In EFT tapping, how do I find an emotional cause for a physical problem like a broken car?

This question is part of The Burning Questions Project. For answers to 100+ questions on EFT tapping, check out The Burning Questions Project and ask your own questions.

How do I find out what emotion is associated with my problem?

As you sit down to tap on a problem, notice your thoughts about it. Does this issue make you feel good or bad? If bad, then which part of the problem is most hurtful? This question often uncovers how you feel about a problem.

Another way to uncover emotions is to simply ask yourself, “How does this problem make me feel?”.

The idea is not so much to name a feeling as it is to “feel” the feeling, whatever it is, as you tap. It is good if you can put a finger on exactly what emotion you are feeling. But it is not necessary.

You felt rejected when you were passed over for a promotion. You also felt disappointed. Naming a feeling helps you focus on that feeling while you tap. That way you know exactly when that feeling has been neutralized and you are ready to tackle other aspects of that issue.

How do I use EFT tapping if I am unable to come up with the name of a feeling or an emotion about an event?

If you cannot come up with the name of an emotion, try saying out exactly as you see the problem. The examples below show various ways in which we can describe our problems without pin-pointing the underlying emotions.

• I feel trapped in this situation (emotion: powerlessness)
• It feels like a heavy load on my chest (emotion: overwhelmed)
• So many things could go wrong (emotion: worry)
• Your nagging chokes me (emotion: anger, frustration)
• There is no way I can do this (emotion: despair)
• I feel like I’m shooting in the dark etc. (emotion: uncertainty)

And then you start tapping using this description. This is enough to get you tuned into the problem. And tuning in is all we want when we are tapping.

So for the first example, you could use, “Even though I feel trapped in this situation, I deeply and completely love and accept myself.” And then carry on with the reminder phrase “I feel trapped”.

You could also use, “Even though I feel powerless, I deeply and completely love and accept myself.” And then carry on with the reminder phrase “this powerlessness”. It will work either way.

If you are a visual person, using vivid imagery to describe your problem will help – “It feels like I’m stuck inside a deep, dark tunnel and can’t see a way out.”

How do I tap on physical problems that don’t seem to have any emotional component? Such as a broken car?

Even though it sounds like there can possibly be no emotional factor behind certain ailments and mechanical problems such as leaky plumbing, some detective work can reveal suprising details.

Let us consider a car breakdown as an example of a purely unemotional problem. A snow storm was predicted for the evening, but you still had to report for work. While driving back, your car came to a grinding halt in the snow in the middle of nowhere. It is getting darker by the minute. What is the emotional driver behind something so mechanical?

As you start to tap, you get reminded of how much internal friction you experience as you leave for work in the mornings. You hate this job, but you need to show up just to pay the bills. Today morning, you were expecting an especially difficult day at work. It turned out to be difficult alright. You couldn’t wait to get back home after work. And yet here you are, stuck in the snow. Do you see the emotional component yet?

The car breaking down is just one instance of this friction showing up in your life. Where else in your life is your workplace stress leaking in? Tap on the workplace stress and you will find that you automatically drive more carefully on snowy winter evenings. Sounds far-fetched? It will, but only until you try using EFT for something like this.

Tapping works on the principle that if there is any energetic blockage, clearing it will help things move forward in all areas related to it. Broken cars included.

This question is part of The Burning Questions Project. For answers to 100+ questions on EFT tapping, check out The Burning Questions Project and ask your own questions.

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