Take a Break from Holiday Stress with EFT Tapping

By Juanita Ecker

The holidays are supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year. Yet for many of us it is the most stressful time of the year. We all can relate to having stress over the holidays: the family member that rubs you the wrong way; too many temptations to over-indulge in goodies and alcohol; having to choose which family members you will visit or the stress of trying to see  them all;  missing a loved one who is no longer here; overspending on the perfect gifts; having to attend holiday parties when you would rather be doing something else; feeling depressed or lonely this time of year or the disappointment when your expectations for the perfect holiday don’t work out as you had hoped. The list is endless.

This year, instead of feeling stressed from all the things you have to do, why not take a break from the holiday stress?  EFT tapping is a powerful tool that can release stress, relax the body and calm the nervous system. I recommend you pick the same time each day when you can tap. For example, you can tap when you first wake up in the morning, or while in the shower, or when you are stuck in traffic or just before you go to bed.  By picking the same time each day, it becomes part of your routine and it will be easier to remember to do. With just three simple rounds of tapping, you will start to notice a difference in how you feel. Three rounds of tapping take about five minutes to complete. We can all find 5 minutes during the busy holiday season to do something for ourselves.

You can tap prior to a stressful event or just after something happened where you feel upset or emotionally drained. Sometimes just thinking about what might happen can cause us to get tense.  For example, on the way to a family gathering where you know there will be tension, take a few minutes to tap in the car before you go into the house. That way, you are sending your body the signal to remain calm and relaxed no matter what happens. If you find yourself stressed-out after a work-related gathering, take a few minutes when you get home to tap on the angst that you are feeling. You will be amazed how your perspective shifts for the better with just a few rounds of tapping. To review the tapping points, click here.

Most people that try to tap are often concerned what to say. Here is a simple script you can use. Start on the karate chop point. You will create a set-up statement to begin your tapping round. For example, “Even though I am” [insert what you are feeling in that moment]. Maybe you are annoyed, frustrated, resentful, angry, hurt, etc. Tune into what you are feeling and insert it into the first part of the sentence. Here is an example, “Even though I am feeling annoyed with this family member, I choose to” [insert what you would like to have happen or choose a more positive outcome than what you are feeling now]. Some examples could include:  I choose to be open to having a good time or I choose to remain calm and relaxed.

Now you put the two parts of the sentence together; “Even though I am really annoyed at this person, I choose to remain calm and relaxed.”   Repeat this statement three times as you tap on the karate chop point.  It’s important to choose how you want to respond. You cannot choose for another person. That means it won’t work to say, I choose that Suzie will stop annoying me. Instead you want to say, I choose to release the need to be triggered by Suzie.

After repeating your setup statement three times, tap on all of the points. As you tap, think quietly to yourself or say out loud what you are feeling. Some examples could be: She drives me crazy, I hate having to spend time with her, I don’t know how I am going to get thru this day and it’s the same old pattern every year. It doesn’t matter what you say. What matters is that you think or express what you are feeling.  Tune into that feeling as you tap on the points. After three rounds of tapping, you should feel your body relax a bit. If you feel like you need to do more tapping, do so. The more you do, the better you will feel.

Take a break from the stress over the holidays. Give EFT tapping a try. Use the tapping to release the stress or negative emotions associated with any situation you encounter. Next time you hear the song with the lyrics, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” maybe you will smile and even believe it.

To learn more how EFT Tapping can work for you, contact Juanita at  image3@nycap.rr.com to schedule your free 20 minute strategy session.