Eft/tapping Q & A Podcast W/ Gene Monterastelli - Emotional Freedom Techniques

Many of my clients would identify as the 'black sheep' of their families or communities. Because they moved to the beat of their own drums, they were usually out of step with everyone else. This can be particularly difficult for youngsters to handle because it felt unsafe to express their true selves. In order to survive, it's human nature to develop tricks, tools, and techniques to get by. At the time they were the best (and often the only) way to get through those difficult times, but the tools that were helpful as children are not necessarily helpful as adults. The problem is that when we use certain tools and tactics for so long, they become ingrained and habitual. In this audio we talk about how to let go of these old tools in favour of new and better ways to manage our lives. In addition to the instruction in this podcast, there is a tap-along audio. You can find the full tapping script as a pdf of this audio over at Tapping Q and A Podcast Scripts and Transcripts. Support the podcast! Subscribe in: A

Support the podcast! One of my clients recently asked me, “What is the endgame to this tapping thing?” What he meant by the question is besides the constant improvement of our lives (which is no small thing), where does tapping lead us? What is the final goal? We usually think that we tap to feel better, and of course this is true, but there's more to it than just feeling better. In my mind, we tap for two main reasons. How we tap is impacted by these reasons and each has its own tapping approach. In this audio I explain the two reasons and how to best tap for them. Subscribe in: Apple | iPhone | Android | Google | Spotify | Pandora

There is no shortage of pain or struggle in the world. Because of this, at any given moment any number of our loved ones can be suffering in big and small ways. When our loved ones are in pain, we really want to ease their burden, but just because that is our intention doesn't mean that there are tangible actions we can take to be helpful. In this week's podcast I have a simple tap-along and script that you can use when your loved ones are struggling. I am not naive enough to believe that tapping for a struggling loved one will completely transform their world. I do know that if I take a few moments to tap for them, I will be more present to their difficulties, meaning I will be more thoughtful in the moment in how I respond. ALSO, I believe that spending a few moments thinking loving thoughts for a friend in pain is a good investment of my time. You can find the full tapping script as a pdf of this audio over at Tapping Q and A Podcast Scripts and Transcripts. Support the podcast! Subscribe in: Apple | iP

How we end a tapping session is sometimes more important than how we begin it. At the beginning it is most important that we simply start tapping. With each successive round of tapping, we gain clarity about the issue at hand and where we should focus our efforts. For me, there are two goals for the last little bit of tapping at the end of a session. First, I often feel a little groggy and fuzzy brained when I've been tapping for a while, which makes sense as tapping often releases a lot of stored emotion and memories. It is important that I'm able to return to my day feeling calm and grounded. Second, even though we have stopped tapping doesn't mean the process of healing and transformation has ended. The new thoughts and beliefs we've connected with are still integrating even after the tapping stops. At the end of the session, I find it useful to remind myself that the process of healing and transformation will continue after a session. This recognition encourages me to come back and tap again and again. By

On October 20th I received the sad news that Dr. Pat Carrington had passed away the day before at the age of 95. In the tapping world Pat was best known for creating the Choices Method and was one of the Founding EFT Masters. On a personal level, she was an amazing champion of my work and I know I wouldn't have the career that I have today if it weren't for her public support. When someone we love and care about dies, it is emotionally hard. It is natural to feel grief and loss, but sometimes these emotions can be too much. This week I have for you a tap-along audio and tapping script to help in times of grief and loss. Learn more about Dr. Carrington's life and work You can find the full tapping script as a pdf of this audio over at Tapping Q and A Podcast Scripts and Transcripts. Support the podcast! [player] Subscribe in: Apple | iPhone | Android | Google | Spotify | Pandora  

Today it is commonly acknowledged that cultivating a sense of gratitude can be a powerful tool for helping us to live better and emotionally healthier lives. So much so that I even have clients who try to find their way to feeling a sense of gratitude when struggling with an emotional issue. My clients regularly tell me things like, "I spent some time this morning doing gratitude exercises to try to change my mindset." Unfortunately, simply saying that you feel thankful is not enough to turn around an emotional issue. In this week's podcast I share with you the difference between the feelings of gratitude and poverty. When I use the word "poverty" in this context I'm not talking specifically about a lack of money, but rather feeling like we don't have enough of anything. We can feel a poverty of support, opportunity, love, health, or just about anything else. When we understand the difference between the emotions of gratitude and poverty, we can use this understanding in our personal transformation work. Supp

On any given day there are more than a dozen stories in the news about what is happening to the Earth's environment. On one level it is good that we are better informed about what is going on in the world and how our choices impact our environment. But on another level it can feel overwhelming because the problem is so vast. When we don't see how we can make a difference, it is easy to become discouraged and hopeless. Even though the problem is big and the solutions are hard to come by, it doesn't mean it is hopeless. Here is the tapping I do to feel hopeful and encouraged to take whatever actions I can take. You can find the full tapping script as a pdf of this audio over at Tapping Q and A Podcast Scripts and Transcripts. Support the podcast! Subscribe in: Apple | iPhone | Android | Google | Spotify | Pandora  

One of the most powerful tools in my own learning as a practitioner has been listening to other practitioners working with real clients on real issues. It is a great chance to see how a skilled practitioner takes concepts I understand intellectually and apply them in real world situations. In this unique audio you have the opportunity to hear me working one-on-one with a real client. As well as hearing me tap with my client, you'll hear my additional commentary explaining my choices and my thought process in the moment. You can find the full tapping script as a pdf of this audio over at Tapping Q and A Podcast Scripts and Transcripts. Support the podcast! Subscribe in: Apple | iPhone | Android | Google | Spotify | Pandora  

For me, loneliness is one of the toughest emotions. The sense of disconnection that comes with feeling lonely almost feels like we are losing touch with our own humanity. That swirling black hole of emotion seems to keep pulling us in ever deeper. One of the hardest parts of loneliness is feeling it even when we are surrounded by others. Here is the tapping that I do when I feel lonely. You can find the full tapping script of this audio in pdf form over at Tapping Q and A Podcast Scripts and Transcripts. Support the podcast! Subscribe in: Apple | iPhone | Android | Google | Spotify | Pandora  

It is no fun when we feel hurt by what someone else says or does. In many cases these hurtful words or actions are unintentional, and others may be completely unaware that they have hurt us. Even though it wasn't their intention to cause us pain, we feel hurt nonetheless. In this podcast we explore the best way to respond when we are hurt by the words or actions of others. You can find the full tapping script as a pdf of this audio over at Tapping Q and A Podcast Scripts and Transcripts. Support the podcast! Subscribe in: Apple | iPhone | Android | Google | Spotify | Pandora

Sometimes it's hard to know where to start tapping on an issue. We know tapping will help. We know that we just need to start. But we don't quite know where to start. Our emotions feel like a knotty, tangled up necklace, with no obvious place to begin. In this week's audio I have the perfect way to start tapping for an issue when you don't know where to begin. It's particularly useful for helping us to tap when we are feeling stuck about taking action. I encourage you to listen to find out how to tap for: The nature of fear Not needing to be perfect Clearing the emotions around the situation so that you can work towards uncovering root causes The beautiful thing about this process is that after you listen to it just once, you will be able to use it any time you sit down to tap. Support the podcast! Subscribe in: Apple | iPhone | Android | Google | Spotify | Pandora  

Tapping is a powerful tool that can be used to clear a huge range of issues, even those that have plagued us for years. Starting to make better choices feels great and allows positive change to seep into every part of our daily lives. At a certain point we almost forget about the issue because it seems like a distant memory. But then: WHAM! Out of nowhere we are right back in the middle of the old issue, emotions, or belief. We feel bad because of what we are experiencing AND we feel bad because we feel we've failed by falling back into our old behavior. That happened to me recently. Something I thought I had cleared snuck back up on me. In this audio I share how that can happen and what we can do to respond to backsliding on issues we thought we had cleared for good. You can find the full tapping script as a pdf of this audio over at Tapping Q and A Podcast Scripts and Transcripts. Support the podcast! Subscribe in: Apple | iPhone | Android | Google | Spotify | Pandora  

I pride myself on being a thoughtful and helpful person. I like to believe that I am good at living up to my commitments. Most of the time this is true. BUT I am also human and I do make mistakes and unintentionally let people down. This week I have a very simple tap-along audio (and tapping script) to deal with those times in which we feel shame for letting others down. You can find the full tapping script as a pdf of this audio over at Tapping Q and A Podcast Scripts and Transcripts. Support the podcast! Subscribe in: Apple | iPhone | Android | Google | Spotify | Pandora

In my client sessions over the last few weeks I have found myself repeatedly saying that there are four reasons why we sabotage ourselves and stand in the way of taking the action we know we want to take. Without exception my clients respond with, “Wait! I want to write this down.” So here are those four reasons written down for you: We don’t have a clear vision. We don’t know how to take the step. It is painful to take action. It is painful to be successful. There are practical and emotional reasons that can show up in each of these four areas. In this week’s podcast I walk through all of these AND how you can start tapping for them. Support the podcast! Subscribe in: Apple | iPhone | Android | Google | Spotify | Pandora  

In my early years of tapping I was super eager to share tapping with everyone I possibly could. Over time I learned that it was best to share tapping (or anything for that matter) only with people who are actually open to learning something new. A number of years ago I was on a flight from Los Angeles to Chicago and ended up in a conversation with a fellow passenger that led to us doing a tapping session right there on the flight. Here are the twelve lessons I took away from the experience that might help you when you are tapping on your own, tapping with others, or are in a situation where you might be able to share tapping with others. You will find a written version of the twelve lessons below the player. Support the podcast!   Subscribe in: Apple | iPhone | Android | Google | Spotify | Pandora

Note: If you find reading instructions more helpful than listening, you should check out the article version of the topic. When people unsubscribe from my mailing list they have the opportunity to leave a comment. I recently received a really interesting comment from someone who was unsubscribing from my list. She wrote: “I am very busy at the moment and I don’t have time to practice, so I feel stressed out.” I find that a fascinating comment. She is saying that her life feels so out of control that the thought of doing something that will make it better (like tapping) is too overwhelming! The reason she isn’t willing to take the time to tap? It’s not because she doesn’t have the time or know how. The reason is because she isn’t in enough pain. I’m serious. In the podcast I explain why being in pain can be a really positive thing AND how we can cultivate this pain to help us to take action. Support the podcast! Subscribe in: Apple | iPhone | Android | Google | Spotify | Pandora  

When I first started using Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) I thought the reason that we tapped was to feel better. My first two experiences with tapping reinforced this belief. My first memory of using EFT on my own was getting rid of one of the most profound headaches I had ever had in about 90 seconds. My second big moment was dealing with my social anxiety. It makes sense that this is what I thought EFT was all about because in both cases I felt SO much better. But there will be times when using tapping only as a way to feel better will do us a disservice because it impacts the action we take. This week I explore the two different types of outcomes that come from tapping and how to make sure we get the outcome that makes the most sense for the issue we are tapping on. Support the podcast! Subscribe in: Apple | iPhone | Android | Google | Spotify | Pandora  

Trying again where we have failed in the past is one of the hardest things to do. I was recently faced with wanting to do something that didn’t go well in the past. It wasn’t that it went badly, but it was far from as successful as I would have liked, so I was hesitant about trying again. Here is an audio of me tapping in real time for this issue. You will hear me tapping for the issue and then processing each round of tapping to see what needs to be tapped on next. The tapping produces a useful tapping script and also shows you how I process through issues in real time. I would love your feedback on the tapping and to know if you find it helpful. You can find the full tapping script of this audio as a pdf over at Tapping Q and A Podcast Scripts and Transcripts. Support the podcast! Subscribe in: Apple | iPhone | Android | Google | Spotify | Pandora  

Theoretically we all want to be our authentic selves and show up in the world as we actually are. But for most of us it's just not that simple. From past experience we have learned that there are some situations where others don't understand us, or we have been judged harshly for being our authentic selves. That makes us reluctant to present ourselves in a way that will be judged by others. In truth, being our authentic selves is not an all-or-nothing proposition. We can choose how much of ourselves to share, with whom we share it, and when we share it. This will ensure we are doing in a way that is safe for us. This week I have a tap-along audio and tapping script that will help you to feel safe as you find the ways in which you want to share your authentic self. You can find the full tapping script as a pdf of this audio over at Tapping Q and A Podcast Scripts and Transcripts. Support the podcast! Subscribe in: Apple | iPhone | Android | Google | Spotify | Pandora  

As many of you know, I also run the member site the Ruach Center. Every day members of the site receive an email from me with a link to a tap-along audio that is designed to conquer self-sabotaging behavior. Recently, as I was recording one of those audios, I personally experienced a huge emotional shift. This tap-along is about connecting to and appreciating all parts of our being and our experience. Even though the audio and script are short, it will make you feel more grounded right away. I thought it would be a great thing to share with everyone, not just the site members. I hope you find it as powerful as did. You can find the full tapping script as a pdf of this audio over at Tapping Q and A Podcast Scripts and Transcripts. Support the podcast! Subscribe in: Apple | iPhone | Android | Google | Spotify | Pandora