Chapter 4: EFT Tapping: The Magic at Your Fingertips
“Of all the creatures of earth, only human beings can change their patterns. Man alone is the architect of his destiny. …Human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.”
—William James
What Is the Emotional Freedom Technique?
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) was developed by Gary Craig, a Stanford-trained engineer who was passionately interested in personal development. He trained with Dr. Roger Callahan in Thought Field Therapy (TFT), a similar acupressure/tapping technique, but one requiring the user to remember numerous combinations of tapping points for specific issues and ailments. Gary’s contribution to the field was to reduce the complexity of TFT to such an elegantly simple version that even beginners get amazing results.
In my experience, EFT is a quick, painless way to reduce or eliminate anxiety and stress by tapping on points about the face, body and hands. I have also used it to change strongly held negative beliefs by pairing it with affirming, positive thoughts. You stimulate acupressure points by gently tapping on them. While tapping, you simultaneously focus on a distressing thought, memory, fear or limiting belief in order to clear it.
How I Came to the Emotional Freedom Technique
Even though I’m smart, sometimes I’m slow to recognize a good thing. But when I do I definitely know how to capitalize on it.
I first learned about EFT in 2005 from a coaching colleague who offered a three-week teleseminar on “EFT to Overcome Food Cravings.” After a brief introduction to EFT and how to tap, we were to have our food of choice with us for the first class. Since I was a lifelong chocoholic, I decided to test EFT using chocolate. I could never imagine giving up chocolate. My craving for chocolate was always at a ten on a ten-point scale. As I used to say, “Chocolate… it’s not just for breakfast anymore!”
I wish I could say that I had what EFT founder Gary Craig calls a “one minute wonder” and never ate chocolate again. We tapped. I was skeptical. I felt hopeless in the grip of this addiction. I might have gotten my craving down from a ten to a three, but I didn’t persist. In fact, I don’t think I attended the next two classes. I told myself I was too busy and I’d listen to the recordings later. I never did. Truth is, I wanted a miracle and didn’t get one. I was embarrassed.
I most certainly did NOT give up chocolate after one try at tapping. Like many others who have a long-term issue, I wasn’t ready at the time to really use the technique. My addiction to chocolate ran much deeper than a simple craving. So I put the technique aside and chalked it up to “that’s interesting, but not for me.”
Months later, something triggered a panic attack. I hadn’t had one for years. I’d gone to therapy. I was supposed to be over this. I think I’d just gotten dumped via email by someone I’d been dating for about 10 months. Even though the guy wasn’t suitable for me at all – certainly NOT a SoulMate – it didn’t matter. Suddenly I didn’t feel safe. My mind was stuck in the loop of this thought and my body responded accordingly – racing heart and a creepy crawly feeling on my skin that was rising up my body to my throat. I just wanted to scream or jump out of my skin. I was on the verge of a full-blown panic attack. The intensity was at ten. It was bad!
Then I remembered the EFT tapping. I was desperate. I started tapping, “Even though I think I’m not safe, I deeply love and accept myself.” One round. Two rounds. I was tapping fast and furious and crying at the same time. My mind went back to past traumas. Oh, my God! I didn’t want to revisit that!
