Why do People Resist EFT Part 2 Print Page

Mastering EFT.com

Why do People Resist EFT Part 2

By Dr. Patricia Carrington

In the first article of this two-part series I discussed the shutting down of what I call the “monitor” (that part of our minds that stands apart from us and evaluates incoming information, and then selects an appropriate response from the many possible ones we have stored in our memory banks). The closing down of the monitor in distressing situations can make us forget to use EFT even though we may be an avid EFT user at all other times.

Today, I’m going to suggest another reason why EFT users may resist using EFT. It is that we are hard-wired to resist calming down if we think we are in danger. At such times, we feel that our survival depends on mobilizing our emergency responses. For example, if you were to discover that your house was burning down your survival tactic would be to create fear. This is because fear motivates us to escape and our survival instinct will not allow us to get rid of the fear unless we convert that fear into something we consider equally self-protective.

The result of this is that people often don't want to use EFT under extremely stressful circumstances because at that particular moment they are convinced that their intense feelings -- -- whether they are anger, fear or some other emotion -- are NECESSARY in order to protect themselves!

An example of this might be someone who is extremely angry. Many times I have seen a person become threatened if it is suggested to them that they use some tactic to calm down their angry feelings. All that person wants to do at that moment is to rid themselves of what they perceive as an enemy.

One of the EFT statements that can be effective for a person experiencing intense anger or another strong emotion that they don’t want to let go of is:

"Even though I'd like to (punch, smash, kill, etc.), (that person), I choose to handle him/her in the best possible way."

Often, this can work because no matter how enraged we may be, few of us wouldn't want to handle the situation that enrages them in the "best possible way" for this would obviously increase our safety. This statement can be useful because it is not likely to be construed as an effort to weaken us by robbing us of our righteous (protective) anger, but instead will be seen as strengthening us. The interesting thing is that as we tap along this may begin to take the edge off our anger so that it actually lessens!

Among other EFT statements that can be useful in motivating us to use EFT when experiencing intense emotions are:

1. "Even though I'm very upset (angry, etc.), I choose to keep a level head about this.” This can be an acceptable statement for many people because most of us want to be able to be clearheaded even when enraged or otherwise in distress. Tapping on this statement doesn't feel as though it was weakening us and is much less apt to be resisted.

2. "Even though I'm very upset (angry, etc.), I choose to wait until I understand this better.” This is another good choice because, used in a crisis, it allows you to buy time to clear your mind. This statement is seen as furthering your safety and tapping on it feels both safe and wise.

3. "Even though I'm very upset (angry, etc.), I choose to find a helpful answer for everyone concerned" is a statement that also appears non-threatening and useful even to a frightened mind, and can often be used when tapping without resistance.

To summarize, we tend to resist using EFT when experiencing exceptionally strong emotions because our body and subconscious mind believe that our intense emotion is going to save us and therefore it must not be interfered with. The best strategy in such cases is to use EFT statements that counteract the immediate self protective instinct, ones that will make you feel it's "perfectly safe" to allow yourself to calm down -- that your identity or very life will not be threatened by doing so.

Using such strategies should make EFT more appealing to you at times of intense emotion. In fact, if you do this you may remember to use EFT when you need it the most!

EFT Master, Dr. Patricia Carrington