Energy Psychology Archives - Page 4 of 15 - Finding the Meaning in Everyday Life

Holidays Are All About The Food

I’m sure I’m not alone in associating holidays and food. Sometimes it seems that for me the holidays are all about the food. I just made it through Thanksgiving without completely sabotaging my health with food, but it wasn’t easy. I’m already thinking ahead about Christmas. My house is decorated and the next thing that popped into my mind was what kind of cookies I wanted to bake. If I only baked them, then gave them away it would be one thing, and that may be what I do, but it isn’t really what I was thinking and feeling. Don’t get me wrong, food isn’t the only thing I associate with holidays, but it is a very powerful association for me and a real danger point for my health and well-being.

Setup (karate chop point): Every time I think about the holidays I get images of food. I wish I didn’t. I would much prefer to associate holidays with something other than food. Even though I have this unwanted association between holidays and food, I choose to love myself anyway. Even though I have this unwanted association between holidays and food, I choose to accept my feelings. Even though I have these unwanted associations between the holidays and food, I choose to accept myself anyway and to remember that I am a work in progress.

Eyebrow…Food and holiday celebrations go together

Side of Eye…IF you took the food away I don’t know what would be left

Under the Eye…Unfortunately, most holiday foods aren’t very good for me

Under the Nose…And overeating seems to be the norm

Chin…It doesn’t feel like the holiday without cheesy goodness. Mmmm cheese balls and crackers

Collarbone…It is not a real holiday without cookies and candies. Mmmm homemade caramels and gingerbread

Under the Arm…It doesn’t feel like the holiday without appetizers and snacks. Mmmm caramel pop corn

Top of Head…There has been so much focus on the food that I don’t know what else to do to get that warm nostalgic feeling

Eyebrow…Even though food equals holiday for me

Side of Eye…I choose to look for new symbols to make myself feel good

Under the Eye…Even though I seem to have always focused on the food

Under the Nose…I choose to focus more on the people and relationships

Chin…Even though food has always been a huge part of the holiday for me

Collarbone…I choose to find other ways to have fun

Under the Arm…I am afriad that without the food it just won’t seem right

Top of Head…But I choose to find other ways to celebrate

Eyebrow…I love and accept my thoughts about this

Side of Eye…I love and accept my feelings about this

Under the Eye…I love and accept my willingness to learn new ways of celebrating

Under the Nose…I am open to clarity about my relationship with food

Chin…I am open to clarity about my relationship with the holidays

Collarbone…I chose to enjoy food

Under the Arm…Without making it the most important part of my holiday

Top of Head…I am looking forward to embracing my new and improved holiday celebrations

This tapping, and others like it, can be found in Don’t Diet.

Happy Tapping.

The Christmas Cookies Are Calling Me

We have entered a season of baked goods. Christmas cookies, candies, cakes, and nut breads will be everywhere. I swear to you that the Christmas cookies call my name. The tapping exercise below was one of my favorites from Don’t Diet and it seems appropriate as we approach this food-laden holiday season.

Setup (tapping the karate chop point): Those Christmas cookies are calling my name. “Eat me!” I’m sure you must hear them. I’m feeling powerless to resist and that bothers me somewhat. On the other hand, there is a part of me that hopes I will give in. That conflict between giving in and resisting takes an awful lot of energy. Even though I feel like the cookies are calling me, I choose to remember that I have options. Even though a part of me wants to give in, I choose to remember my long-term plans. Even though part of me wants to resist, I choose to remember that one cookie wouldn’t be such a bad thing. I have choices. I have power. I love and accept myself, no matter which choice I make.

Eyebrow…Those Christmas Cookies

Side of Eye…I really want one, or two, or twelve

Under the Eye…That is the problem

Under the Nose…I’m not sure I can stop at just one

Chin…And if I give in to one

Collarbone…I’m likely to eat the whole batch

Under the Arm…One cookie would make me feel good

Top of Head…Several would make me feel sick

Eyebrow…And a whole batch would make me feel like a failure

Side of Eye…Cookies don’t really talk

Under the Eye…They aren’t calling me

Under the Nose…I am choosing to focus on the fact that they exist

Chin…That is a choice I am making

Collarbone…I could get busy with something else

Under the Arm…They will still be there later

Top of Head…It’s not a choice I have to make right now

Eyebrow…It might be interesting to see if I still hear them after a warm bath

Side of Eye…Do I still hear them after a good workout?

Under the Eye…Are they as loud if I am playing a game?

Under the Nose…Cookies can’t control me

Chin…Sounds like I’m worried that I can’t control me either

Collarbone…Either decision I make is okay

Under the Arm…I choose to love myself, with or without the cookies

Top of Head…I choose to accept myself, with or without the cookies

Happy Tapping

Why Am I Here?

In legend and mythology, dolphins are associated with knowing one’s purpose. When you watch them you never get a sense of self-doubt or second guessing. I want that for my self. The tapping exercise that follows addressed the big existential question of what my purpose might be and hopes to answer the question, “Why am I here?”

Setup (tapping the karate chop point): Sometimes it is really hard to know why I am here. What is my purpose? What am I really meant to do? This uncertainty, this not-knowing, is quite uncomfortable. Even though I don’t know why I am here, I choose to search for my purpose. Even though I am unsure of my purpose, I choose to create meaning in my life. Even though I am not always clear about why I am here, I choose to believe that my purpose will eventually become more clear.

Eyebrow…Who am I?

Side of Eye…Why am I here?

Under the Eye…What is my purpose?

Under the Nose…What is my destiny?

Chin…Am I on the right path?

Collarbone…Is this my path?

Under the Arm…Who am I?

Top of Head…Unanswered questions

Eyebrow…All of this uncertainty

Side of Eye…This anxiety of not knowing

Under the Eye…Who am I?

Under the Nose…What is my purpose?

Chin…What is the plan?

Collarbone…Uncomfortable not knowing

Under the Arm…Infinite possibilities

Top of Head…Who am I?

Obviously this was a very short tapping on a great big topic. It was not intended to wrap everything up in a pretty little package. It was intended to stimulate thoughts and questions that are relevant to your journey. Most of us (myself included) will likely need a lot more tapping to address all of the aspects of an existential question of this magnitude.

If thoughts or feelings popped in, write them down and set aside some future time to tap on them. Why? We all think that if we have the thought or insight things will get better, and they might. However, if you use those thoughts and insights for tapping, things can get a lot better.

Happy Tapping

There Is Danger All Around Me

I don’t think anyone would argue that bears are quite strong. One of the episodes that I remember from the TV show Gentle Ben was one in which the bear protected people from danger. When you watch the news it becomes readily apparent that the world really can be a dangerous place. Often, when I am out running errands I often get the sense that there is danger all around me. When we are feeling more vulnerable than strong we can call upon the strength of the bear to help us cope.

Say this statement out loud “There is danger all around me.” How true does that feel to you? Rate it on a scale of 0-10, with 10 being very true.

Setup (karate chop point): Even though there is danger all around me, I choose to remain strong in the face of adversity. Even though I see danger everywhere I look, I choose to acknowledge my inner strength. Even though there is danger in my world I choose to exhibit fearlessness and gentle strength.

Eyebrow…I see danger all around me

Side of Eye…Danger is everywhere

Under the Eye…Some of it may only be in my mind

Under the Nose…But much of it is real

Chin…It makes me feel afraid

Collarbone…It makes me feel helpless

Under the Arm…I don’t like that feeling

Top of Head…I would rather feel strong

Eyebrow…I would rather be fearless

Side of Eye…I want to protect myself

Under the Eye…And protect others around me if I need to

Under the Nose…I wonder how that would feel?

Chin…Sure, I’d prefer that there was never anything dangerous out there

Collarbone…But that is just a fantasy

Under the Arm…I can choose to respond with gentle strength

Top of Head…To both the real dangers and my inner concerns.

Take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Say the statement again, “There is danger all around me.” If the number has stayed the same, continue tapping with these or other statements until it goes down. If your number has gone up (sometimes that will happen), try thinking about a specific danger you are sensing and continue tapping while describing that.

Don’t Call Me Crone

An old woman who is thin and ugly….archetypal figure.. keeper…. seer….. healer…… midwife…. a disagreeable malicious sinister old woman. These are all descriptions found for the word crone. Although some of those are quite positive, my being always feels “Don’t call me crone.” This is a totally irrational reaction. Many other women I have talked to feel the same way. The tapping that follows is an exploration of the internal dialogue that happens when I consider that word. While it is obvious that I no longer fit into the archetype of maiden or mother, I still want to scream “Don’t call me crone” because of the negative connotations in today’s mainstream society.

http:/https://youtu.be/oYPcZaKMIkU

Curiosity

Goats are known for their curiosity. I’m not necessarily looking at curiosity as a good or a bad thing. As with most things, it can be useful or it can further complicate my life. Do you have memories of someone saying to you, “curiosity killed the cat?” I heard this whenever I was asking for information that someone didn’t want to give me or when I was looking for something they didn’t want to me to find. I think it is important to remember that curiosity is also what fuels all of our best discoveries and inventions. Someone has to wonder who, what, when, where, why, or how in order to learn, grow, and invent new things.

As you prepare for the following tapping exercise, engage your curious mind and look forward to the possibilities.

Getting Curious

Setup (Karate Chop Point): Even though I’m not as curious about myself and my world as I used to be, I deeply and completely love and accept myself. Even though my curiosity about things seems to have faded, I choose to allow it to grow within me. Even though my curiosity has been suppressed over the years, I choose to rekindle my love for knowing how the world works and I am open to learning more about myself to.

Eyebrow…It is time to get curious

Side of Eye…It is time to discover new things

Under the Eye…It is time to know how things work

Under the Nose…It is time to know more about myself

Chin…It is time to open myself up

Collarbone…To the possibility of knowing more

Under the Arm…About things than I do right now

Top of Head…At least the things that are really mine to know.

Eyebrow…I gueses this could take the form of nosiness

Side of Eye…About other people’s stuff

Under the Eye…But I don’t want to invade their privacy

Under the Nose…So while I might be curious

Chin…That wouldn’t be an action I should pursue

Collarbone…But to better understand the world around me

Under the Arm…And to better understand myself

Top of Head…Seem like reasonable starting places

Eyebrow…I remember my children

Side of Eye…Were always asking “why”

Under the Eye…Why is the sky blue?

Under the Nose…Why do dogs sniff butts?

Chin…Their curiosity seemed endless

Collarbone…And it drove me nuts

Under the Arm…Probably because I didn’t know the answers

Top of Head…And because their timing was awful

Eyebrow…But now I see the value

Side of Eye…In wondering why

Under the Eye…In contemplating how

Under the Nose…And I want to bring that curiosity

Chin…Back into my life

Collarbone…Feeling curious

Under the Arm…Trying to make sense of things

Top of Head…Embracing the curiosity that is my birthright.

Suggestions:

This tapping is a jumping off point for exploring this topic of curiosity. Consider the following suggestions for continuing your tapping with this goat attribute:

Tap through the points while describing a particular instance in which your curiosity was not appreciated by others or may have been punished.
Tap while describing a particular instance in which you encountered a goat.
Tap while describing any instance in which you suppressed your own curiosity and your reasons for it.
Tap while describing any frustration or negative emotion about not being able to find the answers you seek.

Gut Feelings

Have you had the experience of intuition or knowing? Do you have gut feelings? Was there ever a tiny little voice urging you to make a certain decision? Maybe you listened to it. Maybe you didn’t. Bats are associated with intuition. As an animal guide they often encourage you to follow through on your ideas or hunches. As an animal totem they can indicate someone who is highly perceptive or someone who has dreams that almost always seem to come true. The tapping exercise below calls on the spirit of bat to help us in our own personal growth.

Setup (Karate Chop Point): I have this gut feeling that is really bothering me. I had a plan about what I was going to do but my gut is telling me not to. Should I pay attention to what my gut is saying? How do I know this isn’t just fear or anxiety getting in the way? Even though I have this confusion I choose to believe I can work through this. Even thought I have confusion between my gut and my head, I choose to accept myself, no matter what I decide. Even though this gut feeling is really bothering me, I am open to clarity.

Eyebrow…Gut feelings

Side of Eye…Seems like a warning

Under the Eye…Could just be fear

Under the Nose…Could be anxiety

Chin…Might be intuition

Collarbone…So hard to know

Under the Arm…This bothersome feeling in my gut

Top of Head…Open to clarity

(This would be a great place to add the 9-Gamut tapping for added benefit. I’ve included instructions at the end of the post or you can click here to see a video.)

Eyebrow…I’d like to trust my intuition

Side of Eye…I am open to clarity

Under the Eye…This confusion

Under the Nose…In my gut

Chin…Listening for guidance

Collarbone…Gut feeling

Under the Arm…Open to clarity

Top of Head…I am willing to experience the feeling

Remember that it can be helpful to take the time to rate your response to the statements before the tapping and again when you finish. Now that you have tapped, are you feeling any discomfort? If so, keep tapping for as long as it takes to feel a shift.

The 9-Gamut Procedure includes these steps:

Tap the Gamut spot on the back of the hand continuously (It is on the back of the hand between the knuckles at the base of the ring finger and little finger)

Close your eyes tightly
Open your eyes wide
Without moving your head, look hard down to the right, as if trying to see your right hip
Without moving your head, look hard down to the left, as if trying to see your left hip
Without moving your head, circle your eyes clockwise
Without moving your head, circle your eyes counter-clockwise
Hum a few seconds of a tune such as Happy Birthday or Row Your Boat
Count to 5 slowly
Hum a few seconds of a tune such as Happy Birthday or Row Your Boat

Goose – A Symbol of Perfectionism

The goose mainly brings positive thoughts, memories, and feelings for me. I am fairly certain that this is one of my totem animals. That said, I can also relate to some goose symbolism or characteristics that might actually be problematic in my life. This tapping exercise is about one of them. The goose is often associated with perfectionism. I’m sure I can hear those of you that know me taking an audible gasp of air. Yes, I’ll admit it. I can be somewhat perfectionistic (but not about everything) and it sometimes interferes with my life. Can you relate? Take a few moments and check in with your own perfectionistic tendencies, or lack thereof, then get started with the tapping exercise.

Setup (Karate Chop Point): Even though I want to be perfect in most everything I do, or at least I want others to think that I’m perfect, I choose to love, honor, and respect myself just as I am in this moment. Even though perfectionism is something I know can be over the top, I don’t want to let go of my high standards. I choose to allow myself to grow and develop in this area. In spite of my tendency to be really hard on myself and expect a standard of perfection that isn’t really possible, healthy, or effective, I deeply and completely love and respect myself as a work in progress.

Eyebrow…Perfectionism

Side of Eye…An unattainable standard

Under the Eye…It seems like a good goal

Under the Nose…But it really seems to lower my productivity

Chin…And stifle my creativity

Collarbone…My rational brain knows that perfectionism isn’t possible

Under the Arm…But my emotional brain sees it as a necessity

Top of Head…This needs to be perfect

Eyebrow…There seems to be a lot attached to this

Side of Eye…It almost seems necessary

Under the Eye…Sure, I got lots of praise when I did things well

Under the Nose…And experienced criticism if I didn’t

Chin…That’s normal for most people

Collarbone…But I feel that criticism very deeply

Under the Arm…And I’ve gotten quite good at being the critic myself

Top of Head…In spite of all of this

Eyebrow…I am trying to learn to love and respect myself more

Side of Eye…Perfectionism

Under the Eye…A double-edged sword

Under the Nose…It can help me

Chin…And it can definitely hurt me

Collarbone…The truth is

Under the Arm…I feel safer if I am the one doing the criticizing

Top of Head…Rather than waiting for someone else to do it

Eyebrow…And now I just seem to expect it

Side of Eye…This is definitely something I’d like to let go of

Under the Eye…The perfectionism

Under the Nose…The fear of criticism

Chin…Craving praise

Collarbone…Trying to prevent embarrassment

Under the Arm…Of having someone else see a flaw

Top of Head…My problem with perfectionism

For me, and for many other people, perfectionism is a deeply rooted problem and we have many experiences that have shaped our thinking. I’m pretty sure the tapping reminded you of some of those experiences. Write those down, and then go back and tap on the points while running the event in your mind like a movie.

Hawk: A Symbol of Spiritual Awareness

When I was a child I had the opportunity to spend time at the Outdoor Education Center in Yellow Springs, Ohio. This was a rewarding experience for a lot of reasons. I was spending time in nature, learning about the animals and plants native to my area, chasing the elusive indigo bunting, eating violets, and enjoying the freedom of not being in a traditional classroom. One of the animals that I became better acquainted with was the red-tailed hawk. What a beautiful creature. I still get a special feeling when I remember the experience. The hawk, as a totem, is known as a messenger of the spirit world and a symbol of spiritual awareness. The next tapping exercise will help you explore your own spiritual connections.

Setup (Karate Chop Point): Even though I am not as connected to the spiritual aspects of living as I would like to be, I choose to love and accept myself completely. Even though my connection to Spirit isn’t quite what I would like it to be, I choose to respect the connection. I choose to honor my willingness to grow in this area. Even though I need to focus much more on body and mind that I do spirit, I deeply and completely love, honor, and accept myself.

Eyebrow…A desire to be more connected

Side of Eye…To the spiritual aspects of life

Under the Eye…Its not that I don’t believe

Under the Nose…Or that I’m not aware of Spirit

Chin…Its just that it isn’t the realm I’m most comfortable with

Collarbone…Or as easily aware of.

Under the Arm…If I’m honest, it’s the part that is easiest for me to ignore

Top of Head…And I don’t think that is helpful.

Eyebrow…This tendency to block out or ignore Spirit

Side of Eye…In my daily life

Under the Eye…This tendency to block out or ignore Spirit

Under the Nose…In my decision making

Chin…This tendency to block out or ignore Spirit

Collarbone…When I know it is important

Under the Arm…And essential to balanced living

Top of Head…Connecting more easily to Spirit

Eyebrow…Considering Spirit

Side of Eye…Noticing Spirit

Under the Eye…Feeling Spirit

Under the Nose…Breathing Spirit

Chin…Consulting Spirit

Collarbone…Being Spirit

Under the Arm…Loving Spirit

Top of Head…Spirit

Take a deep breath and let it go gently. Be sure to write down any thoughts, experiences, or feelings that you noticed during the tapping and use them for your own personal tapping in the future.

Arrogance?

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.