| I have just started a new six-week teleclass | | | | for several of the participants, was the question, |
| series on chronic illness, Tap Into Your Healthy | | | | "What would I do if I were healthy?" The general |
| Self, and in the first teleclass we discussed, and | | | | feeling seemed to be that being ill is all consuming. |
| used EFT on, the downside of being well and | | | | We can spend hours researching our illness, visiting |
| healthy. This is a concept which continues to | | | | holistic therapists and medical doctors, preparing |
| fascinate me. | | | | special foods and looking after dietary |
| The first reaction to there being a downside to | | | | requirements, meditating, going to workshops, and |
| being well and healthy is most likely to be one of | | | | joining e-forums so we can discuss the same |
| surprise and sometimes, anger. Everyone wants | | | | issues. Without all of that to occupy our days, life |
| to be well, don't they? No one chooses to be ill. | | | | could be empty, dull, meaningless and even boring. |
| Or do they? Is remaining chronically ill a way to | | | | With that in mind, what would be the incentive to |
| remain safe and un-pressurized? Fewer demands | | | | recover and be well again? |
| and expectations are put upon us when we are ill; | | | | Fortunately, with EFT we have a highly effective |
| we don't need to prove ourselves, and finally, we | | | | tool we can apply to clear all the limiting beliefs |
| don't have to be responsible for everyone and | | | | which prevent us from healing and moving |
| everything. | | | | forward in our lives. As I work with clients, I love |
| It is not always easy or comfortable to | | | | to change the focus from fear to curiosity, |
| contemplate the downside to being well, and our | | | | surprise, and possible excitement. When the |
| natural response is to resist such a concept. One | | | | teleclass participant voiced her concerns about |
| of the participants in the teleclass told me that | | | | what she would do with her life if she were |
| she could find absolutely no downside to being | | | | healthy, she felt a heightened sense of anxiety. |
| well, and only an upside. I followed that by asking, | | | | She said she was "afraid to go out there and |
| "In that case, what is stopping you from being | | | | take risks" in case she failed or was rejected. I |
| well?" She responded, "Because I have a serious | | | | encouraged her to consider the question with |
| illness". Certainly, I wasn't disputing that, but in my | | | | curiosity: What would she do if she were healthy? |
| experience, there are probably some deeply | | | | What might she be capable of? What could she |
| rooted limiting beliefs which are preventing her | | | | accomplish? We tapped on the points as we |
| from being well. | | | | posed these questions, and by reframing the |
| There are very few people who consciously want | | | | situation and enabling her to consider her potential, |
| to be ill, so it is our subconscious which holds us | | | | instead of the fear blocking her progress, we |
| back and prevents us from recovering. It is the | | | | were able to eliminate all the anxiety, leaving her |
| subconscious, afraid of stepping out of the | | | | calm and excited about the possibilities ahead for |
| present comfort zone, which convinces us it is | | | | her. |
| not safe to assume a new identity of health, | | | | Perhaps some of the beliefs I've mentioned |
| vibrancy and mobility for whatever reasons. | | | | resonate for you, so I have included a tapping |
| Prior to being chronically ill with ME/CFS, I had | | | | transcription for you to tap along to. |
| worked as a volunteer for various charities, and I | | | | Tap the karate chop point on the other hand |
| was a teacher. My passion was helping others, | | | | while saying the following: |
| giving and serving. I always put other people's | | | | "Even though I don't know what I'd do if I were |
| needs first - and at a certain point, my body and | | | | healthy, perhaps I could look at this with curiosity |
| mind became exhausted and I collapsed, and was | | | | and interest rather than fear Even though my |
| housebound for many months. | | | | illness consumes my life and if I recovered, my |
| After I was introduced to EFT, and started | | | | life would be boring and dull, I'm open to the |
| applying it confidently, I began to investigate why | | | | possibility it could be interesting and exciting Even |
| it served me to hold on to the illness. I realized | | | | though being ill offers me a hiding place, I wonder |
| that by being ill, I didn't have to give anymore - in | | | | if I could feel safe enough to see what's going on |
| fact, I was incapable of giving at that time | | | | outside more often." |
| because I didn't have the energy! - and I could | | | | Now tap the following places while saying each of |
| enjoy receiving for a change. My husband and | | | | the phrases below: |
| parents had become my caretakers. They | | | | - top of head: What would I do if I were healthy? |
| cooked, cleaned, did the laundry and the grocery | | | | - eyebrow: Being well feels blank, empty and dull |
| shopping. Finally, I didn't have to do anything! | | | | - side of eye: I won't have any time for myself |
| It's important to understand that all of this was | | | | - under eye: This illness has consumed my life |
| outside of my awareness. I didn't want my family | | | | - under nose: I won't have any excuses if I'm well |
| to nurse and feed me, and I certainly didn't want | | | | - chin: I can't do it! |
| to be in bed all day. I recall overhearing my | | | | - collarbone: I'll have to be responsible again |
| mother talking on the phone to a friend, telling her | | | | - under arm: They'll expect too much of me |
| that caring for me was like looking after a small | | | | - top of head: I want to stay here in my safe |
| child all over again, simply because I couldn't do | | | | hiding place |
| anything for myself. I longed to be well enough to | | | | - eyebrow: No, I don't! |
| look after myself once more, yet my powerful | | | | - side of eye: I want to be out there, |
| subconscious was too afraid, and had decided it | | | | experiencing life |
| was safer to stay where I was. Recovering would | | | | - under eye: I want to consider with curiosity |
| mean returning to a life of giving and serving | | | | what I would do if I were healthy |
| again, and putting my needs second, so perhaps it | | | | - under nose: What could I accomplish? |
| served me better to stay unwell. | | | | - chin: Who could I be? |
| During the teleclass on the downside to being well | | | | - collarbone: I deserve to let go of these limiting |
| and healthy, participants suggested similar reasons | | | | beliefs holding me back in illness |
| for staying ill. One participant said her illness was a | | | | - under arm: I am willing to move forward now |
| relief, her 'hiding place', because if she were well, | | | | with curiosity and excitement! |
| she would need to be exceptional in everything | | | | After you have tapped through this round, write |
| she did and gain everyone's approval. She also | | | | down how you're feeling and any new thoughts |
| recognized that if she were well, she'd probably | | | | which have come up, then tap again, changing the |
| be a workaholic. Another participant said being ill | | | | wording if you need to. Remember, the phrases |
| was his 'get out clause' from being responsible for | | | | you use are simply a way of outwardly |
| everyone and everything. | | | | expressing how you're feeling. You don't need to |
| Another downside to being well, which resonated | | | | be creative - just state what's on your mind. |