Finding the Meaning in Everyday Life

Chocolate – NOW!

There are those days when I just have the strong urge and I need chocolate NOW! They don’t happen as often as they used to, and I can usually tap my way past it. This is one version of the tapping that I use to manage those strong cravings.

Setup (Karate Chop Point) – Even though I really want chocolate right now, I deeply and completely love and accept myself anyway. Even though chocolate isn’t part of my food plan right now, I acknowledge that I want it anyway. Even though I am craving chocolate right now, I choose to look for other ways to take care of my emotions first. I accept my cravings. I accept my emotions. I am open to clarity.

Eyebrow…I really want chocolate right now

Side of Eye…The craving is very strong

Under the Eye…Chocolate is the only thing that will fix it

Under the Nose…Fix what?

Chin…It will make me feel better

Collarbone…It will fix the problem

Under the Arm…I don’t even know what the probhlem is

Top of Head…Then how do I know chocolate is the answer?

Eyebrow…I am open to clarity about my emotions

Side of Eye…It won’t really fix the problem

Under the Eye…It does taste good

Under the Nose…It is ok to eat chocolate because it tastes good, but not to manage my emotions

Chin…I am glad I have tapping to handle these strong emotions

Collarbone…I choose to remain in control of my eating

Under the Arm…I can manage my emotions in many ways

Top of Head…I like chocolate but I am learning to love myself with or without it

This tapping is usually enough to take the edge off of the craving, but hopefully leads to recognition of the underlying emotion that caused the strong craving. At the nose point we asked ourselves, “Fix what?” The answer to that question is a source for additional tapping and greater long-term relief.

Want more tapping about diet, health, and exercise? Check out Don’t Diet: Reprogram Your Weight With Meridian Tapping.

book cover for Don't Diet Reprogramming Your Weight With Meridian Tapping

Overcommitted and Overwhelmed

Feeling overcommitted, and therefore overwhelmed, is a common problem and one I struggle with off and on. Sometimes people are totally incapable of saying no to the requests of others or limiting the number of activities that they schedule into a day. Sometimes it might seem rude to say no because the person asking you to do something has done so much for you in the past. You might see it as a golden opportunity and you are fearful that you might not get the opportunity ever again, so you need to jump on it now. Guilt is often a strong factor as well. Tapping can help you gain clarity about the problem and can bring relief.

Say this problem statement aloud, “I am overcommitted. There are way too many demands on my time.” Rate the intensity on the 0-10 point scale and record your rating.

Setup (karate chop point) – Even though I am overcommitted and there are way too many demands on my time, I know in my heart that I am a good person, with or without all of these commitments. Even though I am overcommitted, and the stress of too many things to do is getting to me, I choose to remember that I can stop any of them at any time. Even though I am overcommitted, and I don’t know how to limit the demands on my time, I deeply and completely love and accept myself and all of my reasons for getting into this situation.

Eyebrow…I am overcommitted

Side of Eye…Every minute of my day seems scheduled and full

Under the Eye…There isn’t any time for me

Under the Nose…There isn’t any time for anything unplanned or unexpected

Chin…I have said yes to so many things

Collarbone…But they seemed like a good idea at the time

Under the Arm…Now I don’t know what to do about it all

Top of Head…And I really feel like I need a break

Eyebrow…I don’t want to disappoint others by saying no

Side of Eye…I don’t want to miss out on opportunities

Under the Eye…There really are a lot of things I need to do

Under the Nose…There really are a lot of things I want to do

Chin…I am open to clarity about my need to schedule so many things

Collarbone…I am open to understanding what it would take to make me feel better right now

Under the Arm…So I can move forward to health and happiness

Top of Head…I am looking forward to making choices that are good for me.

Take a deep breath and let it out. Check the intensity of your original problem statement, “I am overcommitted. There are too many demands on my time.” Record your new rating. This is a tapping that often brings up additional thoughts, feelings, or memories. Be sure to write them down and continue tapping with them until your intensity rating is very low.

Want more tapping ideas? Check out Tap It Away: 10 Minutes to Freedom With EFT.

Self-Sufficient

In this post you will find another tapping exercise inspired by the snail. When you think about snails, they could be considered very self-sufficient. They actually carry their home on their back. I don’t think we have to carry our houses with us, but many of us do need to consider how much we rely on others to get our needs met.

Setup (Karate Chop Point) – I think I rely too much on others. I would like to be more self-sufficient like the snail. It even carries its own home with it wherever it goes. It doesn’t have to rely on anyone else to survive. I choose to be more self-sufficient and choose to live like a snail when I am feeling overly dependent.

Eyebrow…I don’t like how much I rely upon others

Side of Eye…For things that I think I should be able to do myself

Under the Eye…It is ok to rely upon others sometimes

Under the Nose…But it would feel good to rely upon myself

Chin…It would feel good to know that I can take care of myself

Collarbone…When I want or need to be

Under the Arm…When I choose to be self-sufficient

Top of Head…I can think of the snail

Eyebrow…Carrying everything it needs

Side of Eye…And feel encouraged

Under the Eye…That I could be that way too

Under the Nose…I might not literally carry my house

Chin…But I can feel “at home” with my own abilities

Collarbone…I want to be more self-sufficient

Under the Arm…I can be more self-sufficient

Top of Head…I choose to be more self-sufficient

Take a deep breath and let it out gently.

Happy Tapping!

For more about tapping with animal characteristics check out the book Unleash Your Primal Power.

Pain In My Body

Many people have health concerns that range from the aches and pains of minor injuries to the deep and debilitating pain of a major illness. I often have pain in my body. There are many stories of EFT actually reducing or eliminating physical problems. I have worked with people who have successfully lowered their blood sugar and others who have used EFT to lower blood pressure. More frequently I have worked wth people to change lifestyle issues to improve overall health and wellness.

While many people experience real physical pain, there can be an emotional component to it as well. I experienced this firsthand with my knee surgeries. It hurt. In fact, it hurt alot. I was certain that the pain was going to overwhelm me. This was particularly true when I received physical therapy. Bending and straightening seemed ruthless and barbaric. The medications helped, but only to a point. So I tapped.

Scan your body for any source of stiffness, discomfort, or pain. Focus on this area as you say the problem statement aloud, “This pain/discomfort in my body is upsetting me. I need it to go away.” Rate the intensity of this statement on the 0-10 point scale.

Setup (Karate Chop Point) – Even though I have this pain in my body, I deeply and completely love and accept myself. Even though I have this pain in my body, and I need it to go away, I deeply and completely love and accept all of me. Even though I have this pain in my body and it is really getting to me, I choose to relax and listen to what my body is telling me right now.

Eyebrow…I have pain in my body

Side of Eye…I am not dealing with that very well

Under the Eye…I need it to go away

Under the Nose…I am afraid of what that pain means

Chin…My fear only makes the pain worse

Collarbone…And knowing that makes me feel bad

Under the Arm…It is real

Top of Head…My fear about the pain is real too

Eyebrow…Together, that is a bad combination

Side of Eye…Even though I have this pain

Under the Eye…I choose to remain strong and confident

Under the Nose…Even though I have pain in my body

Chin…I choose to do the things that are necessary to heal myself

Collarbone…Even though I have pain in my body

Under the Arm…I choose to let go of the fear so my body can heal

Top of Head…I choose to listen to what my body is telling me that it needs right now.

Take a dep breath and let it out. Check the intensity of your original problem statement, “This pain/discomfort in my body is upsetting to me. I need it to go away.” Is that statement as true as it was in the beginning? Do you notice any change in your pain? If you need more tapping, try using your own words to describe your pain and where it is in your body. Being specific helps.

Want more tapping? Check out Tap It Away: 10 Minute to Freedom with EFT.

Cover Image of Tap It Away: 10 Minutes to Freedom With EFT by Dr. Leanna Manuel

Can’t Exercise Due to Busy Day

How many different excuses have you found to avoid exercise? I could probably fill a book with them. Tomorrow is a busy day is a common one for me, but I’ve also used my busy day today as an excuse. Even though I know tapping will work to overcome my resistance, sometimes I also avoid tapping in order to avoid the exercise. If you can make your self do it, I know that this one works.

Setup (Karate Chop Point) – Even though I don’t think I can exercise tonight since I’ve had such a busy day, I choose to anticipate joy and relief that I am taking good care of my body. Right now I don’t think I can exercise becaues of my busy day, but I reserve the option to re-evaluate in a few minutes when I have taken the time to regroup. Even though I have some excuses about exercising tonight, I choose to consider whether this choice is congruent with my goals or not. I choose to love and accept myself either way.

Eyebrow…I have had a very busy day

Side of Eye…So I don’t think I can really exercise tonight

Under the Eye…It would just be too much

Under the Nose…I worked so hard that I deserve to just do nothing for a while

Chin…Just one night off won’t really matter

Collarbone…I deserve it

Under the Arm…What am I saying?

Top of Head…Do I deserve to be unhealthy?

Eyebrow…I love the way I feel after I exercise

Side of Eye…It is true that it doesn’t always feel great to get started

Under the Eye…It is true that it sometimes seems pretty hard in the beginning

Under the Nose…I always feel proud of myself when I have the self discipline to exercise

Chin…I could just get started and then quit when my body says it has had enough

Collarbone…If the hectic day means a shorter workout that’s ok

Under the Arm…If the hectic day means a longer workout would be good to help me de-stress, that’s ok too

Top of Head…I am open to body guidance about this

This tapping exercise was written a long time ago and was included in Don’t Diet: Reprogram Your Weight With Meridian Tapping. It is highly relevant for me right now. Today I joined a new gym and the excuses for getting started are already swirling around in my head. I flipped open the book and saw this one. Definitely a message from the Universe.

Happy Tapping

Food Is My Only Pleasure

For some people food feels like their only pleasure. This is not currently true for me, but it has been true at other times in my life. Just the thought of giving up highly pleasurable foods can cause panic and despair. Try tapping along to release your desire for food pleasure.

Setup (Karate Chop Point) – Even though I am afraid to give up my food pleasure, I deeply and completely love and accept myself. Even though I am afraid to give up my food pleasure, I choose to feed my body with love and logic. Even though I am afraid to give up my food pleasure, I am open to feeling joy and pleasure in other ways.

diagram of the tapping points to use with Food Pleasure

Eyebrow…I am afraid to give up my food pleasure

Side of Eye…If I give up some of these foods, I may never feel any pleasure ever again

Under the Eye…I have so few pleasures now that I don’t want to give any of them up

Under the Nose…What would I ever have to look forward to if I didn’t have these foods?

Chin…I am so afraid to give up my food pleasure

Collarbone…Sometimes it feels like that is all I’ve got

Under the Arm…I don’t think I can give up my food pleasure

Top of Head…Without my food pleasure, there would be no end to my misery

Eyebrow…The pleasure of food keeps the sadness away

Side of Eye…The pleasure of food keeps the boredom away

Under the Eye…The pleasure of food keeps the loneliness away

Under the Nose…I wonder if there is a way to keep some of the pleasure of food

Chin…Without overeating and making myself fat?

Collarbone…That would be a great compromise

Under the Arm…I am open to the small possibility that I don’t have to eat so much in order to feel pleasure

Top of Head…I am open to the small possibility that I don’t have to eat foods that are bad for my body in order to feel pleasure.

Need to learn more about tapping? Click here.

Do you have questions about tapping about diet and exercise or just questions about tapping in general? Many of your questions may be answered in Don’t Diet: Reprogram Your Weight With Meridian Tapping. I’d also love to hear from you. If you are uncomfortable asking your questions in this public forum, you can email me at dontdietbook@gmail.com.

Happy Tapping.

Lack of Respect

Raising kids is definitely stressful. Most parents I talk to consider their children to be a blessing, but consider their behaviors to be something quite different. While there are so many different thoughts and feelings that come up, Mark’s experience is a great example. Mark had two children that were somewhat headstrong. They were always questioning what he told them and testing the boundaries he set for them. It drove him crazy and he often interpreted their behaviors as a challenge against his authority or lack of respect. After tapping, he was able to reduce his automatic reactions and deal more effectively with their actual behaviors. As we use Mark’s tapping sequence be sure to use gender appropriate pronouns as needed.

Say this problem statement aloud, “My child does not repsect my authority.” Rate the intensity that you feel on the 0-10 scale and record your rating.

Setup (Karate Chop Point) – Even though my child does not respect my authority and that makes me feel very angry, I deeply and completely love and accept myself. Even though my child questions me, doesn’t follow my rules, and sometimes even ignores me, I deeply and completely love and accept myself. How dare my child challenge my authority? Even though she does, I deeply and completely love and accept myself anyway, including all of my feelings, conscious and unconscious.”

Eyebrow…My child does not respect my authority

Side of Eye…Who am I kidding? My child doesn’t respect ME!

Under the Eye…She doesn’t believe me when I teach her things

Under the Nose…She questions me when I explain things

Chin…She doesn’t follow my rules

Collarbone…I have to tell her more than once to do things

Under the Arm…These are all challenges to my authority

Top of Head…When she behaves this way it really upsets me

Eyebrow…Children are supposed to respect their parents

Side of Eye…And that means doing what they are told

Under the Eye…I am confused about why this bothers me so much

Under the Nose…My reaction seems out of proportion to the behavior

Chin…I wonder if there is more to this than what I really know?

Collarbone…I am open to understanding my own reactions to this

Under the Arm…I am open to understanding my own beliefs about parenting and respect

Top of Head…I am open to clarity about this subject

Eyebrow…Even though my child does not respect my authority

Side of Eye…I choose to remain a calm and loving parent

Under the Eye…Even though my child seems to bring out the worst in me

Under the Nose…I choose to do the best parenting that I know how to do

Chin…Even though it seems she does not respect me

Collarbone…I seek to understand her behavior

Under the Arm…Even though my child does not respect me in the way I would like

Top of Head…I am open to the possibility that this could change.

Take a deep breath and let it out gently. Check the intensity of your original problem statement, “My child does not respect my authority.” Did you notice any change?

Want more tapping? This tapping example and others like it can be found in Tap It Away: 10 Minutes to Freedom With EFT.

Don’t Rush

I don’t like to rush. I know lots of people who seem to do everything fast. They wait until the last minute to get started with things then have to hurry to complete them on time (if they complete them on time). I prefer a slow and steady pace rather than a periodically rushed pace. It’s not that I can’t hurry if the situation calls for it. I just prefer to plan far enough ahead so I don’t have to. While I may be comfortable being slow and steady, that doesn’t stop other people from making fun of me.

If you have been following along with the animal theme, the tapping that follows is inspired by the snail.

Setup: (Karate Chop Point) – Even though I’m slow as a snail, I deeply and completely love and accept myself. Even though rushing or hurrying isn’t in my nature, I choose to love and accept my own speed. Even though I am uncomfortable zipping around like everyone around me, I love myself completely.

Eyebrow…I’m slow

Side of Eye…It takes a long time for me to get anywhere

Under the Eye…In reality, I’m ok with my speed

Under the Nose…It feels right to me

Chin…I like following my inner guidance

Collarbone…But when I watch everyone else

Under the Arm…I sometimes feel inadequate

Top of Head…I sometimes feel inferior

Eyebrow…I don’t like those feelings

Side of Eye…Going fast may be good for other people

Under the Eye…And it may not even be as good for all of them as they think

Under the Nose…I am different

Chin…I have may own pace

Collarbone…My pace is the best one for me

Under the Arm…When I feel rushed

Top of Head…I choose to remember the perfection of a snail’s pace for that snail.

Stay tuned. More animal inspired tapping is coming, and watch for my upcoming book, Unleash Your Primal Power: Totem Tapping for Health and Happiness.

Bedtime Snack

Do you have a habit of bedtime snacking? We all know it isn’t good for us for a whole lot of different reasons. Give the following tapping exercise a try.

Setup: Even though I feel like I need a snack before bed, I choose to consider the possibility that this is just a habit, not a need. Even though I feel like I need a snack before bed, I choose to address my feelings about bedtime without always turning to food. Even though I feel like I need a snack before bed, I choose to love, honor, and accept myself.

Eyebrow…I always want a bedtime snack

Side of Eye…As soon as I decide it is bedtime

Under the Eye…I automatically start thinking about food

Under the Nose…I’ve had a bedtime snack

Chin…Since I was a tiny child

Collarbone…It might have made sense for me then

Under the Arm…But I know it doesn’t really make sense for me now

Top of Head…Snacks before bed used to make me feel loved and cared for

Eyebrow…Now it is just something I do

Side of Eye…My body doesn’t need the food so that I can sleep

Under the Eye…In fact, sugary snacks probably interfere with my sleep

Under the Nose…Let’s face it

Chin…I love food, and food makes me feel loved

Collarbone…We all want to feel loved

Under the Arm…But I know that food doesn’t really do that for me

Top of Head…I am open to more clarity about this issue

If you are lucky, this might be enough to turn things around for you. More likely than not, you will need to do some additional tapping at bedtime about whatever feelings and thoughts you are noticing as you are ready to reach for that bedtime snack. Hopefully, the above tapping gives you a starting point.

This tapping is exercise 15 in Don’t Diet: Reprogram Your Weight With Meridian Tapping. Check it out and notice the bonus tapping exercise for body image that is included with it.

Protecting My Reputation

How do you react when someone attacks your reputation? Does it bother you? The skunk is an animal that survives in part because of its reputation. You will give it wide berth just because of that reputation and will go to great lengths to avoid ever knowing the spray of a skunk personally. Our own political system exploits the power of reputation, even over reality, by either hiring PR folks to artificially bolster a reputation or by focusing on any potential negatives in an opponent’s reputation instead of focusing on the issues. Somewhere between the skunk and politics we all have thoughts and feelings about our reputations.

Setup (Karate Chop Point) – Even though I’m concerned about my reputation and what others think of me, I choose to love, honor, and respect myself. Even though I’m concerned about my reputation and what others think of me, I choose to love, honor, and respect myself. Even though I’m concerned about my reputation and what others think of me, I choose to love, honor, and respect myself.

Eyebrow…Uncertainty about my reputation

Side of Eye…Not sure how other people see me

Under the Eye…And how their view may impact me

Under the Nose…It is upsetting to think

Chin…That someone may judge me

Collarbone…On what other people may say about me

Under the Arm…Instad of who I am

Top of Head…Or their own experience of me

Eyebrow…This uncertainty about my reputation

Side of Eye…I don’t have a lot of control

Under the Eye…Over what people think

Under the Nose…So I don’t have as much control of my reputation as I would like

Chin…I’m relieved when people say nice things

Collarbone…And concerned when people say not so nice things

Under the Arm…Which are true? Which will become my reputation?

Top of Head…Concern about my reputation

Take a deep breath and let it out slowly. What did you notice? Perhaps some memories of when someone said or did something to damage your reputation surfaced. Be sure to tap about those specific memories too.

Looking for more tapping inspired by animal characterstics? Stay tuned. Unleash Your Primal Power: Totem Tapping for Health and Happiness is coming very soon. In the meantime, you can get find animal tapping in Tap It Away: 10 Minutes to Freedom With EFT. Chapter 7: Animal Wisdom can get you started.