The real skill in applying EFT involves an understanding of the “art of delivery.”
The term “art of delivery,” coined by EFT founder Gary Craig, refers to the skillful application of EFT – a step beyond “mechanical EFT.”
This article will introduce you to a few of the most important concepts that are basic to “the art of delivery.” The concepts described below are essential skills that all successful users of EFT should be familiar with.
Breaking Issues Down
The biggest mistake beginners make with EFT is to tap on too broad of an issue.
Take time to determine, very specifically, what you are targeting with your tapping.
This is perhaps the most important “art of delivery” skill of all.
“Self-esteem” or “anxiety” may seem like specific issues but they are actually global issues that are made up of many things separate aspects: fears and beliefs picked up through out a person’s lifetime, traumatic life events, self-blame, etc.
Tapping for global problems may not give you the results you want.
However, breaking your problems down into specific events that remind you of your original issue, usually works best.
You can experiment with tapping on the global issue for a round or two and taking note when specific events come to mind during the tapping process. If you are working with a practitioner, he or she will ask you questions in order to bring specific events to your attention.
Identifying Aspects
Aspects are different parts, or details, of a problem.
They can be specific things that upset us or they may be different layers of emotion that emerge as we tap.
During tapping you may still feel upset after several rounds – but take notice are you still upset about the same thing? You might not realize right away that you have shifted aspects unless you take a moment to become conscious of “what is bothering me now?”
For instance, if you are tapping for a snake phobia, specific aspects you might tap for might include the sight of a snake, then the slithering of its movement, its beady eyes, etc.
To determine which aspect of the problem you should tap on, ask yourself the following:
- What bothers me the most about this? What else bothers me about this?
- What details do I see when I think about it?
- What still bothers me about this?
Tapping on the most intense feelings that come up for you while you focus on your issue will be the most effective way to handle your issue.
Being a Good Detective
Asking good questions can help you get specific details about the problem that will help you focus in on the most relevant aspect of the problem to tap on.
- What specifically bothers me about this?
- Exactly what does this feel like to me? Describe what you are feeling in your body.
- What is an example of this problem in action?
If you tap for specific events aspects that make up the issue, the global problem becomes lighter and eventually may be completely resolved. To identify specific aspects try asking questions like:
- What specific event does this feeling remind me of?
- Pick one and tap while you replay that event in your mind.
- Who in my life makes me feel this way?
- Focus on an incident with this person where you really felt this strongly.
- How long have I felt this way? When did this feeling start?
If you can’t come up with a specific event, you can just imagine one that might have been typical.
It doesn’t matter whether you know something really happened this way or not, the event that you tune into is real to you as you imagine it because this is what your perception of this of what might have happened.
This will usually bring up the feelings, and that’s all it takes – just tune in and apply EFT.
Following these guidelines can really help you get results but there really is no substitute for practice, experience, and in-depth training, so be sure to consult with an EFT professional if you feel like you aren’t getting the results you want when using EFT by yourself.