When I teach or present EFT, I can always count on one question: “Why do we emphasize the negative in the set up statement? Isn’t that just keeping us stuck in what we don’t want?”
It may seem that way, but this part of the tapping routine is really critical to success. Here’s the simple explanation to help you see why.
The Beach Ball Analogy
Imagine a fully inflated beach ball in a pool. Does it take effort to hold a beach ball under water? Yes. What happens if you let it go? It pops straight out of the water. The bigger the ball, the further you’re holding it under, the bigger the splash when it pops up.
When we are trying to deny or repress our negative thoughts, experiences and emotions, it’s like holding a beach ball under water. It takes effort and energy. That energy can be better spent enjoying our life and work, but first we have to let that beach ball come to the surface—and let the air out.
Tapping Away Your Own “Beach Ball”
Summer seemed like a great time to create a tapping worksheet to help you work with the beach ball analogy. Visit my site to request a copy, or just follow the instructions below to try it out for yourself.
In this exercise, you’ll name the “beach ball” (let’s use an example of the fear of public speaking beach ball), then you’ll write several words or phrases that are the “air” in the “beach ball”. For example, if fear of public speaking were your beach ball, you might write:
- scared
- sweaty palms
- fear of being laughed at
- that report I gave in 1st grade
or any other words or phrases that come to mind. It might help to recall having this experience or imagine that you’re about to have it. You can give yourself an intensity level from 0-10 or notice where you feel it in your body.
Then, do regular tapping rounds using these phrases. After a few rounds, stop and check your intensity. You might like to visualize how much air is left in the beach ball.
Keep tapping until the intensity is as low, or your beach ball is as flat as you can get it.
Ange Dickson Finn is an EFT International Accredited Certified EFT Advanced Practitioner. She is based in Houston, Texas, USA, and works with clients over the phone and via Skype. Ange has helped clients with issues including physical pain, health and well-being, work-related stress, equestrian sports and relationships. Visit her on the web at www.TapIntoYourself.com or www.RideWithoutFear.com.
From the EFTfree Archives, which are now a part of EFT International .
Originally published on Aug 25, 2013.
Andy Hunt says
A lovely and very persuasive analogy to explain an idea that a lot of people struggle with.