.
Even though there’s no way I can relax with all of this to be done, I love and accept myself.
EB: This panic.
SE: I need to push myself.
UE: The stress of this stress.
UN: The stress in my body.
CH: The stress I put on myself.
CB: I need to drive myself.
UA: I need to be relentless.
TH: I can’t accept myself with so much still to do.
EB: All of the stress.
SE: It’s hard to think of anything else.
UE: My life seems like it’s on hold until all of this gets done.
UN: I can’t be happy until it’s done.
CH: I can’t feel confident until it’s done.
CB: I can’t enjoy the moment until it’s done.
UA: No wonder I panic with things to do.
TH: I allow my to-do list to stop me from living my life.
EB: I feel the need to push myself,
SE: so that I will keep going,
UE: this approach hasn’t been working.
UN: I would never drive someone I love like this.
CH: All of this efforting and shaming,
CB: has been keeping me stuck.
UA: I’m ready for a new way.
TH: It’s safe to relax while doing things now.
EB: My worth doesn’t come from my doing;
SE: all of creation is worthy.
UE: My body can relax into the truth of that now.
UN: Maybe now life can be easier than I thought.
CH: Maybe now I can relax and enjoy life.
CB: It feels so good to feel relaxed and peaceful,
UA: about what I am doing and what needs to be done.
TH: It is so wonderful to know I am safe and I can relax and enjoy this journey.
After going through the sequence, take a deep breath. Notice where your thoughts are at the end of the tapping, and if anything else came up. If so, use those thoughts to do another round of tapping. Substitute words that fit more perfectly. Tap this every day for 30 days, dealing with whatever comes up.
By tapping regularly, including tapping on problematic events (current, recent past, or distant past), you are training the brain to a new pattern. This retraining may permanently alter the previously programmed neural pathways in your brain.
If you are working with a medical diagnosis or a specific challenge, let me know if you would like to have me help you with language so you can clear the patterns. Contact me by email at debra@scs-matters.com, or by phone or text (269) 921-2217.