Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT or "tapping"): What It Is & How It Could Help You

by 05com via Flickr

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is something that can be learnt quickly and help you to feel better in a matter of minutes. EFT is often called "tapping". EFT involves: 

1. Verbalising the problem or issue whilst ...
2. Using an affirmation phrase and ...
3. “Tapping” energy points on the body. 

EFT has been described as a combination of acupressure, meditation and hypnosis.

You can learn how to do EFT (or “tap”) for yourself by watching the video below:




EFT is about re-balancing the body and mind so that negative feelings and emotions don't hold you back. It is based on the idea that emotional trauma can substantially contribute to disease and research has found that EFT can quickly reduce the emotional impact of our memories and also incidents that trigger emotional distress. When the emotional distress is reduced or removed, the body can often re-balance, which can accelerate healing.

The Benefits of Emotional Freedom Technique

There are many benefits to EFT. It can be taught, learnt and practiced quickly; even in a matter of minutes. You can learn how to practice EFT just by watching the video above. When used together with coaching and other therapies, EFT can be very helpful in accelerating a clients progress in working through emotional issues.
The concept of EFT was created by Gary Craig, a Performance Coach from the USA, who had been working with Thought Field Therapy. Gary created a simple tapping pattern that simplified Thought Field Therapy into one unified practice. EFT is based on ancient Chinese medicine and acupuncture, which involve working with the energy pathways or meridians of the body to balance a person’s energies.Gary brought together a variety of treatments in creating EFT.

     
EFT works on emotional and physical issues and can assist the body in the physical healing process. It is also a good stress reduction tool that is practical and easy to do anywhere and has the benefit that you can use it yourself without needing anyone else to assist you. EFT can be applied to all areas of life as it works on the emotional stress associated with an issue.

EFT - The Process

EFT entails focusing on the issue or problem that you want to work on and tapping your fingers on certain acupressure points around the body, while repeating an affirmation. If you felt upset about a the end of a friendship for example, you could use EFT to work on this by thinking about that issue and noticing your feelings. You then tap the points on the body as advised, while repeating an affirmation (for e.g., “Despite this feeling, I completely and fully accept myself”). There are many affirmations you can use. It has been found that verbalising helps the emotions to move through your body.

When you have finished this process, you would then check in with yourself to see how you are now feeling about the original problem. Usually, people notice a marked reduction in the intensity of the feeling. If you don’t notice any change in the feeling, you can repeat the process. This process can be done as many times as necessary to reduce the intensity of the feeling and you can repeat this until you feel completely re-balanced.

How Long Does The Effect Last?

When you have practised EFT, the feelings that you have worked on worked on don’t usually return. If the feeling do return, it is just a sign that you need to do some more work on this issue and you can continue working on the issue in hand as long as you need to.

Summary

If you are considering trying EFT it is worth remembering that it is not a technique to replace counselling or therapy but is simply designed as a tool to help you to find a balance in life. It is not a band aid or 'cure all' but can significantly improve your life. 

Obviously, EFT won't stop you from ever feeling angry or upset but it can stop the feeling arising for the particular issue you worked on. You will remember what happened but the issue will not have the emotional charge associated with it as it did before you practised EFT.

Are you feeling stuck in your life or your business? If you enjoyed this and are also interested in learning more about EFT or working on another area of your life or business, then book your free consultation with me here at my coaching page.

3 Unusual Ways To Stay Healthy

by geishaboy500 via Flickr

I wanted to share with you some recent discoveries I have made. I have been giving each of these a try myself with varying results which I’ll share below:

1. Neti Pot

I first learnt about neti pots last year and decided to give it a try. I also have allergies and in the past few years have also had asthma like symptoms so it seemed like something that might help. I bought this neti pot which is the best purchase I have made in a long time. I find when I use it, I am able to breathe much better and am less 'bunged up' generally. It is particularly useful when I have a cold as it is something practical I can do to help the cold out of my system.
It’s not for everyone. Some people I have recommended it to love it like I do and some find it painful and too weird a sensation. You can Google the term to learn more for yourself and see if its something that you think you might benefit from.

2. Oil Pulling

I recently discovered Oil Pulling. I was intrigued about the health benefits many people shared from doing this so did my research and have been practising it for the past few weeks. Basically, you hold about a tablespoon of oil (Sesame Oil and Sunflower Oil are traditionally recommended though some people shared benefits from other types of oil) in your mouth, swishing and pulling it through your teeth. 5 – 20 minutes is recommended depending on how it feels for you and you do not swallow the oil. 

Many people reported  dental benefits from doing this, with some being recommended this by their dentists. Many shared more general benefits for the body.

I have started doing this using Extra Virgin Olive Oil. My teeth have felt cleaner and I have felt less need for mouthwash as this seems to have a similar effect though my teeth haven’t become whiter or even realigned (as some people have reported).

I found many beneficial reports about oil pulling but I also found reports from some people who in the short term had reactions to it. I haven't had amazing results yet, but I have noticed some benefits and no side effects so for now I am continuing experimenting with oil pulling. Make sure you do your research and find out how to do it safely and what feels right for you.

3. Apple Cider Vinegar
In my search for ways to manage my allergies and asthma symptoms, I also discovered reports of the healing effects of ingesting Apple Cider Vinegar. My Dad has used this to help his allergies and many people have reported positive experiences in managing asthma symptoms by doing this. I have been having two tea spoons of Apple Cider Vinegar with a tea spoon of honey and warm water. It is early days but I am interested to see if my asthma symptoms decrease as we head into winter, which is the time when they usually appear.

Again, there are many reports and tips about how to do this. I found some people saying that drinking Apple Cider Vinegar can be hard on the teeth enamel (the addition of bicarbonate of soda was mentioned as a way to neutralize this effect).

If you are interested in trying these, I recommend doing what I did and conducting your own research and find out what feels right for you.

Have you tried any of these? I would love to hear about your experience.

Are you feeling stuck in your life or your business?

If you enjoyed this and are also interested in working on being healthier or on another area of your life or business, then book your free consultation with me here at my coaching page.

How Yoga Can help To Alleviate Depression



Photo by lululemon athletica via Flickr





Depression effects over 120 million people worldwide and 80% of people who struggle with depression also suffer from anxiety.

Yoga can be a good practice for people affected by depression or anxiety disorders as it can be a reminder to us, that when we are feeling alone or isolated, we have lost our sense of connection with who we are. There is also scientific research to show that yoga has a positive effect on mood and anxiety levels.

Recent research has also shown that yoga may be better than other types of exercise in the way it increases mood and decreases anxiety and depression.

Studies found that there is an association between yoga postures and an increase in brain gamma-aminobutyric (GABA) levels and a reduction in anxiety. Lower GABA levels are linked to depressive illnesses and anxiety type illnesses. It was found that GABA levels increase with yoga practice and corresponds to elevation of mood. Researchers found that the levels of GABA are much higher in those that practice yoga than people who do the equivalent amount of a similar exercise such as walking.

It has also been found that people who practice yoga regularly, find a decrease in the impact of day to day stresses, and feel more in control of their emotions.

Yoga is very good for improving mood and self esteem.

Yoga helps you feel good and look good, both of which help create a positive self image. Yoga is also a relaxing exercise and is a great way to take care of yourself and start listening to your body and your thoughts and feelings, all of which help increase self esteem and feelings of well-being.

Yoga can be done in private, in your own home or you could join a class which is also another great way to meet other people, especially if you are feeling lonely.
Yoga is one of the few approaches to depression and anxiety that offers a holistic approach, dealing with mind, body and spirit.

Yoga addresses all aspects of the illness rather than just focusing on one element.

One of the core ideas at the heart of all types of yoga is being aware of the breath. Being aware of the breath helps you to become more aware of the present moment and helps slow down racing or anxious thoughts, as well as offering a whole host of physiological benefits.

It has been found that just an hour of yoga per week can also make a big difference in improving energy, composure, enthusiasm and calmness and improving your overall sense of well-being.

Start small and work your way up to longer sessions and different moves. I currently do ten minutes of yoga each day at home using a DVD and have noticed a marked improvement in calmness and ability to deal with life as well as an increase in flexibility and feelings of wellbeing. Ten minutes each day, quickly adds up and soon you will be doing over an hour of yoga each week!
 

Are you feeling stuck in your life or your business?

If you enjoyed this and are also interested in working on your health or on another area of your life or business, then book your free consultation with me here at my coaching page.

Passing Time In A Meaningless But Delightful Way

Today, between seeing clients and writing I decided to head out into the sunshine that has just hit the UK after a period of cold and snow. I has been resisting going outside, determined to power on and do all the things I wanted to do but eventually realised it was time for a break and to recharge. I had a walk and sat down on a bench to soak up some rays. All around me people were out, enjoying the afternoon sun, playing frisbee, drinking beer and generally enjoying life. Once I got into it, it was wonderful to just be in the moment and press pause and it reminded me of the importance of just being (rather than always doing).

My husband recently came across a word, neither of us had heard before, which fits in perfectly here:

The Italian verb 'asolare' means 'to pass time in a meaningless but delightful way'.

What a wonderful word!

So, if like me, you need to remind yourself to relax and pause at times for some ‘asolare’, here are a few ideas:


Drop the Guilt

Many of us are very good at guilt tripping ourselves. We ‘should’ be ‘doing’ xyz. Drop the guilt and the ‘shoulds’ and allow yourself time to relax and just enjoy the moment.

Schedule

It might sound contrary to suggest scheduling some time to do nothing, but it is a great thing to do if you find it hard to unplug. It means that you can have guilt and obligation free time to switch off and just enjoy the moment. Many of us have a strange notion that we have to be doing something all the time and if that’s the

Get Organized

The more organized I am, the more time I have to slow down and smell the roses when I need to. I used to think being organized was boring and unnecessary but am a convert these days! Get things in order and then give yourself some downtime to reward yourself.

Enjoy

Most importantly, enjoy. Today when I sat in the sunshine with the rays on my face, I enjoyed just sitting and being where I was – it was really great!

When was the last time you took some ‘asolare’?


Photo by Digital Wallpapers on Flickr.

Are you feeling stuck in your life or your business?

If you enjoyed this and are also interested in working on learning to relax or on working on another area of your life or business, then book your free consultation with me here at my coaching page.