7 Hidden Mistakes to Avoid when You Do Emotional Freedom Technique

I’m a great believer that it’s almost impossible to do Emotional Freedom Technique the “wrong” way – provided you get the basics right! If certain foundational rules of EFT are shoved under the rug you won’t make progress quickly enough, or end up with the permanent healing you deserve. You might even get burnt out – which would definitely be detrimental to your health. Here are the seven mistakes:
1. Relying on the “one minute wonder” that Emotional Freedom Technique is Famous for: Yes, it can happen – we enjoy it when it does, but don’t bet your life on it. Don’t fall into the trap of, “I did it a few times but nothing happened”. Persistence is often the name of the game.

2. Agonizing over the words: Some of my clients tell me, “Your words are amazing…I can’t copy them.” Guess what? Your words are more important than mine. We each have our unique style, and as long as you’re focusing on the issue, simple words from the heart will always be successful. And your inner self is a lot more tuned in than you think.

3. Overlooking your Successes: It’s sometimes difficult to appreciate small gains if we’re not yet at the finish line. Big mistake! The more grateful we are for the baby steps, the more opportunities we’ll have to experience the giant steps that will inevitably catch up with us.

4. Not Knocking it Down to Zero: It’s tempting to call it quits after we’ve achieved significant relief while doing EFT. If your frustration with your boss/your headache/ or your fear of crowded subways has come down from ten to four it’s time to celebrate – and time to get it down to zero ASAP! Hint: The closer your SUDS level is to zero, the higher the likelihood that healing will be permanent.

5. Impatience: This is different from #1 because it points to a general attitude. While you’re persistently tapping for a specific issue, you might still be nervously watching the clock and wondering when you’ll finally be finished with this. While your question is valid, it actually hinders healing. While you’re focusing on “this is taking forever” the Law of Attraction obliges you with “taking forever.” It’s a much more beneficial strategy to give yourself permission to have all the time & space you need.

6. Mistaking Success for Failure: I was working with a client on an anger issue, and she was an absolute sponge for EFT. When I felt we’re done I asked her to assess the intensity of her anger. It had been a ten, and I felt it was zero, or close to it. She responded, “It’s not working – it’s still a ten.” Oops! What had gone wrong? I asked her, “Lisa, you’re still so angry?” She replied, “Angry? I’m not angry at all! But I’m so sad…” Here’s the lesson to be learned: Tune in to the specific issue you were working on. Acknowledge your successes, and then move on to deal with other emotions that often surface.

7. Self-Acceptance Issues Get in the Way: Before I begin a round of Emotional Freedom Technique I ask my clients to say, “I completely & deeply love & accept myself” and then asses their number. One client banged on the table and shouted, “It’s a ten! I hate myself!” If your number is not a zero, you can still be totally successful doing EFT – but do rephrase the acceptance piece to reflect your feelings. Here are some examples: “I love & accept myself the best that I can.” / “I accept myself with compassion.”/ “I can visualize accepting myself in the future.” Remember, you can never fool your subconscious mind!

Here’s a “Bonus Mistake”: Don’t be hard on yourself if you happen to detect that you’ve made some mistakes while doing EFT, and above all, don’t let it slow you down. Learn from them – that’s what they’re there for, and dive right back into EFT healing!