In our early years of life, when we could not communicate through words, all we could do was express through our eyes, facial movements, body language, and maybe indistinct sounds we uttered. These may have been fleeting experiences at the time, but enough to leave a strong impression within at a tender time.
When those early years’ emotions have shown up for me, it has often felt difficult to break them down into safe enough chunks to then process the emotional energy using EFT. That blanket of emotional "yuk" tends to sit in my middle. Tapping through it can feel like wading through treacle—very slow progress.
I'd like to share an experience of using tapping to process emotions from my own early years. Before I do, though, I want to note that the ideas in this article are for experienced EFTers who have done significant amounts of their Personal Peace Procedure. Attempting this at an earlier point in your self-care journey may lead to re-traumatisation and slow down your return to well-being.
Finding an Image to Connect with the Feeling
Recently I had an experience that triggered me back into connecting with my early years. I safely processed the present-day situation with everyday EFT, but afterwards I was left with a layer of unease, fear, and anxiety that words weren’t helping me reach. It would be a couple of weeks before I could meet with my regular tapping buddy to process with their help.
I needed another approach, as I was so affected.
One of my pleasures in life is to watch video shorts of cute cats on YouTube in breaks between clients. I find them relaxing and entertaining—so different from the focus I need for my client work.
Recently I’d seen a string of ‘spicy kitten’ videos. These were about strays who were being fostered so they could be taken on as pets and cared for. After taking time to nurture with gentleness, love, and attention, trust was built with these little mites.
Using EFT to Process
As I thought of the remaining distress left inside me, I had an image of spicy kitten come to mind. I searched for a random video, watched, and just tapped through the EFT points with no words. I noticed a shift as layer after layer left.
The anxiety, fear, hissing and wide-eyed uncertainty of the kittens in the video spoke to the mirror neurones in my brain. I didn’t need words for processing this part of my human experience. Just a sense of connection that I wasn’t alone in my distress. Those video shorts of terrified kittens who just needed safe boundaries to be socialised spoke to my inner toddler as I tapped and let the energy move.
Once I was calm, I tested again with other videos of these delightful bundles of fur. No trigger—just a feeling of being deeply at peace within. My inner spicy kitten got healed.
I’ve been in full time practice for nearly two decades as an EFTer. Over the years, I’ve had people write to me and ask what words they should use for a particular issue. As this article suggests, it’s not only about the words. It’s particularly important to honour the emotional energy coming up with kindness and safety. Meeting the person where they are at is highly effective and beneficial.
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Sejual Shah is an EFT International Trainer of Trainers and Practitioner in the UK. She helps execs with career growth and confidence issues. Since 2008 she has pioneered ways of delivering business EFT courses to large companies at home and abroad and loves coaching other practitioners to do this as well. She has developed Business Energetics, a spiritual tool that includes EFT for profound business growth.
Image credit: Terry Zhong on Unsplash
Wildflower says
I love how you found a way to connect with your animal body Sejual That is precisely what we’re working with when processing early years ‘stuff’ that is held implicitly in the body. I agree to not approach such without a deep and strong foundation of healing work. I’d add too that working with a trusted practitioner adds a vital later of safety to support depth of healing. Dr. Winnicott, a developmental psychologist, said, “There’s no such thing as a baby, there’s a baby AND someone.”
Thank you for sharing your process Sejual 🙏
Sejual Shah says
So glad this resonates with you, Wildflower 🙏
Marie Holliday says
That’s a super idea Sejual and truly inspirational. Thank you for sharing this novel idea that helped you and can help others.
Sejual Shah says
Thanks, Marie. I’m aware you do superb work sharing ways to do surrogate EFT care for animals. Whilst this isn’t the same way of working it comes back to something I think I’ve heard you say – we’re only ever healing ourselves with this work. 🙏