There just aren’t enough hours in the day. I know setting time aside to tap is important, but I have trouble focusing on my tapping. When I sit down to tap I have a million thoughts running through my head. What can I do to focus on the task at hand?

photo by Eni Turkeshi

This is a common problem. We know we need to take care of ourselves, and we think we have the time to do it. But somehow our responsibilities expand to absorb our whole day.

Despite busy days, we HAVE to find time to take of ourselves. When we don’t take care of ourselves we become less effective, which puts us even farther behind.

I encourage all my clients to take some time, to focus before they start tapping. I know when I do this I’m less distracted, more focused on the task at hand, and I.m more likely to spend enough time tapping.

Usually I recommend they address a few areas before tapping:

1) Dealing with any resistance to believing EFT works

EFT seems so weird…How is it possible that tapping on my face and body is going to help me emotionally…If my friends saw me now, they would think I’ve lost my mind…But tapping has worked in the past…It does make me feel better…And it only takes a few minutes of time…Even if the tapping has nothing to do with it, I feel better for taking the time to care for myself

2) Dealing with a cluttered over-busy mind

I have a million thoughts running through my head…I have so many things to do…My thought are running a million thoughts a second…But I choose to know that I can focus my mind…I know that I can slow the thoughts down…I give myself permission to let all those thought go…I know that as my mind slows down I will relax…I don’t need all those thoughts right now…I am focused here

3) Dealing with feelings of guilt for not doing the tasks that are at hand

I have so much to get done…I’m so far behind…Every time I catch up some new problem erupts…I don’t have time to do this tapping…I should be working on my to-do list…I should be making dinner, cleaning the house, getting work done, working out…But I choose to know that I need to take care of myself…I know that if I don’t take care of my self I will get sick and won’t be able to get done what I need to get done…I give myself permission to take time for myself…I deserve to take some time for myself…I know that when I take care of myself I am a happier, more efficient person

You can do each of these by themselves or you can just run through all three without stopping. The goal of this tapping is to get your self into the mindset that will allow you to take the time you need to tap, guilt-free.

If after doing all these phrases you are still unsettled and not focused, just tap through the phases again.