Using EFT Effectively

When you are using EFT to solve a problem, such as an ache or a pain if it is physical, or a knot of fear in your stomach or a rush of anger if it is emotional,

and the basic EFT technique is correctly followed,
and The Setup affirmation reflects your emotional state accurately,
and the reminder phrase is accurate,

Sometimes several cycles may need to be performed to bring the problem down to zero, but it can normally be achieved.

Remember the intensity meter in The Setup , well, this how we gauge our progress.

If the original problem was - say a seven on our intensity meter, and now after a cycle of tapping is measures a three - we have made progress but not totally eliminated the problem.

Subsequent Affirmation

For subsequent EFT cycles we use a slightly different Setup Affirmation :

Even though I still have some of this ............... I deeply and completely accept myself.

Even though I have some of this ............... remaining I deeply and completely accept myself.

We alter the reminder affirmation accordingly to reflect progress but not completion.

If the intensity of the problem stops improving, then we need to re-evaluate the problem.

Particularly when tapping on fears and emotions, there is likely to be more than one aspect to the problem.

However, sometimes you are not sure exactly what your emotion is, or even how to describe the physical condition you feel. This is where some effort needs to be made prior to the setup.

Click on this link for a list of negative feelings and emotions.

Effectiveness :

Here are a few factors which can effect the effectiveness of the EFT technique :

• To begin with, only tap on one problem or aspect of a problem at a time.
• Complete the tapping cycle before moving on to another problem or aspect.
• Be more specific as to what you are tapping on.
• Break the problem down as far as possible and tap on each element of the problem separately.
• If it is simply not working for you, take a break then make a fresh start later.

If for instance, you suddenly remember an event, say an embarrassing moment, or a situation of ridicule whilst working on something else (say a pain in the neck), - you can be sure that there is some connection between tho two, even though it may not be apparent.

The point is - you have uncovered a negative feeling or emotion which you can (need to), tap on.

Also you could completely clear one emotional cause - only to have another immediately take its place (an aspect)!

Aspects :

Aspects are when there is more than one cause or dimension to the problem.

Lets assume for a moment that we have tapped on a fear of spiders.

At the outset, thinking of spiders showed a five on our intensity meter, but after tapping, we can't get below three.

Now think of something related to spiders - say walking into a spiders web - all clingy and sticky, if this raises the intensity reading, now tap on fear of spider webs, and see if this brings the intensity down.

Alternatively you may remember a frightening situation concerning a spider. If tapping on spiders in general was not completely successful, perhaps something about spiders in particular is the key.

What we are doing by tapping on issues surrounding the main issue is addressing aspects.

An aspect may be smells, taste, sounds, sensations - anything which you can associate with the issue.

Aspects also apply to physical problems. EFT may reduce the severity of a headache from seven to three, but then we find that a sinus problem is a contributing aspect which needs tapping on to reduce it to zero.

Sometimes we will find and emotional aspect when tapping on a physical problem and vice versa.

The emotional/disease connections can surface as we remove blockages to our body's energy system.

When tapping on a physical problem - say an allergy, if the allergy is present at the time, it may be helpful to tap on each of the symptoms in turn.

In a similar fashion, tapping on asthma, also tapping on each of the symptoms of asthma strengthens the result.

If you find all the tapping necessary annoying - tap on annoying!!

Tap on everything!

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