Tapping summary

Tap, breathe, and feel better. Can it really be that simple? Actually, yes, it can! 

In the following exercises, we’ll introduce you to the tapping points. Typical energy psychology protocols involve tapping on seven to 12 acupuncture points while focusing on a specific issue or repeating certain phrases. According to traditional Chinese medicine, each point corresponds to different emotional and physical benefits. For instance, tapping on the top of your head is said to help counter frustration and depression, while tapping on the side of your eye improves clarity and decision-making.

Imagine you’re about to step onto a stage. Your heart is racing, your palms sweaty. But instead of panicking, you tap a few points on your body. Suddenly, you’re calm and collected. Welcome to the world of tapping.

The basic tapping protocol is a straightforward yet effective method for addressing elusive goals, excessive emotional reactions, and long-standing patterns resistant to change. It’s designed to help you recognize and update guiding models that no longer serve you.

Imagine unlocking the ability to calm your mind and heal emotional wounds with just a few taps on your body. This is precisely what the tapping cycle aims to achieve. While the basic protocol is effective for many, some issues require a more tailored approach, which brings us to adjusting the protocol.

First, you might try modifying your acceptance statement. This statement bridges your unconscious and conscious mind, helping bring deeply embedded patterns into awareness. Initially, your acceptance statement might have been something like, “Even though I forgot my lines during the school play, I deeply and completely accept myself.” If your distress level has decreased but not entirely, you could tweak it by adding the words “still” and “some” to acknowledge lingering feelings. If possible, also incorporate the name of the specific emotion that’s embedded in your memory. For example: “Even though I still have some shame about forgetting my lines, I deeply and completely accept myself.” Naming the emotion, like shame or terror, helps pinpoint what you’re truly feeling. Repeat this revised statement while carrying out the tapping protocol as usual.

The tapping technique has shown remarkable efficacy in addressing various forms of psychological distress, including worry, but also anxiety, depression, and PTSD. While tapping can be used for many issues and concerns, here we’ll just focus on the particularly common issue of worry.

Worry is a universal human experience, rooted in our evolutionary past. Excessive worry can progress from a useful focusing of attention to rumination about potential problems or obsession over things beyond our control. This mental state often stems from overestimating the likelihood of negative outcomes or jumping to worst-case scenarios. Fortunately, tapping can help. By tapping on specific acupuncture points while focusing on the worry, you can send deactivating signals to your brain’s fear centers, reducing the emotional intensity of your concerns.