Learn How EFT Works Step By Step
EFT is a straightforward technique to learn. It is used by millions of people around the world as a self-help technique. Even with minimal knowledge of the method you will often get results. There is, however, an art and skill to using it effectively, especially if you are working on a more complex issue.
In this article, you will learn how EFT works, what you are really doing when you tap. You will be taken step by step through the EFT tapping sequence and learn why we use these particular points. Then you will learn the EFT Basic Recipe.
Modern Approach Based on Ancient Knowledge
Many people look at EFT and find it strange, weird that tapping on points on the face and body can help alleviate our problems. The reason for this reaction is because tapping on the body does not fit into our belief system, after all, we generally do not see people on the TV and internet, for the most part, do it this way. We are taught that talking therapies are the usual way to deal with emotions. No wonder that initially we can be dismissive, but luckily you do not need to believe in EFT to get results.
I have worked with many people who have openly told me of their skepticism at the beginning of the training and yet shortly after they become its greatest advocates as they can’t dismiss the results they get working with other people and on their own issues. It is pretty hard to dismiss results such as the pain being gone after ten years.
Tapping techniques are readily accepted in other parts of the world simply because they have been brought up with these approaches. Acupuncture and acupressure are considered as conventional approaches to improving health in the Eastern hemispheres of the world. They have been used for thousands of years. EFT works in the same way that these approaches do.
How Does EFT Work?
EFT works by balancing our systems. Whichever emotion you are experiencing, whether that is shame, humiliation, anger, grief, depression, anxiety, etc. it is linked to an energy disruption. Emotions also lie beneath many physical problems, resolving the emotions by dealing with the energetic disruption can lead to significant improvements. Equally performance issues can also be improved in the same way. The commonality of problems is the disruption in the body’s energy system linked to the emotions. EFT targets this disruption bring balance back into the mind-body system.
The Discovery Statement
“The cause of all negative emotion is a disruption in the body’s energy systems.”
So basically EFT works via tuning into “the problem” and then tapping and balancing our system. This effectively clears the disruption in the bodies energy system. Without the disruption we come into a state of balance. Regardless of the label given to our problem, whether it is anxiety, depression, pain, etc. we are always doing the same thing in EFT. Finding the energetic disruption tuning into it, tapping and rebalancing the system.
The EFT Basic Technique is easy to learn and apply. It is the standard process that is used whenever you do EFT.
EFT works via tuning into “the problem,” which is the energetic disruption and then tapping and rebalancing it. Tapping stimulates the energy points, as a consequence, it rebalances the system. Words are used to help us tune into “the problem.” Then we tap through a standardised tapping sequence, which in the example here is nine tapping points.
The EFT Tapping Points
The version of EFT that we are going to go through here has nine tapping points. There are several versions of EFT on the internet, older versions tend to use more tapping points.
The points that we tap on are located mainly on the face, upper body, and hands. The reason these locations are used is that they are points where the energy channels in the body are near the surface or close to the end of the meridians. Generally, we tap between five to twelve times on each point using our fingertips or in some cases, our fist. This is gentle tapping. In reality, we tend to tap as long on each point as it takes to say the “reminder phrase.” Seldom if ever do we count.
There are twelve meridians, and two channels called governing vessels in the human body. These are interconnected. Tapping on one will influence the others, this is the reason we do not have to tap on them all. The original version of EFT did tap on all the meridians, and the governing vessels but the shorter versions developed later use fewer points.
The EFT Tapping Points
- 1. Top of the Head
- 2. Eyebrow Point
- 3. Side of the Eye Point
- 4. Under the Eye Point
- 5. Under the Nose Point
- 6. Chin Point
- 7. Collar Bone Point
- 8. Under the Arm Point
- 9. Side of the Hand Point
The Side of the Hand Point
This is located on the side of the hand about midway between where the base of the smallest finger is and the wrist. It is the part of the hand that a karate expert would use to break a piece of wood.
Top of the Head Point
It is the point on the top of your head, where if you were a puppet, the string would be attached.
Eyebrow Point
Is at the beginning of the eyebrow at the side where the nose is.
Side of the Eye
This point is located at the side of the eye on the bone at the edge of the eye socket.
Under the Eye Point
This point is located directly beneath the centre of the eye, on the bone at the edge of the eye socket
Under the Nose Point
This is located directly beneath the base of your nose and your upper lip.
Chin Point
This is located midway between the centre point of your lower lip and the tip of your chin.
Collar Bone Point
This point is located beneath the collar bone about 2.5 cms from its inner edge.
Under the Arm Point
This point is located about 10.16 cms (4 inches) directly beneath the armpit on the side of the body.
Tips for Tapping Effectively
- Some of the points have duplicates on both sides of the body. You only need to tap on one of these points. You can, however, choose to tap on both. Generally, people tap on the side that “feels right” for them.
- You can switch sides if you choose when doing EFT. Do what feels right for you.
- The acupoints you are tapping on are about the size of a pinhead. Generally, we use two or more fingers to tap on these points, ensuring that we are tapping the right area. Usually, even if you are not directly tapping on the right point precisely, the percussion will still influence the point you are targeting.
- Generally, people use their dominant hand when tapping. Do what feels right for you.
- When tapping on points 1-8 above five to seven taps are sufficient. You do not need to count as we generally tap as long as it takes to say the reminder phrase. When tapping on point 9 above, the Side of the Hand Point, we may tap for a substantially more extended period.
- EFT is designed to be easily memorised. Therefore the points logically follow each other descending down the body. If however, you miss a spot, no big deal just carry on.
Tuning into "the Problem"
The words are a vital component of the technique as it directs our system toward the energetic disruption.
For Example
1. You have an aching pain beneath your left shoulder blade.
The words, “Aching pain beneath my left shoulder blade” would tune your system into your problem.
2. You feel anxious when you think of going to work.
The words, “this anxiety when I think of going to work” would tune you in to your problem.
Five Steps of the EFT Basic Recipe
1. Identify "the problem."
Example, an aching pain in the shoulder or the moment the boss screamed at me.
2. Establish a Feedback Mechanism
Establish an initial intensity rating on your problem. The standard method used to monitor results is the SUD scale. Ask yourself on a scale from 0 to 10, where 10 is the worst this has ever been and 0 is no problem, what is it now? Write the number down, then each time you can check against this initial evaluation to monitor your progress.
3. The Set-Up Statement
The Set-Up is used to target your system at your problem. There is a standard way of, it is
“Even though I have this problem, I completely accept myself.”
There are three elements to the Set-Up Statement
- The first is that linguistically using the words, “Even though” takes power out of the words that follow. It is the same as saying, “In spite of this issue."
- The second is that it targets the problem tuning our system into the energetic disruption by saying the words that draw its awareness to it.
- The third element in the above Set-Up Statement is the words, “ accept myself” regardless of this problem. In the Star Trek series the Borg queen utters the remark, resistance is futile”, this comes to mind when I think of acceptance. The more we don't accept “the problem” the more we are feeding it with our energy. When we stop resisting it and just accept that we have it, we are one step closer to being free of it. Acceptance doesn’t mean we like having the problem and neither does it mean we are saying it is ok to have this problem. All we are really doing by accepting is not fighting our current reality. We have a problem. We accept that we have it. It is what it is basically.
Examples of the Set-Up Statement
“Even though I have this aching pain in my right shoulder, I completely accept myself.”
“Even though I have a fear of wasps, I completely accept myself.”
“Even though I have this problem, I completely accept myself”.
“Even though I have this… I completely accept myself”.
You can modify the statement as it doesn’t always fit with the other words you need to add to tune into your problem.
Target the Negative
Many people new to EFT feel uncomfortable saying the negative words that represent the problem. This is often due to the face that many self-help books stress the importance of positivity. Also the LOA, Law of Attraction says you draw to you what you dwell on, as s consequence, some people are fearful of talking about or saying negative things for fear of attracting it to themselves or reinforcing it. EFT does not work this way. “The problem” is already there. This is a statement of fact. It is already affecting your Attraction point from s LOA perspective. By bringing your awareness to it and tapping, you are improving your vibration point. Automatically people find they become more positive after letting go of “the problem.”
4. The Tapping Sequence
The tapping sequence involves tapping from points 1-8 above while keeping your system tuned into the problem by saying the words that represent “the problem.” This is where you are tapping and rebalancing the system.
5. Re-assess
…
Tips
- Target one issue at a time
QUESTION
There are many differences which include:
- Acupuncturists work on over 300 acupoints in the body. In EFT we only use a small number of those points, (9 in some cases, 14 in others) the number may vary dependent on the tapping sequence we are using.
- Acupuncturists use specific points on the body to work with different issues. In EFT, we use one standardised technique for all problems. This means that EFT can be learned rapidly. It can take years of study to master acupuncture. Because EFT is so simple to learn, it is accessible as a self-help technique to ordinary people, hence its rapid growth around the world. Very young children can also be taught how to use EFT. I have seen children as young as four and five using it.
- Acupuncturists use needles. In EFT, we use the fingertips to tap.
- Acupuncturists link the points they use with organs within the body. In EFT we do not do this, there is no need, it may also be a hindrance to an EFT’er in getting results.