By Carol Look, EFT Master

Part 1 of 7: Introduction

Whenever we have been traumatized, hurt, betrayed or scared, our body records the feelings on an energetic and cellular level.  As the well-known trauma specialist Bessel Van der Kolk says, “your body keeps the score.”

After this introduction to this article, parts 2 and 3 of this series will address stored trauma and conflict in the body from an energetic perspective.  Parts 4 and 5 will address present manifestations of trauma in the skin and current diagnoses, and parts 6 and 7 will address our body’s responses to our future.  (Please note that I am not a doctor, so I am only suggesting energetic ways to address the body with EFT as an adjunct to proper medical care.)

When we have a car accident, the bruises or broken bones are evident, physical, visible to the eye and painful when touched.  When we cut ourselves with a knife or burn ourselves in the kitchen, the scars can last indefinitely—proof that yes, we endured yet made it through a hardship of some kind.  But when we’ve been screamed at, abandoned, or threatened, we have no visible “scars” to see or show others.  Our bodies do indeed make and keep excellent records of these incidents in our electricity and our energy fields.

Enter EFT…

EFT is my energy technique of choice to address all emotional conflicts and trauma at multiple levels – emotional, spiritual, physical, and electrical.  So when you were reamed out by your coach, the “trauma” can’t just be talked out in traditional talk therapy without leaving an electrical trace. Impressions have been made beyond the rational processing of the mind, and when your friend or colleague says, “he was having a bad day” or “he does it to everyone” this doesn’t help erase the electrical impression that was made by the incident.  If we seriously want to rewire ourselves, EFT is the tool.

Think of the positive reframe of the phrase, “rewiring” our brain.  We don’t need a new brain, we don’t need to be fixed because we’re not broken.  We have all the necessary parts, we just need to do some rewiring so the electrical impulses are firing in response to the right stimuli.  We have all the ingredients now, we just need to make new connections, perceptions and interpretations.

EFT’s discovery statement says “The cause of all negative emotion is a disruption in the body’s energy system.”  Let’s continue to clear those disruptions and embrace deep level healing that is available to us.

Let’s begin.

The first step is to develop rapport with your body in a genuine and loving way, as you might with a friend or new client coming for an appointment.  Be kind, listen deeply, be open, and make time to communicate.  Too many people ignore the messages from their body, or don’t even recognize that their bodies are communicating with them to begin with!

The following points help me approach my clients when they want to work on emotional underpinnings of physical issues.  (Keep in mind, I am not a medical doctor, so I am not treating the illness, but the underlying emotional and vibrational conflicts that contribute to the illness.)

1. Pain Is a Signal: Pain is a brilliant, loud, information-rich signal.  We need to hear it or we will risk the signal becoming amplified to get our attention.  Pain is often an unconscious process.  Conflicts are manifested through the body (soma) from emotional tension in the mind (psyche) which is why we develop psychosomatic illnesses.  The illnesses or headaches are real, however, the origin is psychological conflict, not germs, viruses or bacterial causes.

2. Symbolic Clues: Often, the body has stored information in particular organs for symbolic reasons.  Our bodies are far more brilliant than we ever give them credit for, and sometimes they try to get our attention in a humorous or obvious way.  It’s not unusual for shoulder problems to be connected to experiences of carrying the weight of the world, legs, knees and feet being connected to moving forward, or skin issues reflecting deep irritations and issues bothering us “below the surface.”

3. Traumas and Conflicts Drain Our Immune Systems: As Gary Craig talks about in his serious disease DVDs, these repressed, suppressed, or avoided hurts, resentments and conflicts naturally siphon off energy and strength from our immune systems, making us available “targets” for illness or structural vulnerabilities.  Peaceless, although high functioning, we eventually develop a physical challenge because we have no more psychic room in which to store it.

4. Cure vs Cause: It is my personal opinion that we spend way too much time looking for cures and ignoring the cause of our physiological ailments.  Every illness has a vibration.  We would spend less time and money and gain more health and vitality if we looked at the vibrations or causes of our problems and treated them with EFT.  This does not mean we don’t need a doctor when we have a serious issue.  It means throwing pills or surgery at our body will succeed, but only temporarily if we don’t address the underlying vibration. 

I love asking myself or clients questions to stimulate energetic connections that may have gone unnoticed by the conscious mind.  I also like “fill in the blank” statements such as the ones listed below.  Make up your own, write quickly, and you may be surprised by what pops up for you. Below are some samples and favorites:

1.    If my _____________ could talk, it would tell me that I have been neglecting _______________________________.

2.    My sore ______________ represents the conflict I have over ___________ (or in this relationship.)

3.    Romantic love conflicts and hurts seem to be stored in my ______________.

4.    Money worries always seem to show up in my _______________.

5.    Anger issues have traditionally caused me to develop pain or inflammation in my ______________________________.

6.    Fears seem to manifest physically through my ________________.

7.    When I feel underappreciated, my _______________ hurts.

8.    When I’m threatened on the job and feel competitive, I tend to have tightness in my ________________________.

9.    When I’m exhausted and overworked, I notice discomfort in my _____________.

10.When I encounter problems with my family, my ________________ always flares up.

Remember, I believe we would be far more efficient if we spent time and energy on the vibrational causes of the problem, (it’s core) rather than the cures (what happens afterwards) and then address this vibration with EFT, so that we can stay healthy longer!  Problems are caused by vibrations, and we have the power to change our vibrations (which we do through thoughts and feelings), why not put more focus where we have more power?

Stay tuned for parts 2 and 3 of this series which will address storing trauma in the body.

Carol Look,

EFT Master

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Part 2 of 7: The Past – Holding Onto Traumatic Events

In part 2 of this series, I will be addressing ways to approach illness and pain that has been stored in the body from traumas from an energetic perspective.  Please note, I am not a medical doctor, and am not in any way suggesting you do not seek appropriate medical care for physiological issues.  I am offering an additional perspective and a powerful way to use EFT in combination with medical options.

We hold the memory of past events in our bodies as much as we do in our minds and our energy fields.  Past events have a particular “vibration.” This is why they need to be cleared at all levels, and I have not yet found a technique more elegant and complete than EFT for this clearing process.

After you have seen your doctor and heard the diagnosis, does it make sense?  Can you trace it to emotional contributors?  What is your body trying to say? And more importantly, are you willing to listen?

We all have experienced mild to severe past traumas (actual events such as car accidents, falling, being hit, mugged, etc) or have been holding ongoing emotional conflicts that remain unresolved (these will be addressed in parts 4 and 5). 

Pick a part of your body where you tend to have a vulnerability to stress.  Maybe your tummy acts up over work stress, maybe your lower back bothers you when you’re having marital conflict, maybe your skin erupts when a problem is festering.  Assume that your body has made connections for you.  I invite you to be a detective to find out what you need to release in order to bring physical comfort back into your life.  (Even remembering that it used to be there can change your vibration in the right direction.)

1. What “trauma” is in this body part and why is it trying to get your attention?

2. Have you been neglecting something?

3. Have you been ignoring making a commitment or a decision?

A client comes in complaining of severe back pain.  She assumes it started after having a sports injury, but the MD found no concrete structural damage left after her medical treatment.  There is no more treatment available other than rest, pain relievers, or a risky surgery that has a poor track record.  You are not a doctor, so you are not licensed to treat the illness or injury, but you can start asking questions:

1. Did you ever have back pain before the sports injury?

2. Why do you think it is still going on after all these years?

3. Who or what is represented by this pain?

4. If there is no damage visible on the x-rays, what “information” about the injury/accident is still being stored in your back?

The pain was physical as well as emotional, but the wounds are still “active” even though the injury was years ago. What message might be in her back pain? What does she need to “hear” ? Try these setup phrases and tapping sequences as a guide.

Karate chop point: Even though I have been ignoring this message in my back, I choose to pay attention now…Even though I’m scared to listen to the message in my back, I am open and willing to listen now…Even though I know there’s something I need to hear from this pain, it’s not just about the injury, I accept that I was scared and that I am now open to the information.

EYEBROW:  I feel scared of listening to the message.

SIDE OF EYE: I know my back has stored that trauma from 19__.

UNDER EYE: I feel so worried about bringing it up again.

NOSE: I know my back is trying to get my attention.

CHIN: I don’t want to “go there.”

COLLARBONE: My back is taking me there.

UNDER ARM: I can handle dealing with this trauma again.

HEAD: I want to know why my back is “talking” to me.

EYEBROW:  I feel open to the information here.

SIDE OF EYE: I’m ready and willing to listen.

UNDER EYE: I’m scared but I know I can handle the information.

NOSE: I know what emotions I am storing, but I wanted to ignore them.

CHIN: No wonder my back is hurting.

COLLARBONE: I am willing to express and release the trauma.

UNDER ARM: I don’t need to store the pain anymore.

HEAD: I am free to give it up if I choose.

Allergies are rampant in our society.  When the body has an allergy, it believes there is an outside force attacking, and it musters all its forces (the  runny nose, watery eyes etc) to fight off the attacker.  Suppose you looked at your life for other perceived or real “attacks” that may be manifesting in allergies.  While you may use the fact that the pollen count is high as a way to legitimize your allergies, I encourage you to look for underlying emotional causes and conflicts.  Do any other “attacks” come to mind?

Karate chop point: Even though I’m allergic to so many things, I choose to accept my body is trying to protect me…Even though the allergies remind me of an earlier attack, one I wanted to forget, I choose to accept my body’s response…Even though I remember what attack my body is truly responding to, I accept the allergies and accept my body’s response.

EYEBROW:  I was attacked many years ago.

SIDE OF EYE: I’m still holding that fear in my body and allergies.

UNDER EYE: I had forgotten about that attack, but my body remembers.

NOSE: I have been fighting that attack with my allergies.

CHIN: It has been a long time and I’m willing to feel the pain.

COLLARBONE: I remember the attack as if it were yesterday.

UNDER ARM: I was so scared.

HEAD: No wonder my system wants to protect me.

EYEBROW:  I am ready to release the need for protection.

SIDE OF EYE: I’m ready to protect myself now.

UNDER EYE: I am safer than I was back then.

NOSE: I choose to protect myself in new ways.

CHIN: I appreciate how my body was trying to take care of me.

COLLARBONE: I am ready to release the allergies.

UNDER ARM: I know why I needed them.

HEAD: I don’t need them anymore.

Take another physical “event” such as a car accident.  Why is the pain still there after 20 years?  Regardless of the original diagnosis, think of it in energetic terms.  Why might you still be holding on to it?

It is very common to hold onto physical pain for emotional reasons.  We all have done it, but it is possible to separate this tangle and move on with EFT.

I have had several clients who were involved in car accidents who were afraid to “let go” or forget the trauma of the accident.  They believed the pain helped them stay vigilant on the road as it reminded them what could happen if they didn’t pay attention.

Karate chop point: Even though I’ve been holding on to the pain from this accident for too long, I’m afraid to give it up, I deeply and completely love and accept myself anyway…Even though the doctors said I would be in pain for the rest of my life, I’m willing to consider that I don’t need to be…Even though I’m holding onto this physical pain for emotional reasons, I accept who I am and how I feel about what happened.

EYEBROW:  I am afraid to give up the pain, I don’t want anyone to forget what happened.

SIDE OF EYE: I was traumatized by the accident.

UNDER EYE: I need to remember and be careful.

NOSE: The accident was so overwhelming.

CHIN: I’ll never forget the accident, and neither will my body.

COLLARBONE: I don’t want to let it go.

UNDER ARM: It’s been with me so long

HEAD: I’m afraid of letting go of the pain even though I want to.

EYEBROW:  I might be able to let it go now.

SIDE OF EYE: I’m listening to my body and I know what I need.

UNDER EYE: What if I could let some of it go?

NOSE: I don’t need to remember the pain.

CHIN: I’m willing to work through the trauma and fear.

COLLARBONE: I know my body is better now.

UNDER ARM: I don’t need to hold on any longer.

HEAD: I feel open to releasing this old pain from the accident.

In part 3 of this series, I will address several examples of emotional traumas from your past that may be stored in body parts: “The Past – Storing Bad News.”

Stay tuned,

Carol Look, EFT Master

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Part 3 of 7: The Past – Storing Bad News 

In part 3 of this series, I will address numerous examples of how past emotional conflict and “bad news” may be stored in your body, ailments, aches and pains.

Let’s begin with emotional traumas that don’t involve, cuts, scrapes, bruises or any other obvious physical problem.  Suppose you felt abandoned by your parents when they divorced.  They were so involved in their fighting, they left the kids alone and without resources to talk through the fear and sadness.  Maybe you were pre-adolescent, not quite angry yet, and the shock of the news of your parents’ divorce was never “aired” with them, a counselor or your peers.  (This is extremely common.)

• Do you remember where you were when you heard this news?
• Do you remember what you were wearing, what the temperature was, whether you were sitting or standing?
• Where was the news stored in your body? (If there isn’t a clear answer, just guess…)
• What conclusions about yourself and life (It’s not safe to love…) did you make as a result?

Clients will often use phrases such as:

“I felt like I was punched in the stomach when I heard that.”

“It hit me like a ton of bricks.”

“It really threw me for a loop.” 

How’s your stomach now?

Where did the ton of bricks land?

What was the effect of being thrown for a loop?

Our bodies are storage places for verbal, emotional, and spiritual betrayals.  This is why we need to clear our energy system of leftover conflicts.  It is more than probable that many people aren’t even aware of how particular shocks were stored, how bad news has been held, or how old wounds were  covered up instead of being healed.

As I mentioned earlier, it should come as no surprise that the ailments and complaints of adults can be symbolically traced to an early emotional pain or conflict.  Suppose you were stunned to hear that you were betrayed, and lost the support of a trusted friend, mentor or boss.  One convenient place to store this information and trauma is in your knees and legs….symbolically representing “feeling supported” etc.  (If this following example doesn’t resonate for you, choose your own, and fill in your own words.)

Karate chop point: Even though the bad news has apparently been stored in my knees, I choose to release it now…Even though I didn’t know where else to store the bad news, I accept who I am and how I feel about it…Even though I’ve been keeping this bad news in my body, I choose to release it now.

EYEBROW:  I don’t want to remember this bad news.

SIDE OF EYE: I know I’ve been storing it in my legs.

UNDER EYE: I feel protective of this bad news.

NOSE: I didn’t feel supported.

CHIN: I don’t want to open up these old hurts.

COLLARBONE: I feel hurt from the bad news.

UNDER ARM: I still feel shocked and frozen.

HEAD: I have been storing the bad news in my legs for years.

EYEBROW:  I’m not ready to let it go.

SIDE OF EYE: Maybe I am.

UNDER EYE: I don’t want to remember the bad news.

NOSE: I might be able to let this go from my legs.

CHIN: It was a long time ago.

COLLARBONE: It’s time to be free of this burden.

UNDER ARM: I’m willing to let some of it go from my legs.

HEAD: I don’t need to hold it in my body anymore.

Bad news is often a shock to us and of course, therefore, to all the cells in our bodies.   Telephone calls often deliver bad news of an accident, a death, results of a medical test, or a major life change.  Think of a phone call you received that was a shock to you (or your client.)

• Where is the shock of this news stored for you?
• Did time stop for you back then?
• What physical problems have you encountered since then?
• Have you ever been able to let it go?

Karate chop point: Even though this information came as a shock to me, and I’ve been storing it in my neck, I accept who I am and what I did with it…Even though I didn’t see it coming, I accept where I chose to bury this information…Even though I wasn’t prepared to hear the bad news, and it lodged in my neck, I accept who I am, where I put it, and how I feel about it now.

EYEBROW:  I still remember how I felt when I heard it.

SIDE OF EYE: I froze up inside.

UNDER EYE: I feel so sad when I remember the phone call.

NOSE: I remember being so shocked, and a part of me still feels shocked.

CHIN: No wonder I have a stiff neck.

COLLARBONE: I was caught off guard and didn’t know what to do.

UNDER ARM: I’ve been holding onto the shock and fear in my neck.

HEAD: I didn’t know what to do with the information.

EYEBROW:  I am considering releasing the shock from my neck.

SIDE OF EYE: I’m willing to let go of some of the emotional trauma.

UNDER EYE: I WAS caught off guard, and that’s ok.

NOSE: I didn’t see it coming, how could I?

CHIN: It’s ok to let my guard down again.

COLLARBONE: I didn’t know what to do, but now I can let go.

UNDER ARM: I choose to release the shock from my neck and body.

HEAD: I feel relieved already as I release these feelings from my neck.

Suppose you were suddenly fired from your job or your marriage … and didn’t see it coming.  Where did you “put” that information (bad news) while you tried to compose yourself?  Many people are completely caught off guard when their spouse or partner announces that they are leaving.  They berate themselves for not seeing the warning signs, and assume that they “aren’t good enough.”  These conclusions along with the shock of the “news” gets stored in the body.

Karate chop point: Even though this came as a total surprise, and I’ll never forget it, I accept who I am and how I feel about it…Even though I blame myself for being left, I accept who I am and what I did with the information…Even though it’s my fault, I deserved it, I am still in shock and don’t know what to do about it.

EYEBROW:  I still feel the shock in my back.

SIDE OF EYE: I know I’ve stored it in my back.

UNDER EYE: I feel so sore about the bad news.

NOSE: My back has never been the same.

CHIN: I can feel the pain of the abandonment in my back.

COLLARBONE: I have been storing this pain in my back.

UNDER ARM: I don’t want to let it go.

HEAD: I’m still so angry.

EYEBROW:  I feel shocked even after all these years.

SIDE OF EYE: I couldn’t control what happened.

UNDER EYE: I feel so helpless even now.

NOSE: Why didn’t I see it coming?

CHIN: I feel angry about being told in this way.

COLLARBONE: I wish he/she had handled it differently.

UNDER ARM: I don’t know how to process the bad news.

HEAD: I have been holding onto the shock for all these years.

When in doubt, add some positive rounds to help the person accept what happened and consider moving on.

EYEBROW:  I am ready to work through this conflict.

SIDE OF EYE: I’m willing to consider that it wasn’t all my fault.

UNDER EYE: What if it was all for the best anyway?

NOSE: I’m not ready to let go.

CHIN: I still feel hurt and abandoned.

COLLARBONE: I don’t know how to release the pain in my back.

UNDER ARM: I’m willing to relax and accept myself.

HEAD: I feel almost ready to accept who I am and how I dealt with the bad news back then.

EYEBROW:  I appreciate my back and who I am.

SIDE OF EYE: I’m ok with how I stored the information in my back.

UNDER EYE: I did the best I could back then.

NOSE: I’m still doing the best I can.

CHIN: I appreciate my body.

COLLARBONE: I’m grateful to my body for protecting me.

UNDER ARM: I appreciate my body.

HEAD: I feel good about letting go of some of this pain.

Stay tuned for part 4 of this series, “The Present – What’s Under Your Skin?”

Carol Look, EFT Master

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Part 4 of 7: The Present – What’s Under Your Skin?

In part 4 of this series, I want to address issues that manifest through our skin, the largest organ in our body.  For the purpose of these illustrations, I will assume that the irritations are from current life stressors, not from past traumas as illustrated in parts 2 and 3.

People, places, and situations get under our skin, and when we feel irritated, it shows on our face or bodies.  Our skin is in touch with both our inside world and our outside world, as it and absorbs all the information from our environment.  I believe it would do us a great service to pay attention to what our skin is communicating to us through eruptions, ailments, conditions etc.  When we feel overloaded, and our feelings aren’t being expressed and heard, they tend to spill into our bodies…our skin is a perfect place to express our conflicts, stress and feelings of being overwhelmed.  It is not surprising to hear someone say “My skin is acting up since that job change…” or “He is so under my skin these days…” or “He’s like a bad rash…”

Suppose you or your client has been given some kind of diagnosis about skin inflammation, and the MDs have done all they can do to offer medical remedies.  The next step is to explore what might be causing this in your current situation:

• If your inflamed skin reminded you of someone, who would it be?
• If the inflammation had a name, what would it be?
• Who or what is causing you to feel itchy?
• If the dry itchy patches had a message, what would it be?
• If your skin rashes were trying to get your attention, what do you need to focus on?
• If you could trace the “eruptions” with a current stressor in your life, where would you end up?
• If your skin represented “you” and what you need, then what do “you” need right now?

If our skin is showing conflict, find out why where and who is being expressed through irritations, rashes, and itching!

Karate chop point: Even though he really got under my skin this time, I accept  who I am and appreciate my feelings…Even though I’m afraid to admit how strongly I feel about this issue, I accept myself and my feelings about what happened…Even though I let this problem get under my skin, I choose to release this irritation.

EYEBROW:  I feel so irritated by this situation.

SIDE OF EYE: I let him get under my skin.

UNDER EYE: I have many issues underneath the surface.

NOSE: I’m afraid to go beneath the surface.

CHIN: I don’t want to look at what might be causing these “eruptions.”

COLLARBONE: He/she is so under my skin!

UNDER ARM: I’m holding onto this irritation in my skin

HEAD: I don’t want to let go yet.

EYEBROW:  I will consider releasing this conflict in my skin.

SIDE OF EYE: I’m almost ready to let it go.

UNDER EYE: Part of me really wants to let it go.

NOSE: The other part of me wants to hold on to it.

CHIN: He/She really got under my skin this time.

COLLARBONE: I’m so irritated by what happened.

UNDER ARM: I don’t need to hold it in my skin anymore.

HEAD: I feel ready to release some of this conflict and soothe my skin.

I also find it incredibly productive to use a few rounds expressing gratitude for your body.  It reminds us how strong we really are, and allows us to temporarily focus on something positive, in spite of the problem. 

EYEBROW:  I’m so grateful for my skin.

SIDE OF EYE: I appreciate my skin.

UNDER EYE: I love how flexible my skin has always been.

NOSE: I appreciate all of my skin.

CHIN: I’m grateful for what my skin has done for me.

COLLARBONE: I appreciate my skin.

UNDER ARM: I’m grateful for all of me.

HEAD: I feel so grateful for my skin and my body.

And if the skin problems seem to be caused by overwhelmed feelings and stress in general, I would try something along the lines of the following setups and phrasing.

Karate chop point: Even though the stress from my job is coming out in my skin, I choose to express my feelings and take care of myself…Even though the stress from my work and family is spilling over into my skin, I accept who I am and how I feel….Even though I can’t handle the stress so it’s irritating my skin, I accept who I am and how I feel about my life.

EYEBROW:  I feel so stressed out.

SIDE OF EYE: I know the stress is coming out in my skin.

UNDER EYE: I feel so exhausted and stressed from my life.

NOSE: I have so many feelings inside that need to come out.

CHIN: I have so much stress in my current environment.

COLLARBONE: I want to relax and soothe my skin.

UNDER ARM: My poor skin can’t take any more stress.

HEAD: I just want to feel calm and soothed.

EYEBROW:  I know I’m expressing my feelings through my skin.

SIDE OF EYE: My entire family expresses feelings through their skin.

UNDER EYE: I don’t want to express these scary feelings.

NOSE: I’m afraid to express these strong feelings to anyone else.

CHIN: I am so itchy about all of this.

COLLARBONE: I feel so irritated.

UNDER ARM: There’s no place else for it to go.

HEAD: I feel so itchy about these issues.

I would always end with a positive round to give the person some options about soothing their skin.

EYEBROW:  I know I have other outlets besides my skin.

SIDE OF EYE: I choose to express myself clearly.

UNDER EYE: I appreciate my feelings and will allow them to come out.

NOSE: I’m accepting of who I am and how I feel.

CHIN: I understand why my skin is full of conflict.

COLLARBONE: I feel less irritated already.

UNDER ARM: I can finally let go of some of this inflammation.

HEAD: I no longer feel itchy about these issues.

The above examples are a good start.  Do your own homework about the places in your body you store your conflicts, and keep tapping.

Stay tuned for part 5 of this series “The Present – It’s Not About the Germs.”

Carol Look, EFT Master

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Part 5 of 7: The Present…It’s Not About the Germs

Again, since I have already addressed past traumas and betrayals showing up in ailments in parts 2 and 3 of this series, I will assume that current stressors are contributing to the aches and pains of our daily life for the purpose of part 5 of this series.  While there are always past stresses, let’s focus on your present life.

We are all exposed to germs and bacteria every day.  I have clients coming into my office coughing and spewing all over the place, I ride the New York City subway system, and I work in an apartment building. So why would I catch a cold or get the flu on a random Tuesday?  What happened this time to make me a “favorable host” to the germs?

Our immune systems are incredibly strong and even adaptable.  However, they can take just “so much” before slowing down or fighting infection inadequately.  The only time I catch the colds, despite how many I am exposed to, are when I am stressed out, tired, upset, or not feeling supported in my life.  Clearly, it’s not about the germs…

Suppose you feel a cold coming on, but it hasn’t quite taken hold yet.  While it may be too late to “stop” it, I find it useful to explore the timing.

• What’s been bothering you recently to upset you?
• What do you need to cry about?
• What has been overwhelming you recently?
• Why now?
• What’s the upside of getting the cold/flu this week?

As we all know, some illnesses “allow” us to take a break when we don’t take enough “time out.”  This goes back to the theory of self-care…if you don’t take good care of yourself, your body will start screaming out loud to get your attention.  I don’t know anyone who hasn’t seen this pattern in their life at one time or another.

Karate chop point: Even though I’m ignoring something I need to address, I accept that my body is feeling run down…Even though this virus is trying to tell me something, I accept who I am and how I feel…Even though the flu is expressing something for me, I choose to be open to expressing my feelings now.

EYEBROW:  I feel weak and run down.

SIDE OF EYE: I feel this cold coming on.

UNDER EYE: I feel so tired I just want a break.

NOSE: I don’t know why I’m getting sick now.

CHIN: Maybe I’m just overtired.

COLLARBONE: I need to rest my body.

UNDER ARM: I wonder why I got this illness right now.

HEAD: I don’t want to be sick right now.

EYEBROW:  I choose to express my feelings.

SIDE OF EYE: I’m going to listen to my body right now.

UNDER EYE: I’m willing to listen to my symptoms.

NOSE: I know I’ve been ignoring my health.

CHIN: It’s time to listen to my body.

COLLARBONE: It’s time to take care of my health.

UNDER ARM: I choose to appreciate who I am.

HEAD: I feel ready to hear what my body is trying to say.

And if you keep feeling susceptible to germs, colds and the flu, keep tapping away at your fears of being “infected.”  From a medical perspective, most doctors will be exploring the germs.  I’m not a doctor, so I am exploring the energetic causes and vibrations around illness.  I have seen enough patterns to believe it’s not about the germs, it’s about you and your vibration…

Karate chop point: Even though I’m afraid to get sick again, I choose to feel strong and happy in my body…Even though I’m convinced the germs will get to me, I accept who I am and how I feel…Even though I’m feeling susceptible to germs, I accept who I am and how strong my body is.

EYEBROW:  I feel vulnerable to germs.

SIDE OF EYE: I’ve always been afraid of getting sick.

UNDER EYE: I’ve always been afraid of germs.

NOSE: I don’t want to get sick.

CHIN: I think about it all the time.

COLLARBONE: I don’t want to be so fearful.

UNDER ARM: I feel so weak.

HEAD: I think I have a weak immune system.

EYEBROW:  I want to feel strong.

SIDE OF EYE: I’m ready to get over these fears.

UNDER EYE: I choose to feel strong.

NOSE: I AM stronger than I think.

CHIN: It’s time to feel strong again.

COLLARBONE: My body knows what to do.

UNDER ARM: My body knows how to be healthy.

HEAD: I feel ready to be strong and healthy now.

Again, let’s look at timing.  In this case, we won’t deal with germs, but with a chronic condition that flares up when you are out of sorts.  Suppose your back “goes out” approximately every 6 months and you have experienced this pattern for years.  The doctors tell you there’s nothing to do about it. 

• Why now? 
• Why this week?
• Is the feedback from your back worth listening to? 
• What needs to change?
• What is your back wanting from you?

Karate chop point: Even though I just couldn’t take it any more and needed a break, I choose to love and accept who I am and how I feel…Even though I couldn’t take the stress in my life anymore, I accept who I am and how I feel…Even though I’m holding the stress in my back, no wonder it acted up this week, I accept who I am and choose to listen to my feelings.

EYEBROW:  I feel so overwhelmed.

SIDE OF EYE: I don’t know why my back went “out.”

UNDER EYE: I feel so stressed out and can’t get a break.

NOSE: I need rest.

CHIN: I don’t know how to take time for myself.

COLLARBONE: I don’t know how to give myself what I need.

UNDER ARM: I don’t even know what I need right now.

HEAD: I’m grateful for the quiet time and rest.

EYEBROW:  I am willing to listen to my back.

SIDE OF EYE: I’m willing to pay attention to my feelings.

UNDER EYE: I’m not sure why my back went out “now…”

NOSE: I am willing to be open to the information.

CHIN: It’s time to make some changes.

COLLARBONE: I don’t even know what to change.

UNDER ARM: I want to change because my life’s not working.

HEAD: I feel ready for a change.

When someone has to stay in bed with an illness or pain, it provides time for reflection.  I always make good use of the time!  What do I need to change?  Something isn’t working, and I try and pay attention to the recent conflicts about balancing life, love, work and family.  Again, add a round expressing gratitude to your body for how strong it is.

EYEBROW:  I totally appreciate my back.

SIDE OF EYE: I’m grateful for the strength of my back.

UNDER EYE: My back has carried me all these years.

NOSE: I am so grateful for my back.

CHIN: I appreciate the strength in my back.

COLLARBONE: I feel deep gratitude for my back.

UNDER ARM: I appreciate my whole body.

HEAD: I appreciate my back and my body.

Stay tuned for part 6 of this series, “The Future — Anxiety About My Life.”

Carol Look, EFT Master

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Part 6 of 7: The Future — Anxiety About My Life 

A great deal of energy is spent worrying about our future that hasn’t arrived yet. We live with chronic anxiety which of course drains our immune systems and may set us up to be vulnerable to stress-related illnesses.

These worries take energy.  These worries are “expensive” to our health.  However, tell someone with chronic anxiety that they should stop worrying, and they have no idea what you are talking about, much less how to accomplish this!

I recommend that anyone who finds him/herself “in the future” a great deal  of the time,  do regular tapping sessions about their fears and anticipatory anxiety, and watch and enjoy an overall peace come into their daily life.

Suppose you are worried about your job, possible promotions, whether you’re “cutting it” or not.  Worry keeps you up at night, causes you to feel exhausted and to be irritable with your spouse and kids.  Sooner or later, you develop a pain, an irritation, an annoying problem with your health that gets diagnosed as a “stress condition.”  This is a typical cycle with chronic anxiety.  Then the diagnosed ailments or undiagnosed pains are cause for more worry.

Imagine trading some of the current and chronic worrisome thoughts with more peaceful, gentle thoughts about your life.  Maybe you could even reduce the amount of time you worry about your future.  The gift of EFT for people who suffer from chronic anxiety is nothing short of astonishing.  Chronic anxiety underlies numerous health issues and sleep irregularities, so regular intervals of tapping is a must for my anxious clients.

Common symptoms of chronic anxiety are stomach problems, overall digestive complications, skin irritations, insomnia, heart irregularities, internal thermostat problems etc.

• Where does your worry “live” in your body?
• What physical “conditions” do you suspect may be a direct result of your anxiety?
• If you didn’t obsess/worry about your future, what would you be focused on?
• What resources are your worries draining from your body/mind?
• Who will you be if you aren’t a worrier?
• Who will do the family worrying if you don’t?

 

Below, I will illustrate EFT setup phrases and tapping sequences for digestive problems, as they are so common in our culture. Before overdosing on those over the counter remedies for indigestion and gas, I recommend studying the answers to the above questions as well as examining your eating habits and their relationship to stress and anxiety.

• Do you watch stressful television shows or news while you eat?
• Do you tend to have arguments at the dinner table?
• Is there tension present in the kitchen in your home?
• Is there a key past event that happened during a holiday meal?
• Do you talk about unpleasant subjects during meals?

It’s wise to keep these questions in mind and watch what happens during your meals.  Many people don’t even realize how much stress they have in their life while they are trying to eat and digest.

Karate chop point: Even though I keep worrying about the future, and it unsettles my digestion, I accept who I am right now…Even though I know my stomach is torn by the worries I have, I accept who I am and how I feel anyway…Even though my anxiety is showing up in my stomach problems, I deeply and completely love and accept who I am.

EYEBROW:  My worries go right to my gut.

SIDE OF EYE: I can feel the anxiety inside.

UNDER EYE: I feel so worried and my stomach knows something’s wrong.

NOSE: I feel the worries in my gut.

CHIN: I am worried all the time.

COLLARBONE: I know I need to feel more peaceful.

UNDER ARM: I feel out of control with my worries.

HEAD: I should give my stomach a rest.

EYEBROW:  I will consider releasing my anxiety from my stomach.

SIDE OF EYE: I’m willing to let go of some of this stomach upset.

UNDER EYE: I want to be free of this worry.

NOSE: I choose to be free of this anxiety about my future.

CHIN: I want to release the future right now.

COLLARBONE: I want to stay in the present instead.

UNDER ARM: I accept who I am and how I’m feeling.

HEAD: I feel better already.

EYEBROW:  What if I could relax my gut.

SIDE OF EYE: I want to relax my gut.

UNDER EYE: I choose to be free of my future worries.

NOSE: I choose to relax my gut right now.

CHIN: I feel free about releasing my anxiety.

COLLARBONE: I choose to stay in the present instead.

UNDER ARM: I accept my feelings and release and relax.

HEAD: I choose to relax about my future.

The challenge is that the behavior and habit of worrying provides a certain security for chronic worriers.  When they are fussing about others or themselves, they feel better than when they aren’t worrying.  Part of it is habitual, but the other part is what we call “magical thinking.”  They believe that if they worry sufficiently about others, they can magically “control” certain circumstances.  At the very least, they don’t have to suffer being caught “off guard” about what might happen.  I think it’s essential to give worriers the OPTION to keep worrying.  If you take away their “job” they will feel utterly empty, at least in the beginning.  Remember, we need to feel safe with the changes from EFT, or we will revert back to our old behavior.

Karate chop point: Even though I’m reluctant to let go of my worrying, I choose to feel calm about my life anyway…Even though I’m not ready to let go of my worrying, because I still think it’s useful, I accept who I am and how I feel…Even though I don’t want to give it up yet, it doesn’t feel right, I accept who I am and how I feel.

EYEBROW:  I feel reluctant to let go of my worrying.

SIDE OF EYE: Don’t make me give it up.

UNDER EYE: Who will I be without my anxiety?

NOSE: How will I feel in control without my anxiety?

CHIN: Who will worry if I don’t?

COLLARBONE: I’m not ready to let it go from my stomach.

UNDER ARM: Don’t ask me to let it go yet.

HEAD: I’m not ready to let it go.

EYEBROW:  I refuse to let go of my worrying.

SIDE OF EYE: I’m not ready to feel free yet.

UNDER EYE: I don’t know who I’ll be without it.

NOSE: I don’t want to give it up.

CHIN: It helps me in so many ways.

COLLARBONE: I won’t give it up yet.

UNDER ARM: I refuse to stop being anxious.

HEAD: I feel scared about giving it up.

Once you give them permission to continue worrying, then their “stance” loosens a bit and they become able to release a small part of the behavior.  Remember, worriers have used their habit for years, sometimes decades, so to “remove it” with EFT will not feel safe.  Once you’ve done a few rounds on allowing them to “refuse” to let it go, and admit they’re not ready to release it, then you have room to make some alternative suggestions.  You also allow their bodies to reduce the chronic tension and stop the cycle of pumping stress hormones through their systems.

EYEBROW:  I will consider letting some of my anxiety from my stomach.

SIDE OF EYE: Maybe it’s not as useful as I thought.

UNDER EYE: I wonder what it’s doing to my health and my digestion?

NOSE: I still don’t want to give it up.

CHIN: It helps me in so many ways.

COLLARBONE: Maybe I don’t need it anymore.

UNDER ARM: Maybe it’s time to consider relaxing my digestion.

HEAD: I still feel apprehensive about letting it go.

When in doubt, even if there are no physical symptoms present in the body, worrying is a huge stress on the body.  I recommend using EFT for regular health maintenance and self-care, so you have as much energy available to you to live your life with peace.

Stay tuned for part 7 of this series, “The Future…Fear of Their Reactions.”

Carol Look, EFT Master

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Part 7 of 7: The Future…Fear of Their Reactions 

Many people spend time worrying about “their reactions.” This subject always interferes with people being free to attract abundance.  It’s not that we don’t want the success or happiness we keep talking about, it’s that we fear what “they” will say, or how “they” will react in response to our success.  While these may seem like obvious fears we all have about making changes in our lives, they actually represent deeper limiting beliefs and I believe they cause quite a drain on the immune system.

Sometimes people sabotage themselves with an illness in order to appease someone in their life who might be jealous of their success.  Sometimes people regain the weight they worked so hard to lose or start smoking again in order to make others feel more comfortable.  Other times clients suddenly get sick in order to slow down their success – this has the effect of warding off negative reactions from family members or colleagues.

If you have put aside time to talk to your body, you will be able to “hear” the answers to some important questions.  All fear gets lodged in our bodies somewhere.  In fact, I think all feelings of every kind cause changes and shifts in our chemical make up.

For instance, say these limiting beliefs out loud…

• I’m convinced if I become successful, they will leave me.
• I know that if I’m not perfect, they won’t love me.
• If I stand out again, they will try and hurt me.
• If I’m too successful, I won’t be able to trust anyone.
• If I get that job, they will hurt me with their jealousy.

Do any of these statements ring true to you?  Check your gut for the true “charge” you have on these limiting beliefs.

Now read the list of statements again and locate where they surface in your body.  Does the statement of trust land in your gut?  Does the jealousy issue get stuck in your throat?  Where does the statement about being perfect get stored in your body?

Another critical question to ask yourself and your clients is “What happened the last time you were successful?”  There was usually a negative consequence (or perceived problem) that occurred the last time someone was “successful.” This event needs to be cleared from your energy system and body, or you will sabotage your success in hundreds of ways to remain “safe” from this happening again. 

A singer was teased and mocked by her classmates for landing the biggest part in the school play.  They didn’t think it was “cool” and were probably jealous as well.  Ever since that time in junior high school, she has suffered throat problems.  This of course is no surprise to an outsider, but she never made the emotional and energetic connection with why her vulnerable point in her body was her throat.  Every time she got sick, the illness was connected to her throat in some way.  She didn’t realize how expressing herself through singing had caused a conflict for her.

Karate chop point: Even though they ridiculed me for standing out, I choose to voice my feelings once and for all…Even thought their teasing me really hurt, and I let it stay in my throat, I accept who I am and how I feel…Even though they teased me and it stayed in my throat all these years, I accept who I am and how I feel about it.

EYEBROW:  I don’t feel free to express my feelings.

SIDE OF EYE: The hurt got caught in my throat.

UNDER EYE: I feel so hurt about their nasty comments.

NOSE: I wanted to sing and sing freely.

CHIN: I thought it was a good thing to express my voice.

COLLARBONE: My throat is so vulnerable.

UNDER ARM: I’m tired of getting a sore throat.

HEAD: I want to feel free and express what I feel.

EYEBROW:  I deserve a voice.

SIDE OF EYE: I’m ready to voice my feelings.

UNDER EYE: I couldn’t tell them I was hurt back then.

NOSE: I couldn’t express my feelings back then.

CHIN: It still hurts sometimes in my throat.

COLLARBONE: I just want to scream and sing and shout my feelings.

UNDER ARM: Why can’t I sing?

HEAD: What’s the matter with my throat?

The throat always represents our ability to communicate, so there were many layers of tapping for this client.  Once she cleared the original trauma stored in her throat, she could work on the fear that “they” would ridicule her again in the future.

A business man was the target of nasty gossip after he was promoted over a more senior employee.  What did this leave for him in terms of energy and fear?  Every time he got close to being promoted again, he sabotaged his success.  When I asked him “What happened the last time you were successful?” he was able to identify this painful time in the office, and made the energetic connection to his sabotage behavior.  In his case, he sabotaged himself by suddenly “putting his back out” and needing to stay at home in bed.  Doctor’s orders were to stay in bed, so this was  “legitimate” reason to stay away from work.  This always happened around deadlines for critical projects at work, and the boss of course could no longer rely on him.

Karate chop point: Even though I’m afraid to be successful because of what they might say this time, I accept who I am and how I feel…Even though I’m afraid to be successful again, I remember what happened last time, I accept my feelings and who I am…Even though I’m afraid to be successful again, they won’t like it, I accept and appreciate who I am and how I feel.

EYEBROW:  I feel afraid of being successful again.

SIDE OF EYE: Don’t you remember what happened last time?

UNDER EYE: I feel so afraid of standing out.

NOSE: I don’t want them to be mean to me.

CHIN: I don’t want to stand out again.

COLLARBONE: I remember what happened last time.

UNDER ARM: I am afraid of being seen as successful.

HEAD: I don’t want to shine again.

EYEBROW:  I’m storing this fear in my back.

SIDE OF EYE: My back feels so vulnerable.

UNDER EYE: I’ve never felt very supported by my colleagues.

NOSE: I don’t want them to be mean to me again.

CHIN: I don’t want to stand out again.

COLLARBONE: I remember what happened last time.

UNDER ARM: I am afraid of being seen as successful.

HEAD: I don’t want to shine again, so I take it out on my back.

EYEBROW:  I am willing to release that pain.

SIDE OF EYE: I’m going to release the hurt from that experience.

UNDER EYE: Their feelings were about them.

NOSE: I choose to be successful again and enjoy it.

CHIN: I want to be successful and feel strong in my body.

COLLARBONE: I already am successful.

UNDER ARM: I don’t need to hide any more.

HEAD: I feel free and ready to move forward.

Again, the process of clearing has several steps.  First, clear the original incident or event, then clear the fear of “it” happening again in the future, and finally, clear the symptoms in the body.

A client of mine couldn’t figure out why he kept sabotaging himself in his self-employed business.  He had the talent, had the contacts, but could never close the “sale.”  His income was steady, but through enormous ups and downs in the economy over two decades, he had never advanced.  Clearly he had a comfort zone, but didn’t know why.  When I asked him “What happened the last time you were really successful…” he figured out what his blocks were.  Years ago, around the time he became super successful, an important family member died, and he felt ashamed of even caring about being successful. 

Of course these two incidents weren’t related, (no one died because of his success) but he had linked them in his brain and memory.  Remember we’re not talking about logical sense, we are talking about emotional connections, energy, and associations.  His unconscious conclusion was: a good thing happens…a bad thing must follow.  He had developed a pattern of needing to sabotage himself to stay level.  He used the excuse of being “too tired” to work.  He was constantly talking about a lack of energy, weakness, fatigue, and exhaustion, although the doctors had checked him out completely and found nothing wrong with him.

This man certainly had the skills and the knowledge to advance considerably financially and professionally. Sabotaging his success because he was “too tired” kept him in control because at least he was the one stopping himself.  He had felt very out of control when his family member died, and made an internal vow never to go beyond a certain comfort zone again.  Once he discovered this link, he could use EFT to clear it and stop needing to sabotage his success.

Karate chop point: Even though I’m afraid to be successful again because of what happened, I choose to accept my feelings and who I am…Even though I keep sabotaging myself because I’m afraid something bad will happen, I accept who I am and how I feel…Even though I am convinced something bad will happen if I become successful again, I deeply and profoundly accept myself anyway.

EYEBROW:  I feel afraid to become successful.

SIDE OF EYE: I remember what happened last time.

UNDER EYE: I feel certain these events are connected.

NOSE: It doesn’t feel safe to succeed again.

CHIN: I want to stay safe and protect my family.

COLLARBONE: I’m afraid of becoming successful.

UNDER ARM: I don’t want something bad to happen again.

HEAD: I’m worried and I feel guilty about my success.

EYEBROW:  I still feel guilty about my success.

SIDE OF EYE: My life was going so well.

UNDER EYE: I still feel guilty for caring about success.

NOSE: I don’t want something bad to happen again.

CHIN: I feel so tired all the time

COLLARBONE: It wasn’t fair.

UNDER ARM: It was my fault.

HEAD: No it wasn’t my fault.

If any of these stories resonate for you, continue tapping along with the suggested sequences and then make up your own to better fit your situation.

I hope this series about having a “Conversation with Your Body” was useful. Remember, we all store feelings and conflicts somewhere in our body, so make time to listen and hear yourself and your body’s needs.  Our immune systems need care, our feelings need airtime, and our bodies need rest and relaxation from the stress of the past, the present and the future.

Carol Look, EFT Master

http://www.emofree.com/Articles2/body-conversation.htm

By Al Rodee

Dear Gary,

My most recent, and best, EFT story is about a young woman, we’ll call Sarah, who was diagnosed from birth with scoliosis. She had been coming to my free intro session for 3 weeks. We had worked on her strained relationships with her mother and sister but one day she told me she was in pain and that her left shoulder had been frozen for as long as she could remember; part of her scoliosis symptoms. She literally walked with a lean to her right side and her arms hung unevenly (a 2 inch difference) when she stood up as “straight” as she could.

She regularly has chiropractic, massage, and acupuncture treatments. We worked, directly and mechanically, on the physical imbalance for 4 rounds of EFT with marginal impact. She then informed me that her mother had no contractions before her delivery and her amniotic fluid had dried up without anyone knowing it. This led to Sarah being dehydrated at birth.

We tapped for forgiveness of her mother and forgiveness of Sarah during this difficult delivery time. Suddenly she became overwhelmingly sad. The sadness was about the fact that no one ever took her physical pain and discomfort seriously. She had learned to downplay the impact and not complain about it and when she did talk about it her pain was dismissed as seemingly not important.

I used a visualization technique whereby Sarah imagined a bright pinpoint of light illuminating her shoulder and asked her to describe what she saw in there. The answer was a dark, round, spot of pain and the intensity was 4 on a scale of 0 to 10.  As we talked and tapped about her sadness the pain in her shoulder moved in to her neck and she developed spasms. Her arm and fingers also became very warm and tingly. GC COMMENT: This is a common occurrence within EFT and the EFT method of following after the moving discomfort is known as Chasing the Pain.  A couple more rounds of EFT, using the adjusted reminder phrases Even though I still have some of this ‘pain…, discomfort, sadness, imbalance, and she felt calm and relaxed.

I checked in on the intensity and she said it was 0. We measured her arms, as we had done earlier, and they were exactly the same length. She was actually standing in balance without discomfort. As we left that night she kept saying as she laughed “this feels really weird, I have never been able to walk in balance before”.  I guess EFT can balance the physical body while balancing our energy system at the same time.

I warned her the frozen shoulder might return as her cells re-create from what they were (body memory) and she would have to practice EFT, diligently, for herself for 21 days (think of it as changing the habits of your cell re-creation) until she had developed healthy cells again. GC COMMENT: This is an interesting theory and may have substantial merit. However, I have seen countless physical corrections occur without it.

It is my intuition, when people have chronic physical problems, to prescribe EFT 3 times a day for at least 21 days once the pain has been relieved the first time. This seems to overcome the re-creation of those cells that were created with pain receptors that attract pain peptides to them.

Follow up: Two months later: Sarah continues to walk in balance. She originally felt resistance to my prescription of tapping 3 times/day to maintain her balanced state but, being a good EFT student, thought to tap on that resistance and is now mostly pain free and walking tall.

I hope someone will get something useful from this story.  Thanks for everything.

Al Rodee

http://www.emofree.com/Articles2/scoliosis-relief-al.htm