Dear EFT Community,
EFT practitioner Ruth Stern writes about how she teaches her clients how to create positive affirmations to use with EFT on their own. She feels that using sensory modalities also deepens the positive reframes in a very powerful way.
– EFT Universe
By Ruth Stern, MA
I’ve been inspired by the depth of EFT and all the possible ways we can expand results. As a clinician, I’ve been very interested in merging what I know from neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) with EFT. In this article I share how I construct and teach clients to create positive affirmations with the principles of NLP.
Many years ago, I learned some of the principles of NLP, a psychology of how we understand and perceive information. One principle involves the use of sensory modalities, which include visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. All of us learn and filter information with our senses.
When I began using this with clients, I noticed that the more I utilized statements that included all their senses, I observed a significant difference in how they were feeling. Certain clients would close their eyes as I said the words with pictures and images–this would be the visual modality. Or they would nod in agreement with a very deep calm smile, as if it were really sinking in–this would be an auditory modality. Or some clients would state how wonderful it felt to hear positive reframes–this would be a kinesthetic modality.
Their physical appearance literally changed as if they were in a blissful meditative state.
The following article describes how to apply your senses into the practice of EFT and create positive affirmations/reframes. With the following example; we always start out with the presenting problem and tap on the negative feelings associated with the problem. After releasing; we can make room to invite the positive reframe.
In this example: Assume you have a fear of making presentations to large groups. First rate your fear on a scale of 0-10.
Even though I’m afraid to speak in front of large groups…
Even though I have never been confident to speak…
Even though I’m so scared to speak…
Eyebrow — “This fear of speaking.”
Side of the Eye — “This fear to speak.”
Under the Eye — “I don’t think I can do it.”
Under the Nose — “This strong fear.”
Chin — “It’s overwhelming for me.”
Collarbone — “This fear of what they’ll think.”
Under the arm — “This fear.”
Top of the Head — “This fear.”
Take a breath and rate your fear. Proceed with a few more rounds of EFT on this fear. When you’ve dropped a few points or feel some relief, you can begin to introduce the positive statements.
Start by asking yourself:
What do I want instead of this fear?
Your response might be: “I want to feel confident. I want to be over this fear.”
Next use the sensory modalities to create more positive responses.
Here is an example:
“I want to feel empowered. I want to see or visualize myself looking smart and proud. I really can do this. I choose calm. I release this burden. I deserve to release this now.”
You have now created your positive round of tapping!
Starting with the eyebrow point. “I want to say to myself”
EB — “I want to feel confident.”
SE — “I want to be free of this fear.”
UE — “I want to feel empowered.”
UN — “I want to see myself looking smart and proud.”
CH — “I can do this.”
CB — “I choose calm.”
UA — “I am releasing this burden.”
Top of Head — “I deserve to release this fear now.”
* Note: There certainly can be tail-enders here. Tail-enders are doubts or our negative voices that come up. An example might be: “But I can’t picture myself looking confident.” This is a response that you would tap on. All tail-enders need to be addressed, otherwise your progress will be sabotaged.
I use this simple and easy approach to teach clients how to create positive affirmations on their own. Using the sensory modalities also deepens the positive reframes in a very powerful way.
