You are currently browsing the tag archive for the ‘Stress’ tag.
I was recently amused by a friend on Facebook. They had the following image on their page:
Being Welsh, it amused me no end. I have said this phrase often myself! 
That got me thinking about other similar sayings like the Spanish “mañana” or the Cornish: “I’ll do it dreckly”! Then I realised how frustrating it can be to hear phrases such as this.
If we are expecting something to be done immediately or by a certain time we can get quite angry if it isn’t done when expected. So what can we do instead?
Tap of course!
Try the following:
- Even though I’m really angry that they took so long to fix my {object}, I can choose to stay calm about this
- Even though I’m frustrated that they haven’t finished working on my {object}, I’m ok
- Even though they let me down because they haven’t delivered what they promised, I accept myself and this situation anyway
- Even though I feel disappointed that they missed their deadline, I’m open to accepting this situation
Remember to be as specific as possible and keep tapping on all the emotions that come up.
There is also another aspect to this. When we say phrases such as this ourselves, what are trying to do?
Are we trying to put off the task by being vague? Do we not want to do it and therefore deliberately avoid a proper answer. Do we not think we are able to commit and complete when expected? Just practice asking yourself these questions the next time you say one of these phrases, and notice what is going on for you.
There is also the possibility that we need to lighten up and relax a little! Perhaps deadlines are a bit of an issue for you? Ask yourself what it is that you find comforting about having exact deadlines and tap around that to see if you are able to let go… All good food for thought
Keep tapping
Louise
07866 013 637
louise@freeflowingenergy.co.uk
So I was feeling kind of wobbly and a bit out of sorts. My usual “tool” would be to start tapping. Today felt different. I felt like I needed to get out and get some fresh air. It was cold and starting to sleet. I wrapped myself up in coat, hood and gloves and started walking. I walked in my local park and connected with the river. I stood and just watched it. I felt the constancy of the water flowing. I felt the wonderful energy of the water, trees and plants.
Daffodils, snowdrops and crocuses were starting to appear. I felt a wonderful sense of aliveness and new life. I breathed in deeply and appreciated everything around me. Everything else just seemed to disappear. My problems faded into the background.
Today I was helped by mother nature and I felt very grateful for this experience.
Flowing River
I know that EFT is always there for me. Sometimes a walk in the park can help too. Sometimes combining the two is even more powerful – tapping in nature, surrounded by all that wonderful energy
Do you have somewhere special where you go to connect with nature and indeed yourself? I’d love to hear your experiences too.
Keep tapping
Louise
07866 013 637
louise@freeflowingenergy.co.uk
I know you say it every year to yourself…next year I will start my Christmas shopping and preparation earlier. I’ve done it myself. Well sometimes things come up that you weren’t expecting or time just seems to fly by and before you know it Christmas is only 10 days away and there is still much to do! Stay calm.
Instead of getting stressed or having a flap, why not take some time out and do some tapping. Yes I know you’ve got a million and one other things to do…but 5 or 10 minutes can make a difference! You’ll feel better afterwards and probably be able to think clearer.
Rate your current stress level and then try tapping along with the following:
- Even though I’ve left things too late again, I’m open to accepting myself anyway
- Even though I’m feeling stressed because I didn’t start my shopping in time, I’m open to giving myself a break
- Even though I’m so stressed because I’ve got far too much to do and not enough time, I’m ok
Eyebrow: I should’ve started earlier
Side of Eye: Why do I always leave it to the last-minute
Under Eye: It makes me so stressed every year
Under Nose: It’s so stressful why don’t I plan things better
Chin: I promised myself I’d start earlier this year
Collarbone: Why is it so hard for me to stick to my plans
Under Arm: It’s so stressful at this time of year
Top of Head: I don’t have enough time left to finish all my shopping and preparations
Eyebrow: I’m open to letting it be easier
Side of Eye: Maybe I can get it all done
Under Eye: Maybe if I plan things better, I’ll feel less stressed
Under Nose: What if I got some help
Chin: I can choose to feel different
Collarbone: Maybe I can feel calmer
Under Arm: What if I got myself better organised
Top of Head: I’m open to getting all my shopping done and staying calm
Remember to keep tapping until you feel better. Notice your stress level after the tapping. Focus on any particular aspects that are stressing you out. If it is all the Christmas cards you have to write then tap on that. If it is all the hustle and bustle at the shops that really stresses you out then focus on that. You get the idea – be more specific with your tapping.
I hope your Christmas preparations go well.
Keep tapping!
Louise
07866 013 637
louise@freeflowingenergy.co.uk
Where do you go when you want to get away from it all?
Where do you escape to when life gets too much?
Do you need to go to a physical place to get that sense of peace and quiet?
I used to love going to a particular beach and sit staring out at sea to contemplate life and think, when I needed that space. I no longer live right by the sea, so I have a particular spot in a park that I go to which is right by a river and some wonderful trees. For me whenever I feel I want to stop the world I feel I need to connect with nature. I feel being in nature I connect to my true self and can allow my thoughts to settle and gain some clarity and inner peace.
But we can also create this kind of space within us. We can create our own inner sanctuary where we can go when we need to escape at any time. It might be based on an actual place we have been or seen. Or we can be completely creative and create a space completely from our imagination.
What does the landscape of your inner sanctuary look like? Is it a beach, a lake, a river, a mountain or a desert? Or is it a city scene? Are there any other people around or you are alone? Are there birds or animals there?
You don’t even have to limit yourself to one sanctuary, you could have several depending on your mood and needs at the time you want to get away from it all. Or it could be one sanctuary where the seasons change the landscape around you.
The important thing is that you create a space where you feel calm and connected with yourself. A place where you can feel inner peace. A place where you can think and gain clarity. A place where you can go whenever you need to get away from it all. A place that is just yours.
inner sanctuary
Use this inner sanctuary at times of stress or anxiety. Use it whenever you feel overwhelmed by life and you need time alone. Use it when you need to make a decision or contemplate choices. Use it when you want to feel connected to yourself.
I love using my inner sanctuary to help me escape from the world and connect to myself.
I would love to hear about your experiences with your inner sanctuary.
Keep tapping
Louise
07866 013 637
louise@freeflowingenergy.co.uk
How many times have you procrastinated or put things off because you have dreaded doing them? Or just found that other things keep getting in the way and stopping you doing that one thing you must do today? In my experience whenever I have done this, the thing I had to do has always been easier than I imagined it. Our imaginations are very good at creating the worst case scenario or making the task seem more difficult.
After the task is accomplished I often think that was easier than I though it would be. I’d imagined the task to be much more complicated, more time-consuming and to challenge me much more etc. The next time you find yourself putting something off, procrastinating or just outright avoiding doing something, ask yourself why?
Ask yourself if you have imagined it will take too long, be too complicated, cause you too much stress etc. Then do some gentle tapping to help you let go of these things your imagination is putting in the way of you completing your task.
Example tapping statements:
- Even though I don’t have enough time to do this task, it’ll take way too long and demand too much of me, I accept my feelings anyway
- Even though I’m procrastinating over this task, I choose to let go of all my worries and concerns about it
- Even though I keep finding myself doing lots of other things instead of that one thing I know I really need to do, I accept myself anyway
- Even though I know I really should do that task, I feel far too stressed to actually start it right now and I’m willing to accept all my feelings about this
- Even though my imagination has made this task into a monster, I choose to go easy on myself and trust I can do it
Remember to tap using your own words whenever possible. Really tune in to how you feel and why you keep putting your tasks off. Keep tapping until you feel all your fears, worries, doubts etc have gone and you feel ready to do your task.
You can use your imagination to imagine your task is now really easy to complete. But always tap away any fears, doubts, worries and stress first.
Keep tapping
Louise
07866 013 637
louise@freeflowingenergy.co.uk
Many people report that when they are upset, worried, scared, anxious etc they hold their breath. This is not something we do consciously but we often become aware of it after a little while. What we are less aware of is when we do it without realising it. We very often breathe too shallowly anyway and again most people aren’t aware of doing it. So a good practice to take up is to do some deep breathing every day.
Pick something that you will remember easily such as checking your breathing every time you go to the bathroom or answer the phone. Then just spend a minute or two focusing on your breathing. Breathing in and out slowly and deeply through your nose. Whenever you notice your breathing throughout your day, choose to breathe slowly and deeply.
Make it a habit to check your breath regularly throughout your day. This is an easy way to reduce stress and anxiety and increase our energy levels.
Louise
07866 013 637
louise@freeflowingenergy.co.uk
Have you ever felt too overwhelmed by your emotions? You feel like you can’t even admit to yourself that you have feelings about this situation because if you did they would all come flooding out and you just wouldn’t be able to cope.
When we feel this way we often stuff our emotions down because they feel too painful or overwhelming to deal with. But that can often lead to those feelings leaching out in other ways. Our shoulders become really tight and knotty, we have an ache in our stomach or we get bad headaches or migraines. This is our body’s way of telling us we need to deal with our feelings.
It can feel too scary to begin to address these feelings because we don’t want to feel out of control or overwhelmed by them. So firstly, please be very gentle with yourself.
You might find the following tapping helpful:
- Even though it feels too painful to begin to deal with {this situation/these emotions}, I’m willing to be very gentle with myself
- Even though I feel too overwhelmed by these emotions to begin dealing with them, I’m open to feeling safe and in control
- Even though I can’t even admit to myself that I have these feelings, I’m willing to be kind and gentle with myself
Tap a few rounds of these type of statements until you feel calmer and more in control. Then try:
- Even though I know I’ve been suppressing all these emotions, I choose to be able to let them out slowly in a way I can handle
- Even though my body has been holding these emotions for me, I choose to be able to calmly let them be heard now
- Even though these emotions have felt too painful and I’ve been scared of being overwhelmed by them, I choose to allow them out in a safe way now
Once you feel calmer about being able to deal with the situation/emotions then you can start tapping on them. You don’t have to dive right in and start tapping on them straightaway. You can even start by using very generic tapping statements like:
- Even though I have all these emotions, I accept myself and my feelings
- Even though these emotions have been difficult to face, I’m ready to deal with them now
Keep tapping using these generic statements until you feel you are ready to be more specific and get into the emotions themselves. Remember you are in control and can stop anytime if they start to feel too painful or overwhelming. You can of course tap on the feelings being too overwhelming and painful again.
EFT can be very gentle if used in this way. EFT is not designed to help us tough it out and push us on when we don’t feel ready. It is there to help us feel we can deal with our emotions safely and at a rate we can handle.
Remember to keep breathing and drink plenty of water.
Keep tapping and be gentle with yourself.
Louise
07866 013 637
louise@freeflowingenergy.co.uk
With life rushing by us at such a hectic pace, it is hard to take time out. But we can all manage to find 5 minutes for ourselves in a day. What to do with that 5 minutes?
- You can sit quietly and just breathe – watch your breath going in and out
- You can tap several rounds on an issue that bothering you
- You can just tap – don’t tune in to anything in particular and don’t say anything – just tap
- You can tap in some positive affirmations
- You can tap in some gratitude – speak out loud all the things you are grateful for
You see, you don’t need an hour. Most people would struggle to find that amount of time for themselves every day. Even the busiest of people can find 5 minutes a day.
Take 5
I hope this encourages you to take some much-needed time for yourself. We all face so many pressures, demands and stress. It is so important to do something to combat that every day. Doing something that takes just 5 minutes is one way of ensuring we do something beneficial.
What suggestions do you have for doing something for yourself in just 5 minutes a day?
Keep tapping
Louise
07866 013 637
louise@freeflowingenergy.co.uk
For the first time in two months I feel like my old self again. I have moved into a temporary home whilst mine is refurbished post fire. I am finally back into my old routine and it feels so good! It feels like I have returned back to reality. Whilst things are not progressing as fast as I would like with my house, I am at least back to functioning on a day-to-day basis like I was before. I am so grateful to have had EFT in my life to help me through this difficult period.
This got me thinking about routines in general and how they affect us when they are changed (whether by choice or otherwise). Many teachers struggle at this time of year, having had 6 weeks off it can be difficult getting back into the new term routine.
Routine
Here is a tapping script that can help you if you are struggling to get back into your old routine or even start a new one!
Tap on the Karate Chop whilst repeating three times:
- Even though I’m struggling to get into my routine, I’m open to accepting myself anyway
- Even though I can’t seem to get into the flow of things, I’m ok
- Even though I’m finding it hard to get going again, I accept my feelings about this
Eyebrow: I’m struggling to get into this routine
Side of Eye: I can’t seem to get going again
Under Eye: I’m feeling stressed about my routine
Under Nose: Why does it seem so hard?
Chin: I feel anxious because my routine doesn’t feel right
Collarbone: Why is it so hard to get back into it?
Under Arm: I can’t seem to slip back into my routine
Top of Head: This routine feels so difficult
Eyebrow: I’m open to allowing it to happen at its own pace
Side of Eye: Maybe it will get easier
Under Eye: Maybe I’m thinking about it too much
Under Nose: What if I took the pressure off myself a bit
Chin: I know this is a good routine for me
Collarbone: Maybe it will feel more natural soon
Under Arm: What if I just relaxed more
Top of Head: I wonder if I can enjoy this transition period
Remember to use your words where they are more appropriate and keep tapping to clear out any negative feelings you have before you try the positive reframes.
At different times our energy levels change and sometimes activities flow easily and at other times they seem like a struggle. Acknowledge things around you that could be influencing you, e.g. your energy levels, other people’s moods, the weather etc.
Keep tapping until you feel like you are in the swing of things!
Louise
07866 013 637
louise@freeflowingenergy.co.uk
Anxiety feels awful. You know that thinking about it makes it worse. You dread the anxiety escalating into a panic attack. You end up worrying about having anxiety or having a panic attack. Which in itself can bring on an attack!
Then you start to avoid certain situations and spend more time at home because it is easier than going through all that anxiety. The anxiety or worrying about the anxiety is very draining. It literally wears you out and you feel exhausted. Life becomes less enjoyable.
It doesn’t have to be this way. Learning EFT can really help you take control of your life again. You can use EFT to relax and calm your mind and body. You can reduce your symptoms e.g. fast beating heart, sweating, churning or knotty stomach, feeling sick, feeling like you will pass out etc. You can work on the triggers of your anxiety. This part is key. Working with a Practitioner can help you get to the underlying cause of the anxiety.
Figuring out when it started, what was going on in your life then etc. We can work very gently with any traumatic memories from your past with the movie technique. Working on these past memories helps clear out this stuck energy. Your body can then learn that it is safe now and let these symptoms go.
Tapping every day, helps restore calm and puts you back in control. Here are some suggestions to get you started.
- Even though I hate this anxiety and it feels so awful, I’m willing to accept myself anyway
- Even though I hate feeling so sick because of this anxiety, I’m ok right now
- Even though I can’t even go out for a meal without feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, I’m open to accepting myself anyway
- Even though I shake like a leaf and my stomach churns in knots, every time I go out shopping, I love and accept myself anyway
- Even though I worry about having a panic attack every time I have to go out and I feel so exhausted afterwards that I just want to lie down and go to sleep, I accept myself anyway
Tapping really can help as long as you are persistent and work on both your symptoms and the triggers that cause the anxiety. It is possible to enjoy life again and plan things that you avoided in the past.
Keep tapping
Louise
07866 013 637
louise@freeflowingenergy.co.uk
