Has anyone ever called you arrogant? It can be a hard thing to hear, particularly if you feel that your behavior has been misunderstood. Imagine that, like the peacock, you have a feature, skill, or talent that is pretty spectacular. Are you supposed to pretend that you don’t? When you are at the zoo do you hope the peacock will spread its tail or do you scorn it when it does? I personally love to see that big beautiful tail. There are times in our lives when we dare to shine but other people call us arrogant or overly proud. I can even remember feeling proud of an accomplishment and someone reciting the pride goeth before a fall admonition. That can make us worried and scared to express our greatness.
That is what the next tapping is about. It isn’t really promoting arrogance. Instead it is about discerning arrogance from appropriate pride in an accomplishment or situation.
Setup (Karate Chop Point): I hate being told that I am arrogant, particularly when I just feel like I’m being happy. It makes me reluctant to speak of the positive things that I’ve done, seen, or accomplished. Even with these jumbled up feelings I choose to deeply and completely love and accept myself. Even though I have a lot of unresolved feelings about being called arrogant and wanting to be happy about things I’ve done, I choose to remain calm and speak my truth. Even though being called arrogant could be a consequence of sharing my happiness with others, I choose to respect myself and anyone else that is involved in the situation.
Eyebrow…He called me arrogant
Side of Eye…And that really hurt
Under the Eye…What also hurt
Under the Nose…Is that I believed it
Chin…At the time it seemed like he might be right
Collarbone…And maybe it wasn’t ok to be happy about my success
Under the Arm…But looking back
Top of Head…I’m pretty sure that I wasn’t being mean
Eyebrow…I wasn’t trying to make myself better tha anyone else
Side of Eye…I wasn’t gloating
Under the Eye…I was just amazingly excited and happy
Under the Nose…It’s nice to receive awards
Chin…And it doesn’t make sense to pretend that I don’t enjoy it
Collarbhone….I suspect he was just unhappy because he didn’t get an award
Under the Arm…And thought he could make himself feel better
Top of Head…By making me feel bad
Eyebrow…And I fell for it
Side of Eye..That may be the worst part of it for me now
Under the Eye…I can be my own worst enemy
Under the Nose…And it has stopped me from showing my happiness
Chin…Many times since that first incident
Collarbone…I have even tried to pre-empt the potential problem
Under the Arm…By downplaying my successes before someone else can take me down
Top of Head…I don’t get to feel happy then either
Eyebrow…I’m glad I care about how other people feel
Side of Eye…And I really don’t want others to feel badly as a result of my successes
Under the Eye…But for the most part, I can’t control how they feel
Under the Nose…I believe I should be careful
Chin…With my words, attitudes, and tone of voice
Collarbone…But if those are appropriate
Under the Arm…Someone else’s reaction isn’t because of me
Top of Head…They are then completely responsible for their response
Eyebrow…I choose to shine when I can
Side of Eye…Without flaunting or bragging
Under the Eye…And know that expressions of pride and happiness
Under the Nose…Can be completely appropriate
Chin…I affirm that happiness is NOT arrogance
Collarbone…I affirm that utilizing my strengths and assets
Under the Arm…is NOT arrogance
Top of Head…I affirm all that I am.
Take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Notice if you are holding any tension in your body after completing this exercise. If you do notice tension, spend a few minutes tapping to release it from your body.