Veggienut.com - Soapbox

- Soapbox -

May 2009

Emotional Freedom Technique for Kitchen Anxieties

If you’re willing, I’d like to ask you to read the following statements to see if they resonate with you. Don’t judge your reaction, simply follow it.

I feel stuck in my attempts to get well.
As soon as I gain momentum in healing, something breaks my stride.
Procrastination is the name of my game; I never progress far in my health.
There are so many emotions around my eating habits; I’m afraid difficult emotions or memories might come up if I change those habits.
My behaviors are my identity – who would I be if I changed them?
I get overwhelmed when I think of grocery shopping or cooking in my own kitchen and I don’t know why.
I never learned healthy eating behaviors from my parents, and that makes me feel sad/angry/resentful/ripped off every time I have to learn a new food skill.
My budget rules my kitchen. I’m not free to invest properly in my own nutrition.
I don’t know how to nourish myself; I’m not capable/don’t have what I need.
It’s just me at home – it’s not worth the effort of preparing quality meals for one.
When I cook I feel like a little girl in my mother’s kitchen again - not in charge.
These unhealthy eating patterns are just who we are as a family; it may not be good, but it’s all we know.
Cooking is a duty/obligation I perform because I should.
There is no joy around my meals; meal preparation creates tension & frustration.
My efforts in the kitchen aren’t appreciated, so what’s the point?
My relationships will change or maybe end if I make healthier choices and that scares me.
I don’t trust my intuition to choose the best foods for myself and my family.

Did any of those statements ring true for you? If so, it may be your time to change that pattern or belief into something that serves your highest good. I posed those questions for two reasons: 1. They are commonly held beliefs by many who struggle to cross the threshold of wellness; 2. They can all be addressed by EFT. For a full explanation of the origins and concept behind EFT, go to: http://www.emofree.com/newcomer.htm.

When I first began learning EFT, I realized what a powerful tool it would be for my clients. Incorporating EFT into sessions could be the next level I was looking for in my practice. I’ll give you an example. Let’s take the phrase “I feel anxious and overwhelmed when I go grocery shopping”. That’s a real problem! That’s not emotional freedom. That’s a restriction we can potentially clear or at least lessen the intensity. We might start by tapping on the points on the hand, head, face and torso, repeating the phrase “Even though I feel anxious and overwhelmed when I grocery shop, I deeply and completely accept myself”. (You could say I love myself, I honor myself, I’m ok with myself if you prefer; the statement must feel right to you.) As we complete a round of tapping on that phrase, another more specific phrase may arise – perhaps “my partner/children yell at me if I bring something home they dislike” or “I don’t know how to read labels – I can’t trust what I see”. Tapping through one of those phrases might bring further insight that “I can’t trust what I see” is the core phrase which might have become true out of an earlier traumatic event. That would be the phrase to target, not only for anxiety in grocery stores, but to gain freedom from other associated problems.

EFT is not perfect, nor is it a magic wand (though the process often works like magic). EFT is a tool – an exceptional one - that because of God’s fascinating design yields remarkable results. Personally, I believe it can be helpful combined with most other therapies, bringing efficiency and fostering self-honesty. If you have questions or concerns about how EFT works I would be happy to talk with you. Email me: veggienut21@cox.net or call (316) 210-4685. Happy Tapping!

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