I recently made a video about a morning routine that you can do which incorporates EFT tapping to set yourself up for a great day. Here is a transcript of the video for those of you who prefer the written word!
In the Morning Routine we’re going to do some tapping, of course, because that’s what I love to do most! First of all, though, one thing that is really good to do in the morning – it seems really funny, but just bear with me and try it right now:
1. Power Posing[1]
Spread your arms, raise your chest and look up.
Why do we do this? Let’s do it again and while you’re doing it, say, “I feel really sad and miserable.” It doesn’t work, right?
And now try this one: slump your shoulders forward and look down, hunch your chest in, and say, “I’m really happy.” It doesn’t work, right? Do you see what I mean? It doesn’t work!
Your physiology and your body has certain things that happen when you move it in certain ways. So when you do this [contractive pose, hunching forward] you can see it’s protective, it’s bracing yourself, it’s expecting bad things to happen.
Whereas when you do this [expansive pose, looking up and opening arms] you’re opening up to the heavens, to inspiration, to joy and it just feels so much happier to do this.
So if you can, do this first thing in the morning and take a few breaths – [in, out] and another one, [in, out]. And see if you can find a smile, even if it feels fake! Just do it, because it will change your physiology. That’s the first thing you can do.
2. Gratitude practice with tapping
Gratitude is a really helpful practice and it’s also in my evening routine. Again, it changes your physiology when you feel gratitude.[2]
Place your hands on your heart centre and see if you can bring to mind three things to be grateful for, before you’ve even got out of bed. (Or after you’ve got out of bed – I don’t mind if it’s after your coffee in the morning, if that’s your thing! Just some time, before you get going with your day, your work, your kids, whatever you’ve got to do, think of three things you’re grateful for.)
It can be really simple. It can be:
I’m grateful that I’m breathing.
I’m grateful that I have shelter and I’m warm.
I’m grateful that I have food to eat today.
Or it can be more complicated – if you’re celebrating something, you could tune into gratitude for that. Or it can be:
I’m grateful for my family.
I’m grateful for my husband.
I’m grateful for my children.
I’m grateful for this wonderful job that I love.
I’m grateful for living in this amazing countryside.
Whatever it is that you’re grateful for, just think of those three things while holding your heart centre. [See my video on Heart Focused Breathing for an explanation of why we hold the hands over the heart.]
And we’re going to tap, of course, because tapping makes everything better and more effective! So, after holding your hands to your heart we’re going to tap. We’ll just tap while we’re talking. Just name your three things. (You can do more than three of course, it doesn’t matter! – three minimum.)
Side of the hand: I’m grateful for being safe.
Eyebrow: I’m grateful for the food I eat.
Side of the eye: I’m grateful for having food to eat today.
Under the eye: I’m grateful for being alive and healthy.
Under the nose: I’m grateful for having a roof over my head.
Under the mouth: I’m grateful for having food to eat today.
Collarbone: I’m grateful for being alive and healthy.
Under the arm: I’m grateful to have a roof over my head and to feel safe.
Top of the head: I’m grateful for the food that I’m going to eat today.
Eyebrow: I’m so thankful I’m alive and healthy.
Side of the eye: I’m thankful for being alive and healthy.
Under the eye: For having food to eat.
Under the nose: For having a roof over my head.
Under the mouth: I’m grateful for being safe.
Collarbone: I’m grateful for having food to eat.
Under the arm: I’m grateful for being alive and healthy.
Top of the head: I’m grateful today.
And take a breath [in, out] and tune into that feeling of gratitude. Notice how it feels in your heart and mind and body.
3. ‘To Be’ List
The last thing we’re going to do in this morning routine with EFT is think about goals. Now goals is not a word that I like very much! We’re not going to have a ‘to do’ list. That’s for later, once you’ve got up, once you’ve started your day, once you’ve sat down at your desk or whatever it is you do. Your to do list with the children, your to do list at work, your to do list with whatever it is you’re doing, that’s for later.
Right now we’re setting up the stage for a really great day, so we’re going to have our ‘to be’ list. Think of things that you would like to be today, qualities that you would like to embody. For me today I’m feeling that I would like to be joyful and radiant. Those are words that I often choose, they’re words that I can easily tune into and resonate with. Choose words that YOU like. It could be:
I choose to feel calm.
I choose to feel relaxed.
I choose to feel calm and confident.
I choose to feel decisive and motivated.
I choose to feel patient.
Choose whatever qualities that you would like to have today, what you would like to feel like today. Then your to do list will be so much easier. A to do list when you’re feeling joyful and radiant is so much easier than when you’re feeling a bit glum, isn’t it? Or a to do list when you’re feeling decisive or calm and confident – it’s going to be so much easier if you can tap into those feelings now (if that’s not a pun!)
So, here we go! Do tap along with me and just put in your words, whatever you want to feel:
Side of the hand: I’ve just got up in the morning and I choose to feel joyful and radiant.
It’s first thing in the morning and I choose to feel joyful and radiant.
First thing in the morning I choose to feel joyful and radiant throughout the day today.
Eyebrow: I’m starting my day and I choose to feel joyful and radiant.
Side of the eye: I choose to feel joyful and radiant throughout my morning.
Under the eye: I choose to feel joyful and radiant at lunchtime.
Under the nose: I choose to feel joyful and radiant throughout the afternoon.
Under the mouth: I choose to feel joyful and radiant in the evening as I get ready for bed.
Collarbone: Whatever comes up today, I choose to feel joyful and radiant.
Under the arm: Whatever problems and issues and feelings I have today, I choose to remember that I can feel joyful and radiant underneath everything.
Top of the head: I choose to feel joyful and radiant today.
Eyebrow: I choose to feel joyful and radiant in every cell of my body.
Side of the eye: I choose to feel joyful and radiant in my mind.
Under the eye: I choose to feel joyful and radiant in my energy system.
Under the nose: I choose to infuse my whole body, mind, and every cell with joy and radiance.
Under the mouth: I choose to feel joyful and radiant as I start the day.
Collarbone: I choose to feel joyful and radiant this morning.
Under the arm: I choose to feel joyful and radiant throughout the afternoon.
Top of the head: I choose to feel joyful and radiant throughout the evening and all day long.
I hope you feel the benefits of incorporating these practices into your morning!
Would you also like to set yourself up for a great night’s sleep? Here’s my video and transcript of my Evening Routine with EFT tapping.
If you'd like some more help using EFT to target your own particular issues, please contact me to set up a free 20 minute chat to find out how I could help.
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[1] Find out more about Power Posing in this TED talk.
[2] For example, see this summary of research into the effects on the brain of gratitude practice.