Here’s how The Setup works.
There
are two parts to it...
1.
You
repeat an affirmation 3 times while you...
2.
Rub the
"Sore Spot" or, alternatively, tap the "Karate Chop" point (these will
be explained
shortly).
The
Affirmation
Since
the cause of Psychological Reversal involves negative thinking it should
be no surprise that the correction for it includes a neutralizing
affirmation. Such is the case and here it is.
Even
though I have this _____________,
I
deeply and completely love and accept myself.
The
blank is filled in with a brief description of the problem you want to
address. Here are some
examples.
**Even though I have this fear of public speaking, I deeply and
completely love and accept myself.
**Even though I have this headache, I deeply and completely love and
accept myself.
**Even though I have this anger towards my father, I deeply and
completely love and accept myself.
**Even though I have this war memory, I deeply and completely love and
accept myself.
**Even though I have this stiffness in my neck, I deeply and completely
love and accept myself.
**Even though I have these nightmares, I deeply and completely love and
accept myself.
**Even though I have this craving for alcohol, I deeply and completely
love and accept myself.
**Even though I have this fear of snakes, I deeply and completely love
and accept myself.
**Even though I have this depression, I deeply and completely love and
accept myself.
This is
only a partial list, of course, because the possible issues that are
addressable by EFT are endless. I apply various forms of this
affirmation. You may hear us use affirmations like...
**"I
accept myself even though I have this_________." or
**"Even though I have this ____________, I deeply and profoundly accept
myself."
or
**"I
love and accept myself even though I have this_______________."
All of
these affirmations are correct because they follow the same general
format. That is....they acknowledge the problem and create self
acceptance despite the existence of the problem. That is what's
necessary for the affirmation to be effective. You can use any of them
but I suggest you use the recommended one because it is easily
memorizable and has a good track record at getting the job done. Now
here are some interesting points about the affirmation...
**It
doesn't matter whether you believe the affirmation or not....just say
it.
**It is
better to say it with feeling and emphasis but saying it routinely will
usually do the job.
**It is
best to say it out loud but if you are in a social situation where you
prefer to mutter it under your breath....or do it silently....then go
ahead. It will probably be effective.
To add
to the effectiveness of the affirmation, The Setup also includes the
simultaneous rubbing
of a
"Sore Spot"....or....tapping on the "Karate Chop" point. They are
described next.
The
Sore Spot
There
are two Sore Spots and it doesn't matter which one you use. They are
located in the upper left and right portions of the chest and you find
them as follows:
Go to
the base of the throat about where a man would knot his tie. Poke around
in this area and you will find a U shaped notch at the top of your
sternum (breastbone). From the top of that notch go down 3 inches toward
your navel and over 3 inches to your left (or right). You should now be
in the upper left (or right) portion of your chest. If you press
vigorously in that area (within a 2 inch radius) you will find a "Sore
Spot." This is the place you will need to rub while saying the
affirmation.
This
spot is sore when you rub it vigorously because lymphatic congestion
occurs there. When you rub it, you are dispersing that congestion.
Fortunately, after a few episodes the congestion is all dispersed and
the soreness goes away. Then you can rub it with no discomfort
whatsoever. I don't mean to overplay the soreness you may feel. It's not
like you will have massive, intense pain by rubbing this Sore Spot. It
is certainly bearable and should cause no undue discomfort. If it does,
then lighten up your pressure a little.
Also,
if you've had some kind of operation in that area of the chest or if
there's any medical
reason
whatsoever why you shouldn't be probing around in that specific area
then switch to the other side. Both sides are equally effective. In any
case, if there is any doubt, consult your health practitioner before
proceeding....or....tap the "Karate Chop" point instead.
The
Karate Chop Point
The
Karate Chop point (abbreviated KC) is located at the center of the
fleshy part of the
outside
of your hand (either hand) between the top of the wrist and the base of
the baby
finger
or....stated differently....the part of your hand you would use to
deliver a karate chop.
Instead
of rubbing it as you would the Sore Spot, you vigorously tap the Karate
Chop point
with
the fingertips of the index finger and middle finger of the other hand.
While you could use the Karate Chop point of either hand, it is usually
most convenient to tap the Karate Chop point of the non-dominant hand
with the two fingertips of the dominant hand. If you are right handed,
for example, you would tap the Karate Chop point on the left hand with
the fingertips of the right hand. Should you use the Sore Spot or the
Karate Chop point? After years of experience with both methods, it has
been determined that rubbing the Sore Spot is a bit more effective than
tapping the Karate Chop point. It doesn't have a commanding lead by any
means but it is preferred. Because The Setup is so important in clearing
the way for the rest of The Basic Recipe to work, I urge you to use the
Sore Spot rather than the Karate Chop point. It puts the odds a little
more in your favor. However, the Karate Chop point is perfectly useful
and will clear out any interfering blockage in the vast majority of
cases. So feel free to use it if the Sore Spot is inappropriate for any
reason.
Stepping Through It Now that you understand the parts to The Setup,
performing it is easy. You create a word or short phrase to fill in the
blank in the affirmation and then...simply repeat the affirmation, with
emphasis, 3 times while continuously rubbing the Sore Spot or tapping
the Karate Chop point. That's it. After a few practice rounds, you
should be able to perform The Setup in 8 seconds or so. Now, with The
Setup properly performed, you are ready for the next ingredient in The
Basic Recipe....The Sequence.
Ingredient #2...The Sequence
The
Sequence is very simple in concept. It involves tapping on the end
points of the major energy meridians in the body and is the method by
which the "zzzzzt" in the energy system is balanced
out.
Before locating these points for you, however, you need a few tips on
how to carry out the tapping process.
Tapping
tips: You can tap with either hand but it is usually more convenient to
do so with your dominant hand (e.g. right hand if you are right handed).
Tap
with the fingertips of your index finger and middle finger. This covers
a little larger area than just tapping with one fingertip and allows you
to cover the tapping points more easily. Tap solidly but never so hard
as to hurt or bruise yourself.
Tap
about 7 times on each of the tapping points. I say about 7 times because
you will be repeating a "reminder phrase" (covered later) while tapping
and it will be difficult to count at the same time. If you are a little
over or a little under 7 (5 to 9, for example) that will be sufficient.
Most of
the tapping points exist on either side of the body. It doesn't matter
which side you use nor does it matter if you switch sides during The
Sequence. For example, you can tap under your right eye and, later in
The Sequence, tap under your left arm.
The
points: Each energy meridian has two end points. For the purposes of The
Basic Recipe, you need only tap on one end to balance out any
disruptions that may exist in it. These end points are near the surface
of the body and are thus more readily accessed than other points along
the meridians that may be more deeply buried. What follows are
instructions on how to locate the end points of those meridians that are
important to The Basic Recipe. Taken together....and done in the order
presented....they form The Sequence.
**At
the beginning of the eyebrow, just above and to one side of the nose.
This point is abbreviated EB for beginning of the EyeBrow.
**On
the bone bordering the outside corner of the eye. This point is
abbreviated SE for Side of the Eye.
**On
the bone under an eye about 1 inch below your pupil. This point is
abbreviated UE for
Under the Eye.
**On
the small area between the bottom of your nose and the top of your upper
lip. This point is abbreviated UN for Under the Nose.
**Midway between the point of your chin and the bottom of your lower
lip. Even though it is not directly on the point of the chin, we call it
the chin point because it is descriptive enough for people to understand
easily. This point is abbreviated Ch for Chin.
**The junction where the sternum (breastbone), collarbone and the first
rib meet. To locate it, first place your forefinger on the U-shaped
notch at the top of the breastbone (about where a man would knot his
tie). From the bottom of the U, move your forefinger down toward the
navel 1 inch and then go to the left (or right) 1 inch. This point is
abbreviated CB for CollarBone even though it is not on the collarbone
(or clavicle) per se. It is at the beginning of the collarbone and we
call it the collarbone point because that is a lot easier to say than
"the junction where the sternum (breastbone), collarbone and the first
rib meet."
**On
the side of the body, at a point even with the nipple (for men) or in
the middle of the bra strap (for women). It is about 4 inches below the
armpit. This point is abbreviated UA for Under the Arm.
**For men, one inch below the nipple. For ladies, where the underskin of
the breast meets the chest wall. This point is abbreviated BN for Below
Nipple. As discussed below, this point has been added for this edition.
BN
**On
the outside edge of your thumb at a point even with the base of the
thumbnail. This point is abbreviated Th for Thumb.
**On
the side of your index finger (the side facing your thumb) at a point
even with the base of the fingernail.
This point is abbreviated IF for Index Finger.
**On
the side of your middle finger (the side closest to your thumb) at a
point even with the base of the fingernail. This point is abbreviated MF
for Middle Finger.
**On
the inside of your baby finger (the side closest to your thumb) at a
point even with the base of the fingernail. This point is abbreviated BF
for Baby Finger.
**The last point is the karate chop point....which has been previously
described under the section on The Setup. It is located in the middle of
the fleshy part on the outside of the hand between the top of the wrist
bone and the base of the baby finger. It is abbreviated KC for Karate
Chop.
The
abbreviations for these points are summarized below in the same order as
given above.
EB =
Beginning of the EyeBrow
SE =
Side of the Eye
UE =
Under the Eye
UN =
Under the Nose
Ch =
Chin
CB =
Beginning of the CollarBone
UA =
Under the Arm
BN =
Below the Nipple
Th =
Thumb
IF =
Index Finger
MF =
Middle Finger
BF =
Baby Finger
KC =
Karate Chop
Please
notice that these tapping points proceed down the body. That is, each
tapping point is below the one before it. That should make it a snap to
memorize. A few trips through it and it should be yours forever.
Ingredient #3...The 9 Gamut Procedure
The 9
Gamut Procedure is, perhaps, the most bizarre looking process within EFT.
Its purpose is to "fine tune" the brain and it does so via some eye
movements and some humming and counting. Through connecting nerves,
certain parts of the brain are stimulated when the eyes are moved.
Likewise the right side of the brain (the creative side) is engaged when
you hum a song and the left side (the digital side) is engaged when you
count. The 9 Gamut Procedure is a 10 second process wherein 9 of these
"brain stimulating" actions are performed while continuously tapping on
one of the body's energy points.....the Gamut point. It has been found,
after years of experience, that this routine can add efficiency to EFT
and hastens your progress towards emotional freedom....especially when
sandwiched between 2 trips through The Sequence.
One way
to help memorize The Basic Recipe is to look at it as though it was a
ham sandwich. The Setup is the preparation for the ham sandwich and the
sandwich itself consists of two slices of bread (The Sequence) with the
ham, or middle portion, as the 9 Gamut Procedure. It looks like this...
The
Setup
The
Ham The Sequence (Bread)
Sandwich 9 Gamut (Ham)
The
Sequence (Bread)
To do
the 9 Gamut Procedure, you must first locate the Gamut point. It is on
the back of either hand and is 1/2 inch behind the midpoint between the
knuckles at the base of the ring finger and the little finger. If you
draw an imaginary line between the knuckles at the base of the ring
finger and little finger and consider that line to be the base of an
equilateral triangle whose other sides converge to a point (apex) in the
direction of the wrist, then the gamut point would be located at the
apex of the triangle.
Next,
you must perform 9 different actions while tapping the Gamut point
continuously. The 9 Gamut actions are:
1.
Eyes
closed.
2.
Eyes
open.
3.
Eyes
hard down right while holding the head steady.
4.
Eyes
hard down left while holding the head steady.
5.
Roll
eyes in a circle as though your nose was at the center of a clock and
you were trying to see
all
the numbers in order.
6.
Same
as #5 only reverse the direction in which you roll your eyes.
7.
Hum
2 seconds of a song (suggest Happy Birthday).
8.
Count rapidly from 1 to 5.
9.
Hum
2 seconds of a song again.
Note
that these 9 actions are presented in a certain order and I suggest that
you memorize them in the order given. However, you can mix the order up
if you wish so long as you do all 9 of them....and....you perform 7, 8
and 9 as a unit. That is, you hum 2 seconds of a song...then
count...then hum the song again, in that order. Years of experience have
proven this to be important.
Also,
note that for some people humming Happy Birthday causes resistance
because it brings up memories of unhappy birthdays. In this case, you
can either use EFT on those unhappy memories and resolve them…or…you can
side step this issue for now by having them hum some other song.
Ingredient #4...The Sequence (again)
The
fourth...and last...ingredient in The Basic Recipe was mentioned above.
It is an identical trip through The Sequence. The Reminder Phrase
Once
memorized, The Basic Recipe becomes a lifetime friend. It can be applied
to an almost endless list of emotional and physical problems and
provides relief from most of them. However, there's one more concept we
need to develop before we can apply The Basic Recipe to a given problem.
It's called the Reminder Phrase.
When a
football quarterback throws a pass he aims it at a particular receiver.
He doesn't just throw the ball in the air and hope someone will catch
it. Likewise, The Basic Recipe needs to be aimed at a specific problem.
Otherwise, it will bounce around aimlessly with little or no effect. You
"aim" The Basic Recipe by applying it while "tuned in" to the problem
from which you want relief. This tells your system which problem needs
to be the receiver. Remember the discovery statement which states...The
cause of all negative emotions is a disruption in the body's energy
system."Negative emotions come about because you are tuned into certain
thoughts or circumstances which, in turn, cause your energy system to
disrupt. Otherwise, you function normally. One's fear of heights is not
present, for example, while one is reading the comic section of the
Sunday newspaper (and therefore not tuned in to the problem). Tuning in
to a problem can be done by simply thinking about it. In fact, tuning in
means thinking about it. Thinking about the problem will bring about the
energy disruptions involved which then....and only then....can be
balanced by applying The Basic Recipe. Without tuning in to the
problem....thereby creating those energy disruptions....The Basic Recipe
does nothing. Tuning in is seemingly a very simple process. You merely
think about the problem while applying The Basic Recipe. That's it....at
least in theory. However, you may find it a bit difficult to consciously
think about the problem while you are tapping, humming, counting, etc.
That's why I'm introducing a Reminder Phrase that you can repeat
continually while you are performing The Basic Recipe. The Reminder
Phrase is simply a word or short phrase that describes the problem and
that you repeat out loud each time you tap one of the points in The
Sequence. In this way you continually "remind" your system about the
problem you are working on. The best Reminder Phrase to use is usually
identical to what you choose for the affirmation
you use
in The Setup. For example, if you are working on a fear of public
speaking, The Setup affirmation would go like this....
Even
though I have this fear of public speaking, I deeply and completely love
and accept myself.
Within
this affirmation, the underlined words....fear of public speaking....are
ideal candidates for use as the Reminder Phrase.
You may
notice that Adrienne and I sometimes use a bit shorter version of this
Reminder Phrase when dealing with people on the tapes included with this
course. We might, for example, use "public speaking fear" or just
"public speaking" instead of the somewhat longer version above. That's
just one of the shortcuts we have grown accustomed to after years of
experience with these techniques. For your purposes, however, you can
simplify your life by just using the identical words for the Reminder
Phrase as you use for the affirmation in The Setup. That way you will
minimize any possibility for error. Now here's an interesting point that
you will most certainly notice on the audiotapes and some
of the
videos. When Adrienne and I are helping people with EFT we don't always
have them repeat a Reminder Phrase. That's because we have discovered
over time that simply stating the affirmation during The Setup is
usually sufficient to "tune in" to the problem at hand. The subconscious
mind usually locks on to the problem throughout The Basic Recipe even
though all the tapping, humming, counting, etc. would seem to be
distracting.
But
this is not always true and, with our extensive training and experience,
we are able to recognize whether or not using the Reminder Phrase is
necessary. As stated, it is not usually necessary but....when it is
necessary it is really necessary and must be used.
What's
beautiful about EFT is that you don't need to have our experience in
this regard. You don't have to be able to figure out whether or not the
Reminder Phrase is necessary. You can just assume it is always necessary
and thereby assure yourself of always being tuned in to the problem by
simply repeating the Reminder Phrase as instructed. It does no harm to
repeat the Reminder Phrase when it is not necessary and will serve as an
invaluable tool when it is. This is part of the 100% overhaul concept
mentioned earlier. We do many things in each round of The Basic Recipe
that may not be necessary for a given problem. But when a particular
part of The Basic Recipe is necessary...it is absolutely critical. It
does no harm to include everything...even what may be unnecessary...and
it only takes 1 minute per round. This includes always repeating the
Reminder Phrase each time you tap a point during The Sequence. It costs
nothing to include it....not even time....because it can be repeated
within the same time it takes to tap each energy point 7 times.
This
concept about the Reminder Phrase is an easy one. But just to be
complete, I am including a
few
samples below:
**headache
**anger towards my father
**war memory
**stiffness in my neck
**nightmares
**craving for alcohol
**fear of snakes
**depression
Subsequent Round Adjustments
Let's
say you are using The Basic Recipe for some problem (fear, headache,
anger, etc.).
Sometimes the problem will simply vanish after just one round while, at
other times, one round provides only partial relief. When only partial
relief is obtained, you will need to do one or more additional rounds.
Those
subsequent rounds need to be adjusted slightly for best results. Here's
why: One of the main reasons why the first round doesn't always
completely eliminate a problem is because of the re-emergence of
Psychological Reversal...that interfering blockage that The Setup is
designed to correct.
This
time, Psychological Reversal shows up in a somewhat different form.
Instead of blocking your progress altogether it now blocks any remaining
progress. You have already made some headway but become stopped part way
toward complete relief because Psychological Reversal enters in a manner
that keeps you from getting any better still.
Since
the subconscious mind tends to be very literal, the subsequent rounds of
The Basic Recipe need to address the fact that you are working on the
remaining problem. Accordingly, the affirmation contained within The
Setup needs to be adjusted as does the
Reminder Phrase.
Here's
the adjusted format for The Setup affirmation:
Even
though I still have some of this __________,
I
deeply and completely love and accept myself.
Please
note the emphasized words (still & some) and how they change the thrust
of the affirmation toward the remainder of the problem. It should be
easy to make this adjustment and, after a little experience, you will
fall into it quite naturally.
Study
the adjusted affirmations below. They reflect adjustments to the
original affirmations
shown
earlier in this section.
**Even
though I still have some of this fear of public speaking, I deeply and
completely love and accept myself.
**Even
though I still have some of this headache, I deeply and completely love
and accept myself.
**Even
though I still have some of this anger towards my father, I deeply and
completely love and accept myself.
**Even
though I still have some of this war memory, I deeply and completely
love and accept myself.
**Even
though I still have some of this stiffness in my neck, I deeply and
completely love and accept myself.
**Even
though I still have some of these nightmares, I deeply and completely
love and accept myself.
**Even
though I still have some of this craving for alcohol, I deeply and
completely love and accept myself.
**Even
though I still have some of this fear of snakes, I deeply and completely
love and accept myself.
**Even
though I still have some of this depression, I deeply and completely
love and accept myself.
The
Reminder Phrase is also easily adjusted. Just put the word remaining
before the previously
used
phrase. Here, as examples, are adjusted versions of the previous
Reminder Phrases.
**remaining headache
**remaining anger towards my father
**remaining war memory
**remaining stiffness in my neck
**remaining nightmares
**remaining craving for alcohol
**remaining fear of snakes
**remaining depression
Q. How
can I keep up to date with the latest advances in EFT?
Although you can generate impressive results with EFT, you must
recognize that you are just beginning. EFT is capable of far more than
what you are learning in this course. Here are 3 resources:
1.
www.emofree.com/products.htm for a list of advanced video products.
2.
www.emofree.com/tutorial.htm for a description of some of the latest
techniques and findings.
3.
www.emofree.com/faq.htm for a list of frequently asked questions.