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How Long Is a Bit of String?

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Many clients ask how many sessions it will take to resolve their issues. My answer is usually – how long is a bit of string?

String
How long is a bit of string?

Truth is, we never really know until we start doing the work. I’ve had clients present with one issue (e.g. a fear or phobia) and we end up working on something completely different.

I personally don’t believe in searching for the quick fix. IMHO that is like wanting to pop a pill to get rid of the symptoms, but not searching for the underlying root cause. We will always have better resolution when we resolve the root cause rather than just getting rid of the symptoms.

One session of any therapy isn’t going to resolve your issues. However, after one session of EFT you will know the technique enough to be able to do it yourself. Which for me, is the one of the biggest benefits of tapping. You can do it yourself, in the moment you need it. You can tap when you’re feeling anxious or feeling overwhelmed by stress, or wanting to smoke a cigarette/eat a cake etc.

I like to give my clients homework. That way you learn the benefits of regular tapping – working on your issues and helping yourself. I am then able to help you with the trickier aspects of your problem during our sessions. The ones that need coaxing to the surface. I can then point you in the right direction for your next set of homework tapping.

Together we will work out how long that bit of string is 🙂

Keep tapping
Louise

EFT Research

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I had the pleasure of attending the 1st EFT Symposium last Saturday. Run by AAMET and Staffordshire University. It was an amazing day where researchers and EFT practitioners shared their knowledge, research and reviews of research done so far.

EFT Symposium
EFT Symposium

There was an incredible presentation by David Feinstein reviewing research, discussing in detail the amygdala and how energy psychology techniques effect deep emotional changes and a detailed roadmap through a PTSD case. I was blown away by the detail and learnt so much.

It felt very exciting to hear about the research and reviews that have taken place. It is encouraging that there is a group of people out there with the skills and knowledge to help EFT and other Energy Psychology techniques gain wider acceptance.

If you would like to learn more about research, here are some great resources:

AAMET website has a research section: http://www.aamet.org/research/eft-reports-clinical-trials-and-studies. Also check out the FAQ.

ACEP – lots of great articles. This one in particular is about a Meta Analysis that showed Energy Psychology techniques have a real effect: http://acepblog.org/2015/06/12/meta-analysis-of-energy-psychology-studies-finds-energy-psychology-has-a-real-effect/

Craig Weiner has written an excellent blog post which reviews the above Meta Analysis study: http://www.efttappingtraining.com/eft-research-paper/efficacy-of-acupoint-stimulation-treatment-of-psychological-distress-meta-analysis/

EFT Universe has a detailed research section: http://www.eftuniverse.com/research-and-studies/eft-research

I think it is wonderful that there is an emerging evidence base. You can point your sceptical friends or colleagues in the right direction if they need to understand the science and evidence behind Energy Psychology techniques.

There is still a long way to go before EFT is a ‘proven effective therapy’ and accepted alongside CBT etc. However, we are moving in the right direction. I will share more as and when it develops. Watch this space 🙂

Keep tapping
Louise

Please do get in touch, if you’d like to experience EFT for yourself. It is a remarkable technique!

You’ve Got To Move It

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How much time do you spend sat down? For many of us, it’s way too much! It can be hard to remember to get up and move about during our day. We often spend a large part of the day sat in our car, desk chair and sofa! We need to move though. We weren’t designed to be sat still for hours on end. Recent studies show the negative effects of long periods of sitting include reduced electrical activity of our muscles, increased LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol), increased insulin resistance, weight gain, reduced concentration etc.

Sitting at desk
Desk worker

It can be hard to remember to move when we are busy working and concentrating. However, getting up and moving will help us concentrate better – moving pumps fresh blood and oxygen to our brain – releasing brain and mood enhancing chemicals. When we sit still our brain function slows (ever have that afternoon fog?).

So get up every half hour and walk around. Go to the photocopier, make yourself a drink, talk to a colleague rather than emailing them etc.

Make sure you get 30 mins moderate exercise a day (e.g. walking).

If you find it hard to move your body then try some tapping, e.g.

  • Even though I find it hard to move during my busy day, I choose to remember to look after my body
  • Even though it’s hard to remember to move, I accept myself anyway
  • Even though I forget to move and feel stiff and sore, I choose to be more active
  • Even though my shoulders and neck feel stiff and tense, I choose to stretch and move during my day
  • Even though I find it hard to fit in any exercise, I choose to make time to look after my body

You can help yourself by setting a reminder on your computer or phone to get off your butt! Just standing for a few minutes and stretching or walking away from your desk will help.

WalkingIf you’d like some help with this, then do get in touch with me.

Keep tapping (and moving)
Email Louise

Dealing with Disappointment

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Disappointment
Disappointment

We’ve all experienced disappointment at some point in our lives. You may feel disappointed with the results of the recent UK General Election! It’s not something we can avoid. But how can we deal with it?

A recent client came to me feeling very disappointed about a situation at work. She was losing a new employee to another job. She had spent quite a bit of money and a lot of time and effort recruiting and subsequently training the new person and was very disappointed they would soon be leaving!

I always recommend by starting with acknowledging fully how you feel. So vent e.g.

  • Even though I’m so disappointed that I’m losing X, I accept my feelings anyway
  • Even though I’ve wasted so much money & effort training X and I’m going to have to do it all again…
  • Even though I’m so annoyed and disappointed and frustrated I’m losing X…

Once you have got all those feelings cleared then it’s time to ask yourself some questions.

  • What have you learnt?
  • What would you do differently next time?
  • What would you skip?
  • Is there someone who can help you?
  • What can you refine about the process?

Spend a bit of time actually writing down your answers.

We can’t always avoid disappointment, but we can use EFT to help us handle the emotions. If we’ve learnt something or can do something different next time then our experience hasn’t been wasted!

Drop me an email if you’d like some help. I offer face to face sessions in Devon & Skype sessions Worldwide.

Keep tapping
Louise

Tap Into Meditation

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meditation

Do you struggle to meditate?

Do you find that as soon as you sit down, get all comfortable and begin your meditation that your mind becomes super busy and you think of everything you should have done, need to do or play you events over and over?

You’re not alone 🙂

I have meditated on and off for over 20 years. At times I really struggled and fell off the meditation band wagon as it were. Since discovering EFT though I have found it much easier.

I often use EFT to help me clear my mind before I start. I just allow all my random thoughts of the day to come up and I tap through all the points as I do so. This helps me in two ways. 1) My mind has a free rein to think all the random thoughts it can. 2) I acknowledge and accept how I’m feeling. If there is any particular emotion or feeling that comes up then I’ll do some more tapping on that. Often our emotions just want to be acknowledged. But we can repress them by putting them to one side or not wanting to “go there”. EFT allows me to gently “go there” and acknowledge how I feel. If I don’t have a lot of time to work fully on anything that comes up, then I make a note of it and then come back to it when I do have time.

I then get into my meditation position, ensure all phones and distractions are turned off. Then I allow myself time to settle and if there is still more thoughts, then I’ll tap along the lines of:

  • Even though my mind is still busy with lots of distracting thoughts, I choose to let them go now
  • Even though I can’t seem to silence my mind right now, I’m open to the possibility of calming my mind down
  • Even though I really want to meditate and my mind won’t seem to co-operate, I love and accept myself anyway

Once I have done that I find that I am much calmer and more present in my body. It is useful to do the tapping quite slowly too, whilst breathing deeply.

I usually find if I do this then my meditation goes a lot smoother and I seem to get in the zone a lot easier.

Hope this helps.

If you would like some help with your meditation practice or your general stress or anxiety, then please drop me a line and we can arrange a session.

Keep tapping
Louise

What brings you Joy?

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Just wanted to share the joy I felt today. It really felt that spring has sprung. I went out for a walk first thing and it was quite chilly. Later on I visited a nearby park to see if the spring flowers were out…and they were.

Spring flowers
Spring flowers

The sky was blue, the sun was shining and the crocuses and snowdrops were out in abundance 🙂 My favourite the daffodils weren’t yet poking their heads out!

I spent some time walking & pondering the magnificence of nature. I felt true gratitude for the flowers, trees, birds, sun and blue sky. So that got me thinking about what else brings me joy and how I can cultivate that feeling on a regular basis.

So spend a few minutes thinking about what brings you joy. Decide to seek out the things, people or places that bring you joy. Appreciate them and they will show up more in your life.

If you are feeling a lack of joy in your life at the moment, then acknowledge that too and tap on whatever is causing that. Your life might be difficult at the moment, but if you could notice some little things that bring you joy, you might just begin to feel better.

Wishing you more joy in your world.

Keep tapping.
Louise

Tapping World Summit 2015

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Tapping World Summit 2015

It’s the 7th annual Tapping World Summit very soon. If you haven’t heard about this amazing event yet, you’re in for a treat.

There is loads of free content on topics from health, wealth, abundance, emotional well-being and peak performance.

Register here: http://www.thetappingsolution.com/2015tappingworldsummit/reg/AF/new-access.htm

If you’re new to EFT or tapping then you will get an excellent insight as to how it can help you. If you’re a seasoned tapper then there is great content to learn from.

It starts on 23rd February 2015 and runs for 10 days. There are 2 presentations per day, each available for 24 hours. So no matter where you are in the world, you can listen for free. There are 2 upgrade options (digital only & CD) so you can keep the presentations to listen to again and again.

I am looking forward to hearing from this year’s presenters.

See you there.
Keep tapping 🙂

Louise

Happy 2015

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Happy New Year…a little late perhaps. But I would genuinely like to wish you all the very best for 2015. Have you set resolutions and dropped them already?

Happy New Year
Happy New Year 2015

That’s why I choose not to set resolutions myself. It’s all too easy to get caught up in the resolutions buzz and then not really commit to them. Some people make loads of resolutions and then give up simply because it’s not practical to quit smoking, lose weight, get fit and find a new job all at the same time! Too many changes all at once spell disaster.

If you really want to change your life, in my opinion you need to do it gradually. Here are my top 5 tips:

  • Commit to the change
  • Be accountable (your friend, family, colleagues or coach can help you with this)
  • Take baby steps
  • Use #EFT to eliminate your fears, blocks etc
  • Celebrate small milestones along the way

If you would like some help making changes this year, then I am here to help. I offer 121 sessions in Exeter and Tavistock in Devon and Skype sessions worldwide.

Keep tapping & I wish you a truly happy, healthy and successful 2015.
Louise

It’s Ok to Slow Down

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Winter

Winter is traditionally a time when we don’t have as much energy and can feel like hibernating. Our ancestors were much more in tune with the seasons than we are. We can get summer foods such as salad throughout the year, we have electric lights, and smart phones & laptops that enable us to be connected to the world 24/7.

Winter doesn’t physically make us slow down like it once it once did. Sometimes we can feel at odds with the season and want to carry the summer energy on into winter.  The modern way of living allows us to do that. But what if we listened to the season instead of fighting it?

I believe it’s time we got more in tune with the season and slowed down. If you struggle with the winter season and feel like you should push on & rush around like it’s still the height of summer, then read on…

Notice how you feel & where in your body you feel any stress or resistance.  Then use that in your tapping statements.  E.g.

  • Even though I struggle to keep going in the winter, maybe I don’t have to
  • Even though I want to keep up my summer energy, I just don’t feel it and I accept myself anyway
  • Even though my body is sluggish and I really hate being slow, I accept my feelings
  • Even though I think I should still be energetic, my body is telling me to slow down and maybe it’s ok to listen
  • Even though my body is telling me to slow down and I’ve been ignoring it, I choose to listen now and be ok with slowing down

Remember to keep tapping on whatever resistance or stress comes up for you. I’m off to sit by my log fire 🙂

Keep tapping
Louise

Overcome the Monday Blues

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Monday Blues
Monday Blues

So it’s Monday again. Maybe you don’t like your job. Maybe you hate it.

Maybe you’ve just had a really good weekend and you don’t want it end.

Maybe you didn’t have a good weekend and you’d like a few more days at home.

We’ve all been there. We’ve all hated Mondays.

When I was younger I used to dread Mondays.  I would be filled with fear and dread about going back to school. Once I was there I was fine. But every Sunday for quite a while I would have the Monday blues.

If only I’d had EFT back then…things would’ve been a lot different.

So if this has rung true for you in any way, then it’s time to get tapping…

  • Even though I always get the Monday blues…
  • Even though I dread Mondays…
  • Even though I get the Monday blues on Sunday night…
  • Even though I hate my job and hate the thought of having to get up on Monday morning…
  • Even though I’m scared about going back to school on Monday…
  • Even though I hate the stress of Monday mornings…
  • Even though I hate Mondays…
  • Even though I wish I could skip Mondays…

You get the idea. Tap on whatever it is about Mondays that you don’t like or dread. Keep tapping until you feel better.

Sorry I can’t make Mondays disappear…hey EFT is good but not THAT good 🙂

Drop me a line if you’d like some help on this or another issue. Until next time…

Keep tapping
Louise

3 Easy Ways to Change

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 “Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts.”

Arnold Bennett

Change is inevitable. Whether we like it or not, change will happen. We can either resist it, fear it or flow with it. The latter is much easier. But it is not always that easy to do.

Autumn colours changing
Autumn colours changing

We all resist change at certain times because it can be hard. Especially when it’s a change we don’t want.

So how do we flow with it more easily?

Firstly notice the resistance you feel about this change. Notice where you feel that resistance in your body and tap on that. E.g.

  • Even though I feel this dark churning resistance to change in my stomach, I accept myself and my feelings anyway
  • Even though I really want things to stay the same…
  • Even though I hate change and always resist it…

Secondly, tap on any fears you have about the change, e.g.

  • Even though my heart is pounding at the thought of this change, I accept myself anyway
  • Even though I feel all this change fear in my chest, I choose to accept myself anyway
  • Even though I feel so scared about this change, I deeply & completely accept myself

Finally, once you have cleared your fears and resistance to change, tap on the possibility of this change being easy, e.g.

  • Even though I’ve feared and resisted this change, what if it will actually be ok
  • Even though I’ve dreaded this change, I’m open to the possibility of this change being easy
  • Even though I resisted this change, maybe it’ll be a good thing

Remember to keep tapping on each aspect – feeling, body sensation, thought etc. Always clear your resistance and fears first before tapping on the positive possibilities. If change has been a problem for you in the past then you probably need to tap on the memories of your past change experiences to clear them. The movie technique is a great way to do that.

“Change is the essence of life. Be willing to surrender what you are, for what you could become.”

Keep tapping
Louise

How to have a Great New Start

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September is the season of the new start. New season – officially it is now Autumn but it still feels like summer (yay!).

New school, new College or University. Maybe a new job or new relationship.

Whatever the ‘new’ is, there is often some trepidation or worry associated with it. There may even be downright fear! No matter – help is at hand (quite literally).

So how do you have the best start possible? Tap on any worries, concerns or fear that you have. Keep tapping on each aspect until you feel calm and excited about your new start.

Here’s some examples.

New school for the kids in your life:

  • Even though I’m scared of starting my new school, I’m still a good girl/boy/kid
  • Even though I won’t know anyone and I’ll feel scared talking to new kids, I’m ok
  • Even though I’m worried about finding my way around my new school, I’m going to be ok

New College/Uni:

  • Even though I’m not sure how I’m going to cope, living away from home for the first time, I’m ok
  • Even though I don’t know anyone & I don’t know how I’ll fit in, I choose to accept myself anyway
  • Even though I’m worried about living on my own for the first time, I’m sure I’ll be ok
New University
New University

New job/relationship:

  • Even though I’m worried I won’t know how to do the job and if I’ll fit in, I accept my feelings anyway
  • Even though I’m scared of not being good enough or experienced enough, I choose to stay calm anyway
  • Even though I feel nervous about this new relationship, I choose to relax & go with the flow

Remember, just keep tapping until you feel better.

Good luck with the new start – whatever it is 🙂

Keep tapping
Louise

Inner Voice

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Please stop for a minute. Just listen. Listen to your inner voice, your self talk.

What does it say? What tone does it speak in?
Is it speaking with kindness & compassion?
Or is it speaking with criticism and judgement?

Self talk
Self talk

It is very enlightening if we just stop once in a while and listen to our self talk. If you find yourself being critical and judgemental then try some tapping.

  • Even though I’m being judgemental…
  • Even though I’m critical of myself…
  • Even though I’m my own worst critic…
  • Even though my self talk is negative and judgemental…
  • Even though I’m not being a good friend to myself…
  • Even though I’m giving myself a really hard time…
  • Even thought I’d never speak to a friend in the way I speak to myself…

Once you have cleared out the negatives, try some positive choices, e.g.

  • I choose to treat myself with kindness & compassion…
  • I choose to treat myself like a good friend
  • I choose to be kinder to myself
  • I choose to be more compassionate with myself
  • I choose to treat myself with kindness
  • I choose to talk to myself in kind and loving ways

I hope you try this exercise from time to time and find it useful. I sure do whenever I do it.  Interestingly I have noticed my critical voice less and less and I notice it more quickly if it does pop up. In which case I tap and let it go 🙂

Keep tapping
Louise

Feeling Emosh

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Sometimes we feel rather emotional and don’t quite know why.  Usually it is a build up of different emotions and some little thing triggers us & sends us over the edge as it were.

Feeling Emotional
Emotional

If you don’t know why you’re feeling emotional then just tap anyway. It can either help stop the tears or let them flow out…either way you’ll feel better.

So next time you’re feeling emotional and don’t know why just start tapping and tune in to the feeling…you may have different emotions come up and you may know what they’re about. If you don’t know, just keep tapping anyway. It will help and if you tap for long enough you’ll probably get some good insights.  EFT is great like that.

We have this wonderful tool at our fingertips…we just need to remember to use it.

I’m here to help remind you of this amazing tool…

Keep tapping
Louise

Knowing Me

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“Knowing others is wisdom; Knowing the self is enlightenment; Mastering others requires force;

Mastering the self needs strength”   — Lao Tzu

 

So how do we know ourselves better? By exploring our thoughts, our emotions/feelings, our beliefs and our bodies.

All we have to do is listen. Sometimes it isn’t easy. And that is where Tapping comes into its own.

I have found that tapping gently on myself whilst I truly listen is very rewarding. I get to know myself better. I learn what makes me tick – the way I think, what triggers my feelings etc.

I may learn things I don’t like. That’s ok because I can tap and accept whatever comes up.  E.g. Even though I don’t like it when I think {X}, I choose to love and accept myself anyway

I can question my beliefs and see if they are serving me or if they are just remnants from my past. With EFT I can get rid of those beliefs that no longer serve me.

With EFT I can be really gentle getting to know myself better. The more I tap the more I learn about myself.

Let me know if you’d like some help getting to know yourself.

Keep tapping
Louise