Tapping Q & A with Gene Monterastelli - Get the most out of tapping and EFT

Tapping Ninja Video – Tapping Before Eating

by

Tapping can be used in lots of different ways. One way we can use it is to tap before we eat to promote better digestion, more enjoyment of our food, and a great sense of gratitude. In this short video I explain how to use tapping before we eat.

Click here to read what others have to say or add your own thoughts and comments. I would really love to hear what you think!

Video Transcript

Hi! This is Gene Monterastell, the Editor of TappingQandA.com and welcome to another Tapping Ninja video. We call them Tapping Ninja because they're like a ninja strike. They're super powerful but they're really short and sweet so you can add this to your tapping routine and make a huge difference right away.

Today, what I'd like to talk about is three different ways that we can tap when we approach the food that we eat. Now, when it comes to tapping for food, I like to do this in three parts. Number one, I'll take the food, I'll stare at it. I'm going to simply move through the tapping points. I'm just going to concentrate on the food. I'm going to notice what’s on my plate and what we found is that this is a really effective way to clear any sort of energetic substance sensitivity you have for what you're about to consume.

And the nice thing about doing it by staring at the food you're about to eat is, you don’t have to know everything that is on the plate to be able to tap for it. Your system is completely tuned into what's there because it's now in front of you and when you tap on it, you're going to find your way to creating some clearing so that as you consume the food, the system is not going to overreact to what it’s ingesting.

Number 2, I like to tap in a way where naming the intention that I have for the food that’s in front of me. For me it’s a simple as this. I'll just tap on the side of the hand then I'll say, may this food feed my dreams and my hopes and not feed any of my worries and fears. It's a really simple statement but what it does is it just helps to get my entire system on board for what's about to happen. I want this to nourish me. I want it to help me to move forward. But I only want to do it to the things that are beneficial to me.

Finally, I like to do a round of thanksgiving tapping. And you can do this for anything but I like to do it on food in front of me because all things that are seen is gift, are seen in His creator. So by simply taking a few moments and tapping on the fact that we appreciate that we have food before us, that we get a choice of food, that many had a hand in bringing it to us and its going to allow us to move forward and will change our disposition about what's in front of us. We're not going to consume it super quick without thinking about it. We're more likely to savor it and it will change our disposition about the food. And anytime we think of things in terms of thanksgiving, it's going to position us so that we’re in a better mood to move into our day or anything that comes after that and beyond.

So three simple things, one, just stare at the food, notice what's on your plate and move to the tapping routine. Two, name what you'd like the food to feed. And three, give thanks for the fact that it's there. If you do these three things before a meal, you're going to find the meal much more enjoyable and much healthier.

For Tapping Q and A, I'm Gene Monterastelli. Make sure you visit TappingQandA.com/video to check out all our free instructional videos and check out the site for all of the other amazing free resources.

The Great Visualization Hoax – A 4 Step Tapping Plan Of Attack

by

Question: I would like to use visualization and law of attraction principles with my tapping. How can I do that?

[NOTE: I have a feeling this article is going to ruffle a few feathers. The science cited is far from definitive, but very interesting. I would love your feedback on this so please let me know your thoughts.]

The tool that is cited the most in the LOA community is visualization. “If you can see it, you can be it.”

Personally, I have always been a little skeptical. I fall much more in line with what Tony Robbins is credited with as saying about visualization: “If you sit all day in your living room thinking about what you want, something will show up. It will be the repo man!”

In my mind visualization alone has never been enough. If it were every teenage boy would be dating a Playboy bunny (something they spend a great deal of time visualizing very emotionally).

Action is required.

The Science Of Visualization

One of the reasons I love science so much is because the attitude is, “You think this is true? Great! Let's test it to see if it really is so.”

To that end, a number of scientists have been putting visualization to the test. Four of these studies were featured at Forbes.com and what they found was that visualization in terms of just seeing what you want, actually makes it less likely for you to get what you want.

As the article states:

During the course of four experiments, Kappes and Oettingen demonstrated that conjuring positive fantasies of success drains the energy out of ambition. When we imagine having reached what we want, our brains fall for the trick. Instead of mustering more energy to get “there”, we inadvertently trigger a relaxation response that mimics how we would feel if we’d actually reached the goal. Physiologically, we slide into our comfy shoes; blood pressure lowers, heart rate decreases, all is well in the success world of our mind’s making.

The research also uncovers that the more pressing the need to succeed, the more deflating positive visualization becomes. One of the experiments tested whether water-deprived participants would experience an energy drain from visualizing a glass of icy cold water (a simple but elegant study design) and found that indeed, in even something so basic, the brain responds as if the goal has been reached.

From a “proof is in the pudding” standpoint, the research showed that participants told to visualize attaining goals throughout the course of the week ended up attaining far fewer goals than a control group told they could mull over the week’s challenges any way they liked. The positive visualizers also self-reported feeling less energetic than the control group, and physiological tests supported their claim.

That is a “WOW!”

Does That Mean We Stop Using Visualization?

In a word “No”!

What these studies point out is that just being in the moment and feeling what we want can be a harmful tool. It makes us feel better in the moment but it makes us less likely to take action.

But this not the only way to visualize. There are actually ways to use visualization that are very helpful. The key to using any tool is to ascertain how it can be useful in removing the things that are holding us back from taking action, and how it opens us up to opportunities to lead us to our goals.

There is a very simple way to do this and tapping will super-charge it.

Four Step Visualization Process Combined With Tapping That Works

There are a few things to keep in mind when looking at these four steps.

First, you don't have to do them in the order they are presented and you don't have to do all four steps in any one tapping session. As you will see each of these steps is set up to clear out different blocks to action. Clearing just one area is going to move you to a place where taking action is even easier.

Second, when doing each of these steps tap, tap, and then tap some more. Tap six or seven times on each point and then move to the next point. As you do each of the steps you are going to be tuning into the limiting beliefs and emotions that need to be tapped on. If we are tapping whilst these are surfacing we will clear them.

Third, for this to work you are going to need a clear vision of what you want and why you want it. There are many ways to write goals. I have a way that I think works best, but it is not the only way. Choose the way that makes the most sense for you.

Fourth, depending on the goal not every step is going to bring up every emotion and belief listed below. The ones that need to surface are the ones that will surface.

Step 1: Imagine Someone Else Achieving The Goal You Want

Task: In your mind imagine what it is like to witness someone else living the goal that you want to achieve. Imagine what their daily life is like as they have this goal. Imagine how they feel, imagine what they achieve, imagine what they feel as they achieve, and imagine the obstacles they encounter (AND how they get past these).

Goal: Doing this type of visualization can surface three types of emotions in us.

First, any jealousy that we have towards the people have achieved what we want will surface. Often the best resources we have to getting to our goal are the people who have already achieved something similar. If we are jealous of them it will be hard for us to look at their success from a distance and learn from it or, if we have access to the person, be able ask them for information to help to get ourselves to the same place. Our jealousy will shut us out from many resources we could use to take the right action.

Second, any emotions of inadequacy that we feel about the goal will start to surface. Thoughts of “That is right for them, but I could never have that!” If we don't feel worthy or deserving of a goal then we will stop ourselves from taking the action that will lead us to achieving them.

Third, any negative beliefs we or others might have towards this type of success will surface. For example we could be doing this type of visualization around financial success. We might see someone who is very wealthy treating those around them with disdain and contempt. If we believe that rich people are mean then we will prevent ourselves from taking action to reach this goal because we don't want to end up behaving the same way.

Step 2: Imagine Yourself Living The Goal

Task: This is not the “feel good and happy” as you imagine you are doing this. We are not looking to have warm fuzzy feelings while doing this. We are also not courting negative feelings. Instead, we want to feel realistically what it is like to have this goal happening in our life. How does it feel? What is exciting, frustrating, overwhelming, and impossible? Pay attention to all the emotions that come up. (Remember you are tapping while you do this.)

Goal: By realistically feeling (both good and bad) what comes along with the goal we will find our way to feelings of inadequacy, unworthiness, and overwhelm. We also might find emotions of “if we succeed we can lose it”. It is very hard for us to take action when we don't think we are worthy of the goal. By tapping on these emotions we are removing the block of thinking that it is impossible, making action more possible.

Step 3: Imagine You Know How Others Feel About Your Success

Task: This step is exactly like step two, but in step three we are going to add everyone else in our lives. As you see yourself living the goal also imagine that you can read the minds and hear the whispers of others as you enjoy success. Are they supportive, jealous, or saying how much you have changed? Are they feeling sad about their own lives or overwhelmed because your success is pointing out their failure? Obviously you have no idea what others are thinking, but just make a guess.

Goal: There are times where we will hold ourselves back because of what others might think about us.. I once had a client report “I know how my fat friends talk about my skinny friends. If I lose weight they will say the same horrible catty things about me.” If we think our success is going to hurt our relationships or how people see us in negative ways, then we will prevent our own success.

By imagining what others are saying and thinking about our success we are going to be able to name (and clear) the blocks that are holding back our action.

Step 4: Imagine Encountering Obstacles

Task: Imagine all possible roadblocks and obstacles to you achieving your goal. Imagine the things you don't know how to do. Imagine the people you ask for help saying “no”. Imagine your plans not working out. Imagine having everything go to plan and still not have it work out.

How do you feel when you imagine these scenarios? Keep playing them out in your mind. Now that something hasn't worked out what is your next step or next plan of attack. Did that work? If not, in your imagination try something new.

Goal: One of the types of visualization that Kappes and Oettingen recommend from their research is to imagine that we are facing different obstacles and roadblocks. By doing this we have the opportunity to practice responding to things that didn't work out. Instead of falling in a heap on the floor because it didn't work out, we are training ourselves to respond to changes of plans. We are getting a chance to deal with the emotions of rejection and failure when the stakes are very low. So that when obstacles come up (and they are going to come up) we are going to be emotionally prepared to deal with them.

Take Action

The time is now. You need to do something. You can’t sit around imagining things and expect them to show up at your doorstep. You need to know what you want, know what is going to stop you, clear yourself emotionally, and TAKE ACTION! Otherwise you are just daydreaming. Take some time each day and work these steps and you will start moving towards your goals.

Let me know what you think of this in the comments below.

Pod #73: Why I Hate The Word Manifest – A Conversation About What We Create, What We Responsible For, and How To Make Choices

by

There is a lot of talk about the idea of what we manifest in our lives, both positive and negative. I personally think that we pay too much attention to manifesting and attracting and give nowhere near enough credit to personal choice and response. In this conversation with my friend Jondi Whitis we talk about what we can control, what we create, and what we are responsible for.

This is just one point of view and I would love to hear your thoughts on the topic.

What are your thoughts on create, manifest, and responsibility? I would love to hear your thoughts. Click here to add your own thoughts and comments or read what others have to say.

TapAlong: It Doesn’t Always Have To Be Hard

by

There is a very American ethic that says that if something is worth having it is worth working hard for. Great virtue is attached to working hard so that you are able to say you “deserve” what you received. I have nothing against hard work, but it doesn’t always have to be hard. I take flights because it is much easier than travelling in a covered wagon. I use my stove because it is easier than cooking over a campfire. I shop for food because it is easier than farming.

We often feel bad about taking the easy way out. There is nothing wrong with having things come to us easily. We are worthy of things being easy.

Here is a great little tap-along to help you to be easy with yourself.

Tapping Ninja Video – Knock Out The Last Little Bit w/ The Collarbone Eye-Roll

by

Sometimes when we tap we are able to reduce our SUDs level down to less than a two, or to the point where it feels like just a shadow of the issue. When this happens there is a very simple way to knock out that last little bit. In this video I explain how to do this.

Click here to read what others have to say or add your own thoughts and comments. I would really love to hear what you think!

Video Transcript

Hi! This is Gene Monterastelli, the Editor of TappingQandA.com and welcome to another Tapping Ninja video. We call them tapping ninja because these are super simple, super quick techniques that you can use to cut to the chase and improve your tapping right away.

Today what I'd like to talk about is the collarbone eye-roll. Now if you spent time looking at the early, early EFT videos produced by Gary Craig you saw a much more complicated tapping procedure than most of us are used to today. That there was a gamut procedure where we’re tapping in the back of our hand and doing a number of things with our eyes and humming and counting. We used many more points.

And as time has gone, what many practitioners have learned is that we can shorten the protocol, and shorten the protocol and just use the basic points in the body and make lots of progress. But because of this, I think something really important has been lost and that’s the collarbone eye-roll.

Now to do it, all you need to do is three simple things all at once. Number one, you tune in to the issue at hand like you're used to doing. Number two, you're just going to tap on the collarbone point. And number three, what you're going to do is you're going to hold your head straight but you're going to roll your eyes from floor to ceiling, roll your eyes from floor to ceiling just like that.

Now, the time we use the collarbone eye-roll is when we have an issue and we’ve gotten the SUDs level to a two or less. So there's just a little wisp, a little remaining shadow of the issue at hand. Because often times it will feel like it's gone but for some reason there's a little space where it was there. This is a perfect time for the collarbone eye-roll.

So, after you’ve been tapping on an issue for a while, you’ve got it reduced to a two or less where it feels like it's gone but there's something hanging around. Just take a few moments to do the collarbone eye-roll. Tune in to the issue. Tap on the collarbone and roll your eyes from floor to ceiling two or three times. And then take a moment and retune in to see what's there. And I've found this to be a really helpful, really powerful way to put yourself in a circumstance where you're going to knock out that last little bit. So, the next time you're tapping, take a moment and try it out.

For Tapping Q and A, this is Gene Monterastelli. Make sure you go to TappingQandA.com/videos to check out all of our instructional videos and see all the other great free resources we have.