With such positive results, naturally I thought the Veterans Administration, therapists and families would flock to embrace EFT. Not so. From my experience, many people don’t believe something so simple as tapping on acupuncture points can be very effective. Their beliefs block their direct experience. Typically, they dismiss EFT without ever trying it. That’s about to change because of a new film being released this month called “Operation: Emotional Freedom.”

www.youtube.com/watch?v=XA_5T7X0e6k

I’ve been awaiting the release of this feature length film since I saw Gary’s 20 minute film clip in 2008, “EFT for War Veterans.”  Eric Huurre is the producer and director of the film. According to Eric, Gary asked for just one thing, ”provide the audience with irrefutable evidence of what we can do with this technique.” The film does just that.

If you are a veteran, family member, friend or someone who cares about vets, I urge you to buy the DVD, watch it, and show it to others. The Special Edition DVD which is available now includes an exclusive interview with Gary Craig. Starting on June 12th, you’ll also have the option to “pay per view.” For little more than the price of a greeting card with postage, you’ll be able to send a viewing as a gift to someone you know who might benefit. You can find out more about the DVD and PPV here. Lastly, visit the Operation: Emotional Freedom website and subscribe to Eric’s newsletter.

Yes, Gary Craig is now retired. Over the years, he has been steadfast in showing his compassion for veterans. Let me close using Eric Huurre’s words about Gary Craig:

“You leave all of us better for what you brought to light.”

Dawson will also be publishing a weekly EFT newsletter. You can subscribe to it on his website. Please be patient because EFTuniverse.com will be getting a lot of Internet traffic in the next few days so it may be temporarily unavailable.

Unfortunately, there will be no more sales of Gary Craig’s DVDs. If you don’t have the DVDs from his library, there are over 100,000 people worldwide who purchased them. Each of these customers may duplicate the DVDs up to 100 times to give away. They can’t sell them. You may also be able to borrow or rent them.

The EFT Forums and Discussion Groups are moving to EFTMastersWorldwide.com/forums. In addition, Dawson Church is also setting up EFT discussion groups that will be housed on EFTuniverse.com.

Many thanks to Gary Craig for continuing to share this valuable EFT information. Gary has been very sincere and generous in sharing EFT worldwide over the past 15 years. May he thoroughly enjoy his retirement.

Normally, one of the things that doesn’t get addressed is “everyday” traumas that people experience. Getting bitten by a dog is a trauma, yet most people don’t go to see a therapist for it, and those feelings, fears and stresses stay locked up in our minds and bodies. EFT is wonderful for easing traumas like this.

First, we started by tapping on the pain. When we began doing EFT, the SUDS level for her pain started at a six. After only one round of tapping, it went to a two. I asked her what bothered her most about the incident and she said it was being caught off guard. We tapped on this traumatic part, and her pain immediately went to a zero. Like most people new to experiencing EFT, she was quite amazed to have her pain and discomfort vanish so quickly and easily. We also did some tapping on “I should have known better.” This tapping helped release some of her perfectionism, fears, frustration and stress from the situation.

On a different note, my daughter work up the other morning with pain and tightness in the Achilles tendon of her left foot. She suggested we do EFT to get some relief. Her SUDS level was about an eight. After two rounds of EFT she was down to a zero also.

In both of these instances, the physical pain has not come back. As a culture, we’re so conditioned to believing the only way to relieve pain is chemically via over-the-counter and prescription drugs. Don’t believe EFT will work for pain relief. Discover for yourself by learning more about EFT or working with an experienced EFT practitioner.

Last night the gentleman called me. He was having a lot of discomfort, particularly in his elbows. His doctor said that it was because of a side effect of a potent medication he was taking. The soft tissue was inflamed and swollen. When he bent his elbow, the angle or torque created the discomfort.

I asked him what his SUDS (Subjective Units of Distress) level was with the discomfort. He said it was at a three. It’s important to note that this is a subjective measure. For someone else, this person’s three could be a ten. So we started tapping a few rounds with a normal EFT setup statement:

Even though I have this swelling and discomfort in my left elbow, I deeply and completely accept myself.

We promptly got nowhere. No change whatsoever. So I asked him, “If there was an emotion connected to this discomfort what might it be.” With a perplexed look he said that he had no idea. So I asked him if his left elbow could speak what would it say it wanted.” Another blank look. Usually, when I do these things, I get good results. Not this time. I’m not attached to the outcome so it was time to play in a new direction.

Sometimes what happens in the body is literal. Joint problems can mean being stiff, inflexible. It can mean not wanting to deal with uncertainty or having a fear of change. I had a feeling to go with this so I did. We tapped on the following EFT setup statement.

Even though I have discomfort in my left elbow, my energy and my body easily flow with change.

This clicked and bingo, we got results immediately, going from three to one. I don’t like to stop there so instead of doing the EFT Shortcut method again, we went to the classic long version which includes using the finger tapping points, the gamut point, eye movements, etc. After one more round of tapping, he was at a zero and very happy about it. When he “tested” his left elbow, there was no discomfort and then he was surprised to find the same thing happened with his right elbow.

With EFT, you’ll often start with physical sensations to uncover what emotions may lie underneath. In this case, it was a fear of change. Gary Craig has said that you might have to keep trying different “doors” until one finally opens.

You’ll find a very good way to do this by visiting Gene Monterastelli of Tapping Q&A. Read Gene’s post, Transforming Our Critical Voice In To Something Helpful In 8 Easy Steps. His site is full of excellent information on EFT and tapping.

Since my neighbor knows I’m an EFT coach/practitioner, the following morning she asked for my help. Getting hit from behind at 40 miles per hour while you’re at at stop light is traumatic. First, I asked to be certain her daughter didn’t have any serious physical issues that required immediate medical attention. She didn’t.

I checked to see what the most dominant thing about the accident was. Her daughter said it was the sound which was a very loud crash. We tapped on the sound of the crash. After rounds of tapping for about five minutes, that trauma was over. It went down to a SUDS (Subjective Units of Disturbance Scale) of zero. Next, we then tapped on the feelings it evoked — fear and surprise. We tapped on each of these separate emotional issues to zero them out.

Lastly, I asked her if she had any physical pain. She said that she did in in her lower back and stomach. We surmised that this was from an abrupt use of these muscles from the jolt of the crash. Although I wasn’t sure EFT would help, we “try it on everything.” We used EFT for the physical pain and amazingly, it also went away within a few minutes. That was two weeks ago, and after that morning we did the EFT tapping, the pain has never returned.

In car accidents, there are physical injuries that require and receive medical attention. What usually never gets taken care of are the emotional traumas from minor car accidents and other events. That’s why I urge people to learn how to use EFT so they have a “first aid” kit at their fingertips for upsetting things that happen at work, in play and everyday life.

According to Professor Gilbert, "Science has revealed three important facts about happiness: You can’t be happy alone; you can’t be happy all the time; you can be happier than you are.” The series is so well produced that it’s both enlightening and entertaining. There are video clips from celebrities like Alanis Morissette, Katie Couric, Richard Gere, Chevy Chase, John Leguizamo, and Larry David, who share their personal experiences. These clips are woven in with everyday people and their stories.

Although the topic of happiness is a key area of the program, it’s really about much more. It covers the gamut of pertinent topics that affect people and families today.

The This Emotional Life Website has a lot of good content, including resources you may want to explore. Click on a topic link from an episode below to learn more. For example, on the topic of depression, did you know that clinical depression is the leading cause of disability for those aged 15 to 44 in the United States? With forgiveness, people who forgive have lower blood pressure and lower rates of heart disease. Or, with happiness, did you know that it’s contagious and it benefits friends through three degrees of acquaintance? The effects can last for a year.

Episode 1  Families, Friends & Lovers

• Adolescence
• Attachment
• Bullying
• Grief and Loss
• Postpartum Mood Disorders
• Intimate Relationships

Episode 2  Facing Our Fears

• Addiction
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• Anger
• Autism
• Bipolar Disorder
• Borderline Personality Disorder
• Depression
• Eating Disorders
• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
• Stress and Anxiety

Episode 3  Rethinking Happiness

• Altruism
• Connecting with Others
• Creativity and Flow
• Forgiveness
• Happiness
• Humor
• Meditation
• Resilience

Lastly, Track Your Happiness

Oh, one more thing, how happy are you right now? If you’d like to help contribute to a greater scientific understanding of happiness, you can do it via your iPhone. Track Your Happiness. org is a new scientific research project that investigates what makes life worth living. Check it out here.

I asked her what had changed. She said that previously she pictured herself walking out of the hospital. This time she didn’t. Instead, she saw herself leaving the hospital in a wheelchair. I taught her the EFT shortcut method over the phone. Her starting SUDS level was at an eight and we tapped with the following setup phrase:

“Even though I don’t see myself walking out of this hospital, I deeply and completely accept myself as best I can right now.”

[Since she said that she didn’t accept herself, we added the words, “as best I can right now.”]

Next we tapped:

“Even though I don’t see myself walking out of this hospital, I’m open to the possibility. I did it once before.”

In speaking with her, her belief internally was based on a picture. She saw herself in a wheelchair. I asked her if the picture was in color or black and white. She replied that it was in black and white. I said to imagine it being only one of several pictures in her slide show. Did she have a picture from a time in the past where she was active and feeling good? She said she did. Actually, she became excited because she saw a full color movie of herself water skiing.

Next, I told her that when I said, “now,” to mentally do one of three things with the black and white picture: 1) tear it into little pieces 2) burn it up 3) or, with her breath blow it a million miles away. She chose one and did it. After that, I had her mentally bring the full color movie of her water skiing back. I said to add some fun sounds, feelings of perfect balancing on her skis and even the unique smells of the boat on the lake to make it more “real.”

We did two more rounds of tapping while she projected the water skiing movie in her mind. Shortly after, her belief about not walking again went down to a zero. We tested to see if the negative “black and white” belief picture would come back and it wouldn’t. This is an example of how EFT can be valuable in helping people overcome limiting fears and beliefs regarding their health and well-being.

Might EFT help her walk again or improve her condition? Perhaps, because she was able to walk again once before. Also, she said that prior to her Transverse Myelitis, she endured two traumatic years of helping a relative with a drug addiction, plus five years of extreme emotional abuse from a husband she later divorced. No doubt there are various aspects to release. We’ll continue to tap away on her condition and be open to all possible outcomes. 

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EFT for Strengthening Your Immune System

by Kathy Atkinson

The flu predictions for the next several months are scary. Recently, I have encountered a number of people that have already contracted the latest virus, so I want to share this EFT Meridian Tapping script for strengthening your immune system.

The job of our immune system is to fight off invaders that would compromise our health. If you get sick often, this is a sign that you immune system is not functioning at its peak. Diet and exercise play a strong role in the strength of our immune system and also the level of stress we deal with each and every day affects our immune system.

EFT is a great process for helping you relax and I also think it can be beneficial for specifically strengthening your immune system. There is no real way to tell how much benefit you receive from tapping on the energy points, but I have to say that since I have been using EFT, I have had only two minor colds. (I started using EFT is 2003.)

It certainly can’t hurt anything to specifically tap for strengthening your immune system, so I encourage you to use this EFT sequence every morning.

If you need a visual of the EFT Energy Meridian Points, visit http://www.eft-downloads.com/

EFT for Strengthening Immune System

First, set a clear intention to allow your immune system to become fully functioning and balanced at 100% for you. Before you begin tapping state out loud,

"I intend to allow my immune system to strengthen and become fully functioning at 100% for me, in a way that feels easy, gentle, and natural."

Karate chop:

Even though my immune system may not be fully functioning at 100% for me, I choose to have my immune system fully functioning at 100% for me now.

Even though my immune system may not be balanced at 100% for me, my body knows how to come back into a balance and alignment and I allow that to happen now.

Even though my immune system may not be as healthy and strong as it can be, I allow my immune system to become stronger and more balanced in a way that feels easy, gentle, and natural.

Eyebrow: My immune system is not fully functioning.

Outside eye: I allow my immune system to become fully functioning now.

Under eye: My body has the ability to balance and strengthen my immune system in a way that feels easy, gentle, and natural.

Under nose: I release any resistance (worry, fear, stress, anger) I may have that is keeping my immune system weak.

Chin: I am ready for my immune system to become strong and balanced.

Collarbone: I allow my immune system to come back into balance and full function now.

Under arm: I feel my immune system becoming stronger and balanced at 100% for me now.

Top of head: It feels good to have my immune system coming into balance and full function now.

Stop tapping, take a deep breath in and release it out.

Repeat the sequence 2 or 3 times each morning and evening.

Here’s a printer friendly 1-page PDF file.

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Remember, visit Kathi Atkinson’s blog, Emotional Freedom Techniques Tips & Tricks.

Before you start, on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 meaning you’re feeling very “good,” and one “not so good,” write down a number indicating how you feel. Now, without thinking about it, intuitively pick a color that you sense will help you feel better. Without thinking or analyzing, choose whatever color comes to mind. You have free rein. Got your color?

Now, sitting in a comfortable position that’s right for you, visualize that color as fully as you can. See it as colored air or light. While visualizing this color, do a round of EFT tapping. Relax and take your time. Go slowly. Imagine the color surrounding your body. Now breath your color it in and out. No words, just tapping, visualizing and sensing. If you’d like to change the form of the color to colored water or a liquid, feel free to do so.

After doing a round of tapping with the color, stop and take a deep breath. Notice if there’s an improvement in how you feel. If so, do another round of tapping using that color to go higher to a positive feeling of 10. If there’s no improvement, use your intuition or information from the color chart below to select a different color. Play with color tapping to see how you might release negative feelings and install valuable ones to positively affect you emotionally and physically.