It seems that emotions are high (intense) everywhere I go. That makes me uncomfortable. When emotions are high it seems harder for me to predict what is going to happen and therefore, harder to feel safe. I prefer things to be calm and peaceful. That doesn’t mean that I don’t enjoy a good debate, but even then I prefer it to be more intellectual than emotional.
The following tapping exercise is one that I used to begin my journey toward understanding and managing my discomfort. Feel free to tap along.
Setup (tapping on karate chop point): Even though emotions are high and that makes me very uncomfortable, I choose to remain calm and confident. Even though emotions are high and I don’t feel safe with that, I choose to remain calm and confident. Even though emotions are high and I don’t like that feeling, I choose to remain calm and confident.
Eyebrow…Emotions are high
Side of Eye…And I don’t like dealing with emotions
Under the Eye…They are too unpredictable for me
Nose…I like things that can be measured
Chin…I like things that can be anticipated
Collarbone…I like things that can’t be controlled
Under the Arm…On some level I don’t believe that emotions can be controlled
Top of Head…At least not mine
Eyebrow…And I can’t control the emotions of other people
Side of Eye…That scares me
Under the Eye…So the higher the emotions
Nose…The less I feel in control
Chin…I’m not sure where I learned to fear emotions
Collarbone…But I am open to some clarity about this issue
Under the Arm…I am open to learning more about my emotions
Top of Head…And I am open to learning more about the emotions of others
Eyebrow…I can go slow with it
Side of Eye…I can learn about one emotion at a time
Under the Eye…If it gets to be too much
Nose…I can go back to what I’ve always done before
Chin…I can shut it off
Collarbone…That means I will still be in control
Under the Arm…I can let in as much emotion as I can handle
Top of Head…And I can block the rest if I want to
Eyebrow…I am looking forward to feeling safe with my own emotions
Side of Eye…I believe the day will come when I can feel safe with other people’s emotions too
Under the Eye…Then I will look back and be amazed at my progress
Nose…I am pretty sure that I am safe
Chin…Even when emotions are high
Collarbone…The first step is recognizing the emotions
Under the Arm…I can do that
Top of Head…I can do that
While I was doing this tapping I became aware of specific instances from my childhood that involved high or intense emotions and bad things really did happen. The way I managed to staff safe was to be aware of everything going on around me and to be hyperalert to the intensity of other people’s emotions. When viewed from that perspective it is no wonder that I developed this discomfort and feeling of being out of control. The next step is to tap while remembering those specific situations. Whenever you can get really specific and use personal experiences the result is so much greater.