I respond much better to doing setups on my sore spot(s) than on the Side of Hand point. But I have found that my best response is if I tap on, even thump a bit, on the sore spot(s) rather than rubbing. Is this common or am I very unusual? Also, when I tap on my collar-bone it works much better if I tap on my sore spot as well as my collar bone spot. Is this ok/normal?
There are a few things that need to be kept in mind when we consider using tapping as a tool in our lives.
First, the tapping protocols in their current form are in their infancy. In one of Gary Craig’s DVDs, he jokes that one day people will look back at us and laugh at how primitive the tools are that we’re using today. Practitioners all over the world are continuing to find ways to improve and expand these tools, refining and combining them with other techniques and protocols. How best to tap is a moving target.
[For a brief history of tapping in the western world see The Future of Meridian Tapping Scroll down to the paragraph that begins: “The history of meridian tapping began with Dr. George Goodheart…”]
Second, each person and issue is going be relieved most effectively in a unique way. The basic recipe of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) was originally created as a way of sharing a general protocol that could be taught very easily, so most people could use it. It never claimed to be the best or fastest way, but instead one which was very, very effective and that anyone could do anywhere, anytime.
More than likely, for every issue we face there is a tapping order or tapping points that would be more effective than the EFT basic recipe. In many cases it effort to find the optimum tapping. It might take us twenty minutes of muscle testing to find that particular way, when three or four rounds of the basic recipe, which only takes a few minutes, accomplishes the same thing.
With those thoughts in mind, here is my advice when it comes to tapping the “right way”.
1) Be Safe When Tapping
When you are tapping, or doing anything else, be sure to make choices that are good for you. Just because someone says you need to do something to heal (both physically and emotionally) does not mean it is the best choice for you. You need to take responsibility for yourself and your body.
If it hurts don’t do it.
If a spot is too sore to tap, then rub it. If a spot is too sore to rub, then touch it and take a deep breath. If the spot is too sore to touch, then imagine you are tapping on it.
Safety has always been a concern from the beginning. You will notice that all of the tapping points in the basic recipe come from the beginning and end of the meridian pathways, except for the eyebrow point. The end of that path is actually on the inside of the bridge of the nose. I have heard, but don’t know if this is true, that the reason Dr. Callahan chose the eyebrow point is because he was afraid people would poke their eyes while tapping on the inside of the bridge of the nose.
You don’t want to create pain to gain relief. Be smart.
This is also true for the emotional issue you want to tackle. If you want to tap on an issue that is too emotional to work with on your one then get some profesional help. A good rule of thumb is, “If it is too emotional to work with on your own without tapping than it is too emotional to work with tapping.”
2) Be Flexible When Tapping
As long as you are following the first rule, then do what makes sense. Trust your body and trust your instincts. There are well over two hundred and fifty points on the body you could tap on. If it works better to tap on different points, do it! If it works better to tap in a different order, do it!
I have often advised clients, “If standing on one foot and humming ‘God Save the Queen’ is going to help you heal, then do it.” The goal is not to tap in the “right” way. The goal is to heal.
The most important question with any tool or protocol is “How is it working for you?” If it works keep after it, if not change to what it needs to be.
As long as you are keeping yourself safe there is no ‘wrong way’ to tap. It takes very little time to try something new (sometimes a little as 6 seconds to tap on a new point). Who knows? You might be discovering the next great breakthrough in tapping technologies.
What are some of the ways you have added or changed the basic tapping recipe? Click here to add your own thoughts and comments or read what others have to say. I would really love to hear what you think!
This is great info, thanks!
I appreciate the removal of barriers to healing as expressed in Right & Wrong Ways to Tap. It is so vital to be open-hearted and quiet-minded in a healing process, in whatever role one plays. I begin each healing session with another (whatever the modality, even nutrition counsel) “Let me serve this one’s highest good. I do not know what to do, but I do know to begin with loving kindness and compassion. Whatever tool in my education and experience is needed, let it come forth.” And, of course, when I am the healee, “Let healing come; I will rise to meet it.”
You didn’t really answer the question. I appreciate that the order of points tapped isn’t important and variability is fine. I’m going to assume you are being guided by intuition with your tapping order, as it seemed random to me. I was curious if it was inspired by something you know about the points that I don’t.
thank you for your time.
Nancy
Yes, I do tap in a more intuitive way. As time has passed and as I have done more work I almost get a physical feeling of where I am to tap next, BUT I have no idea if this is a better way to tap. I might be tapping in a way to speed the healing, but I know I am not tapping in a way to slow the healing. What I would recommend is to just give it a try. Trust yourself to tap on the next point that make sense. If it is something that doesn’t work for you go back to how you were tapping before.
I love tapping – it so works! I have used to heal chest infections, head colds and ear aches!
Cheers
Lisa
I don’t think there is a right or wrong way to tap, If I am not getting anywhere I will try different points and it still works. It is probably more important to try to get to the specific aspects on issues because that’s where you can really shift stuff. If you are trying to be more intuitive then you will have more sucess if you can get the left brain out of the way ( that’s the part that is concerned about doing it perfectly) and even tap on “even though I am worried that I am not doing this right…….” Gary Craig himself used to miss points and skip points, the main thing it seems is that we tap all over the end points or the system, I have even had success tapping just one point that is not part of the sequence and I have also heard other well known people say that the sequence is flexible. Gary Craig also mentions what he calls your point which is one point that you may find more succesful than others. if you know the basics and you work on specific aspects I think the rest can be a very creative process and you will find what works for you if you just keep trying different things to see what works for you.
Very interesting article, Gene.
My approach to tapping starts with coaching clients in deep, slow and mindful breathing.
I follow that by finding a statement that reflects one [or more] of the client’s five ‘Drivers’ i.e. internalisations of what the client believes s/he must do to be OK with people or with self: ‘I must be Perfect. Try Hard, Hurry up, Be Strong, Please others’.
Drivers will be obvious from the repetitons of thought, feeling and behaviour that keep the client running on habit.
I facilitate the client in developing a statement such as, “Even when I’m not perfect…” or “Even when I upset people…” “Even if I make mistakes…”I relate this to specific limiting beliefs and bedrock assumptions the client has about hir sense of worth to self and others. This statement is the second part of the statement to be tapped on.
Next, we begin to develop a ‘Core Identity Statement’; I ask the client to finish a sentence that begins with, “I’m {name} and I’m…”
It needs to be something other than their roles or functions i.e. NOT ‘I’m a mother, an architect, a lawyer.
It could be as simple as, “I’m a caring person.” or “I’m OK,” or “I truly and deeply love and appreciate myself.”
I tend to spend most time on the core identity statement in my sessions.
I ask the client to look me in the eye and say it out loud a few times, then ask something like, “How does that feel?” or “Does that fit?”
A negative response is good because it indicates that the client will recognise and resonate with the validity of the statement.
I am looking for signs, sounds and signals of complete congruence in the clients verbal and non-verbal communication.
When that manifests, the client taps as s/he makes the whole statement out loud : “Even if I upset people I’m still a caring person!” or “Even when I make mistakes, I’m OK!”
In between each statement, I remind the client to take a few slow, deep, mindful breaths.
There is a great deal more going on than I describe here, of course, but I will say no more for now.
Go well