No one alive escapes stress.

We actually NEED stress to stay alive.  But the kind of stress I’m talking about is not helpful to life.  It’s the kind of stress that leads to:

• overwhelm
• chronic anxiety
• panic attacks
• disturbed sleep
• emotional eating
• digestive problems
• chronic pain
• a stifled life

Anxiety is the state that keeps you thinking something bad is about to happen. Even if it’s to a smaller degree, when you’re anxious, you’re continually focused on problems, who’s out to get you, the horrible thing that’s about to happen . . . expecting the worst. 

Accidental Anxiety Expert

I’d say I’m sort of an accidental expert in using EFT for anxiety.  

Accidental, because I never set out to study anxiety and the ways to tap to overcome it.  It’s not an area of great interest to me. But since I’ve been challenged by so much anxiety, and I’m such a learner and problem-solver, I’ve sought out and learned many methods to curb anxiety.  

One thing I’ve learned is that anxiety is a tough nut to crack.  

And I believe I now know why:  The anxiety you feel is not the “real emotion.”  

Your anxiety is acting as a decoy to draw your attention away from the real emotion.  

The real emotion may be despair over the state of your life.  Or rage at your parents or spouse or boss. To your unconscious, your despair or rage can seem way more life-threatening than anxiety. 

When you experience anxiety for a few hours or a few days, it begins to be a habit – of mind and body.  And when the body gets addicted to anxiety, it’s like the light switch for stress is stuck in the on position.  

Constant Hum of Stress

Stress and anxiety can operate at a constant hum in our lives.  We don’t notice how uptight we are until we take a vacation, finish the project that’s been keeping us up, or the cause of our stress goes away suddenly. 

Tapping on your stress daily is a great way to reduce the hum.  I’ve developed a daily doubt tap that has been very helpful to me and I hope it might help you too. 

When the Stress Switch is On

• Racing thoughts – on.  
• Disturbed sleep – on.  
• Poor digestion – on.  
• Can’t focus or concentrate – on. 
• Depressed immune system, meaning it’s easier to catch a cold or flu – on. 
• Focus on the worst case scenario – on

All that said, there are still many things you can do – with tapping and otherwise, to help overcome that stressed out state.  Iv’e recently been using five different methods that quickly turn my anxious state into calm, focused and effective.  

How EFT Can Help Stress and Anxiety

EFT is great for helping you calm down, relax and get into a more thoughtful, resourceful place.

Tapping has been scientifically shown to lower stress.  When we tap, we literally lower the levels of cortisol – the stress hormone – in the blood. 

EFT is also great for helping you resolve the underlying causes of your stress and anxiety.  

I’ve developed a tapping method for overcoming anxiety that helps you get to the root of your stress.

Here are some powerful ways to turn your anxiety into calm:

The SALT method for Anti-Anxiety Tapping

5 Tips for Calming Your Anxious Mind

And because the flip side of anxiety is depression (the mind/body’s way of creating balance), EFT for Depression, 5 Ways to Go from Negative to Positive

Daily Doubt Tap – to nip that morning anxiety in the bud – by facing up to what is scaring you. 

If you’re new to EFT, have I got some goodies for you.

If you follow these steps, you’ll be comfy with Tapping in no time – and getting happier, feeling more energized, sleeping better and making more money. Sound impossible – learn to Tap and see for yourself. 

Where the Heck Do You Tap?

Relax.  First things first.  The tapping points are by far the easiest part of tapping.  In three minutes, you’ll have them down cold. Just watch this short video (all sedate in my old bedroom)

or this video (a taste of the wild AZ outdoors). 

The EFT Tapping Points 

And check out these two diagrams.

The EFT Set Up

The Tapping Points

EFT Tapping Points

Now you’re a pro on where to tap. 

Easiest Way to Tap on the Planet

 This video will get you started being effective at tapping in five and a half minutes. 

Must Know Tapping Technique – Tell the Story

And in this video, you’ll learn the most basic tapping method, that you can use for any issue that you could tell someone about, or complain about. And that covers most issues. Watch below. 

Would You Rather Read to Learn to Tap? 

Would you like to read about how to do EFT, or do you prefer reading over watching?  These articles will help you learn quickly:

EFT Manual part 1:  Tapping Introduction

EFT Manual part 2:  Tapping: which hand to use, how hard to tap, and more

EFT Manual part 3:  The Tapping Points:  photos of each tapping point and detailed tapping instructions

EFT Manual part 4:  The EFT Set-up: why, how and a dozen variations on what to say

EFT Manual part 5:  The tapping steps

And my signature tapping technique, The Growing Up Method

Want more detailed, expert instruction?

If you’d like to learn more about the Growing Up Method, or get more thorough instruction in how to tap, I invite you read on here.

Tapping is also amazing at helping you change the beliefs that form the foundation for everything from your health, to your joy to your bank account.  Learn more about how you can change your beliefs and thereby change your life. 

I’m so happy to welcome you to the world of Tapping.  

This is a simple transformational tool you can use yourself – for free – to change anything you don’t like in your life.  This includes bad moods, crummy attitudes, limiting beliefs.  I could go on and on . . . in fact I have, in more than 200 articles on this site and over 40 videos.  That’s how passionate I am about the power of EFT to change your life. 

Start Tapping (or keep tapping . . . It Works!

Natalie

May 7 Update

The 2012 Tapping World Summit starts tonight at 8 pm EST.  

Overcome Self Doubt?  Why You Don’t Want To

Feeling fear, uncertainty, doubt is natural – even healthy – and will never go away, as long as you’re alive . . . and intending to grow, evolve, create, stretch, speak out, be seen. 

These these emotions are issues for all of us, but particularly for women entrepreneurs. 

Why are fear, doubt and uncertainty a good sign?

The best source I know to help you understand the nature of doubt, fear and uncertainty is Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles.  

This book will help you undersand the universal nature of fear and doubt cropping up when you’re growing, learning and changing. 

And it will help you understand why it’s so essential to push beyond those feelings (or live side by side with them) and still get out there.  STRUT YOUR STUFF!

When you understand this, you’ll see that hope and doubt can and will live together in you.  And below I’m going to teach you a way to give hope a boost, so it’s continually stronger than your doubt. 

Overwhelming Doubt

If you have overwhelming doubt, you’re tied up in a straight jacket.  You can’t move.  You can’t think.  And you cannot produce.  

In the state of overwhelming doubt, you’re in fight or flight.  There’s no chance of creativity in that state.  

So you need to ways for calming your anxious mind and getting out of fight or flight ASAP.  And Tapping is THE best tool I know to remove that kind of anxiety.  (If you’re brand new to Tapping, here’s where you can start your education.)

Tapping????

In a nutshell, Tapping (also called EFT or Emotional Freedom Technique) is a tool that combines the knowledge of ancient Chinese Acupuncture – the energy meridians – with modern psychology.  

Through tapping on the meridian points, while you face a problem, you can bring about rapid change.  

You can feel better fast, and move from anger, confusion, overwhelm, fear to peace, wisdom, clarity and enthusiasm. 

Tapping sounds miraculous . . . and it truly is.  You’ve got to try and experience its power to believe it. 

Back to the Pain

And here’s the other thing about doubt and fear. 

Don’t expect to overcome doubt or overcome self doubt for good.  As long as you’re alive, and especially as long as you’re reaching and stretching, you’ll be partnering with doubt. 

So instead of running from doubt, seeing it as something to be avoided at all costs, befriend it a little. Say something like,

“Hey doubt!  You’re back. Thanks for reminding me that I’m on the edge again. I don’t need or want your advice and I want you to sit quietly, but I do appreciate the reminder that I’m reaching for something bigger than I was before. Thanks for that.”

So what can you do about an ocean of doubt?

You can acknowledge your doubts and fears (They get even stronger when we try to ignore them or push them away. They’re like a fungus that grows best in the dark.).

Name them aloud. 

Then use Tapping to reduce the stress response when you think of them. And finish by tapping in empowering, strengthening, confidence-building words. 

Because I’m a solo entrepreneur . . . because I’m always reaching for something new, something different . . . because I MUST grow and change to thrive . . . because personal growth, spiritual growth is at the top of my list of priorities . . . because I challenge myself on purpose . . . it means I’m always living on the edge. 

And living on the edge just invites fear and doubt. I finally realized that essential truth. 

So, since I cannot give up the inner urge to grow and change and create, I must learn creative ways to accept the fear and doubt and keep them in check. 

And since I’m a Tapper, what I created is my Daily Doubt and Fear Tap.  Every morning, after reading my goals aloud (which stirs up those doubts and fears), and before writing them down (I do this daily too), I tap on my doubts and fears. 

I’m going to share the tapping script with you that I’m currently using . . . but I encourage you to write your own, or at least adapt mine to more closely fit your doubts and fears. 

And remember – there’s NOTHING WRONG with having fear, uncertainty, doubt.

They are human, natural, normal . . . and a good sign that you’re moving forward, taking risks, stretching for the light.  

Tapping on them daily helps you remember that and to feel encouraged by the fact that you’re feeling fear.  The alternative is to see the fear as a sign that there’s something wrong with you (there’s not). 

Here’s my current script (I change it often, so it remains fresh and meaningful to me).   It’s pretty long – LOL it needs to be with all my doubts and fears!

Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt Daily Tap

Set Up

Tapping continually on the Karate Chop point. 

Even though I feel lots of fear and doubt about myself and my life, I accept myself completely. 

Even though I feel inadequate to pull off all my big dreams and goals, I give myself a big pat on the back for having them! 

Even though I’m afraid I’m actually failing and that I don’t have what it takes to succeed, I accept that this fear likely indicates I’m actually on the edge of a breakthrough and I honor this battle. 

Tapping

Tapping through your favorite points:

EFT Tapping Points

I can’t do this stuff

Who do I think I am!

These dreams are WAY too big for me

I’ll end up broke

I’ll be begging from my family

I’ll be destitute

Ruined

I’ll get hurt for sure.

Stumble and fall

Be ridiculed

Criticized

Laughed at

Shamed

I don’t think I can do it

I’ll fail

Probably more than once

Best thing to do would be give up right now

Pick smaller dreams

Easy little ones

Stuff I’ve done before

Succeeded at before

Easy stuff

That would be safe

Better to stay safe and small

Much better

And be sure to get everyone’s approval

No one will criticize me

No one will be jealous

I don’t have to change

Step out of my comfy box

I don’t have to risk

I don’t have to grow

I don’t have to shine

I’d rather just hide out here, in the shadows. 

Whew, that feels much better

Never really wanted to be awesome after all. 

Take a deep breath.  Shake it off.

Tap again . . . 

WHAT!

That’s a bunch of BS. 

I DO want to be awesome. 

And I don’t want to hide. 

Yea, it’s risky to try things

To go for big dreams

To fail

In front of other people

But what’s the alternative. 

Hide out all my life?

I deserve awesomeness!

I deserve to shine!

AND, I have gifts to share

That won’t be shared if I don’t step up

People to serve

Who won’t be served without my contribution

I can win this inner battle with doubt and fear

Even if I have to fight it again every day

I’m tougher than this. 

I’m not giving up so easily. 

I want to discover what’s in me

What I was born to do

Who cares if it’s not safe to change

I’m changing anyway

Who cares if I’m risking failing

It’s worth it

I’m worth it

I’m going for it, no matter what

I might fall and fail sometimes

But that’s OK

Because it means I’m stretching

I’m willing to live in the light

And be awesome

I am worthy of my dreams

My dreams are worthy of me

And I’m going for it

Yes, I’m scared

That’s the sign I’m on the edge of my comfy nest

I’ve got a toe out of my safe little box

That I’m doing battle with the BEAST

It’s ok to be scared

Thank you fear

You’re showing me I’m alive

And you’re bringing me this energy

And this courage to BE ME. 

YES!

I’d LOVE to hear from you about this script.  Like it?  Hate it?  Got one of your own to share?  Share your opinion and results with everybody reading this.  WE all benefit from your experience. 

Much love for you and your fear, uncertainty, doubt – and your passion, creativity, gleaming heart!

Natalie

EFT Tapping Technique for Letting Go fo Trauma

In this EFT video demonstration, you’ll learn a tapping technique that you’ll use over and over again.  It’s a great tapping method to use to introduce EFT to someone who wants to tell you their story.

And, it’s great for tapping on accidents, like the one I tell about in this video.

This method is one you’ll use over and over.  

Here are some situations when the Tell the Story technique is a good choice:

• You find yourself telling a story over and over – either in your head or to others
• You can’t get something that happened “out of your mind.
• You’re introducing EFT to a child or group of children who have just experienced an upsetting incident
• A friend or loved on is upset about an incident and is telling you about it – if they don’t know EFT, you can just tap as they tell the story and ask them to follow your movements as they talk
• You’re not sure what to tap on because you’re too upset or confused
• You want to clear any remaining residue from a past incident
• To reduce the charge from any memory

Warning:

Tapping on severely traumatic incidents alone, or without professional training, can increase the severity of the trauma.  Do not attempt to use EFT by yourself on highly charged traumas, or what are commonly called Big T traumas. These include events involving violence, abuse, shock or horror.  

Tapping is excellent at reducing and eliminating the these traumas, but only in the hands of an experienced professional. 

This is the method to use if you are systematically clearing all your traumatic memories.  Just remember to get help for any Big T traumas.  

I’ve done hundreds of hours of tapping on my issues, but I’ve not tapped alone on the events around the night of my dad’s murder.  I’ve done a lot of tapping on it, but always in the secure hands of a pro.

Your question of the day:  After watching this EFT video demonstration, what was your most dramatic result, using the Tell the Story EFT technique?

~Natalie

Tapping Technique for ANYONE – You don’t have to say a word.

If you want to find out about EFT, there’s no better place to start than with this simple, powerful procedure.  Even after over seven years of tapping nearly every day, I still use this technique often. 

Just Tap

This is an EFT method you can use to calm rattled emotions and racing thoughts.

As you’ll see in the video, you don’t use the EFT Set Up and you don’t say any words at all while tapping.  If you’ve been tapping, using the EFT “Basic Recipe,” you may be surprised at how effective this technique is.  

Remember – if you’re tuned into your emotions, your body or your thoughts about an issue, the energy of that issue will be active in your meridian system. 

If you tap in that active state, you’ll move the energy, change your brain and body chemistry.  Science has shown that tapping reduces cortisol levels in the body. Since cortisol is a stress hormone, that’s tangible evidence that Tapping reduces stress in the body. 

Since stress is the major contributor to disease of all kinds and every mental health issue, this is not a small thing.  If there was a stress-relieving drug that was as effective as EFT (and with no side effects, like EFT) it would be selling like mad. 

This Just Tap method is especially useful when…

• You want to feel better, but are too upset to think straight
• You’d like to use EFT, but can’t figure out what to say
• You don’t really know the problem
• You’re too tired or too lazy to do anything more elaborate
• You’d rather just be open and accepting of your feelings and tap while experiencing them
• A more relaxed or meditative approach to EFT feels right
• You want to help another person, by tapping on them while they cower, cry, shake, rage or vent
• You’re introducing EFT to someone
• You want to comfort a baby or child

It’s one of the easiest of all the EFT methods…

…and it’s very effective.

And since the very best way to find out about EFT is to use it, here’s your question . . .

Your Question for the day:  What happened for you when you used Just Tap?

~Natalie

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Five Ways to Calm Your Anxious State of Mind

When I woke up this morning, I immediately thought, “I am anxious! You need a way for calming your anxious mind.”  And wondered if I’d slept in that anxious state all night, but I didn’t remember any anxious dreams.  

Regardless, knowing how damaging stress is to our body, and how unhelpful it is to our mental and emotional state, I was determined to do something about it fast.

Now, if you’ve read much of anything on this blog, you know how much I love Tapping.  I often see EFT as a potential solution for just about anything. 

But I also use other complementary methods. And over time, I’ve come to see Tapping as one valuable tool in a toolbox of eclectic methods. 

I find that using a variety of tools gives me better results than relying on Tapping alone – more likely to be permanent and more wide-reaching.  I recommend a variety of tools to my coaching clients and they get great results that way too. 

Here are the five things I did this morning that released my anxiety quickly and got me on track to have a calm, energized and productive day. 

1.  Get Face to Face With Your Anxiety

My Mind Body Coach Lorraine Faehndrich calls anxiety a pseudo-emotion.  She says it’s not an emotion, but a decoy, that we use to keep us from feeling the REAL emotions hiding under the anxiety. 

It’s easy to perpetuate our anxiety by assuming it’s real fear and it’s there to protect us from some unknown danger.  So instead of  turning and facing the nasty little rascal, we just keep running, thinking if we turn and face it, we’ll be obliterated. 

Having spent the last year learning A LOT about how to overcome, transform and rise above chronic anxiety, I turned and faced mine this morning. 

You’re going to go broke. 

You can’t do it!

You’ll never finish your Belief Change product!

You’re a fraud!

In case you haven’t figured it out, my anxiety speaks in the voice of a scared, nasty, totally pessimistic inner critic.  (Gee – just realizing my mom was kinda like that too!  What a coincidence

Your anxiety might have a similar voice.  

Have you listened to her?  Really listened?

I’ve found that when I let her have her say, and listen, she calms down.  It I try to ignore her, like putting my fingers in my ears and humming loudly, well, she just keeps up her mean banter, terrorizing me all day long with her dooms-day thinking. 

2. Problem Solving Mode

Staying in the “Oh No!” anxious state won’t solve anything. So now that you’ve listened to what your anxious voice is saying, think about what can be done about it. 

This not-making-enough-money theme is a recurring one for me (and comes up regardless of how much is coming in – that’s why I know it’s a decoy!). 

One day last week, I decided to move into problem solving mode by making a list of 20 ways I could increase my income. I had so much fun making the list that I forced myself to quit after I came up with 30 money-making ideas. 

The next day, I created a new list of 20 things I could do to increase my income in the next 30 days.  

After writing those two lists, I realized something.  

There is NO SHORTAGE of ways to make more money.  I may have a shortage of action or a shortage of courage, but there’s no shortage of ways to make money. 

The list making showed me that abundance is mine for the asking. All I need to do is have the courage and take action. (My guess it’s the same for you.  Think so?)

3. Tap On Your Fears

Even when you face your anxiety.  Even when you do go into problem solving mode about whatever you’re anxious about, you’ll probably still have some doubts and fears. 

That’s normal and healthy.  

Know that.  

Fear is an absolutely essential survival instinct and you’d be dead already if you didn’t have it. 

Fear is also a sign that you’re stretching.  You’re stepping out of your safe little box.  You’re allowing the possibility of more light shining on you.  You’re risking the disapproval or criticism of others – always scary.  

So before you start tapping, raise your right arm over your head.  Bend your elbow so your hand is on your back.  Pat 10 times, saying, “Way to go!  You’re going for it!  I’m so proud of you for stretching beyond your comfy little box!”

Then make a list of all the stuff you’re scared will happen or won’t happen.

EFT Tapping Points

List all your doubts about your abilities, the economy, your parent’s criticism and the worst that could happen.

If your list isn’t at least a page long, you’re not really committed. Go for it.  This will help.  A LOT. 

After you make your list, tap it.

Tap one point for each statement.  

If you’re brand new to Tapping, you just use one or two fingertips and tap the points in the diagram while making your statement.  Tap 5-10 times at each point, gently, like drumming on a table top.  

Or go here to get the EFT manual and take a quick crash course in Tapping.  The EFT Manual’s free. 

(And if you’re inclined to take the next step and REALLY learn to Tap, check out my Make EFT Work Every Time product.  It’s an excellent way to get a solid foundation for effective tapping, even if I am the author . 

Tapping will move the energy of fear and doubt and allow courage, resourcefulness, creativity, motivation, confidence, calm and healthy energy to take it’s place. 

(I’ve actually created a generic list of doubts and fears that I can tap on any day, in case I don’t want to create a new one. I recommend you do that too. )

4. Consciously Calm Down

I recently heard that it takes 24-27 slow deep breaths to get you out of the fight or flight state and into the calm state of “Rest and Digest.”  

When you’re stressed, your immune system and digestion shut down so all your energy can be diverted into running away or defending yourself.  

As you can imagine, this stressed state isn’t too good for creative problem-solving, skillful living or for robust health and longevity. 

Some ways to calm down:

1. Do a short, 5-minute meditation, following the sensation of your breath in your belly or your nose. 

2. With your non-dominant hand, draw something for five minutes. Draw anything – even the lamp across the room. The goal is to break the anxious state and create a calm one, so the subject of your drawing isn’t important. 

3. Make your breath slow and regular.  You can count 1-2-3-4 as you inhale and 1-2-3-4 as you exhale.  I use the very handy emWave gadget for this, and that’s what I hooked myself up to this morning when I awakened in that anxious state.  

In a dream I had back in February, 2012, I heard “Biofeedback.”  I had been praying for help in healing my adrenals, which I knew was closely related to overcoming my chronic anxiety.  After researching my options for small biofeedback devices online, I chose the emWave by HeartMath. 

Click here to learn more about the emWave

4. Use HeartBreath (my name for a HeartMath technique).  Imagine your breath coming in and out through your heart center, in the center of your chest.  As you imagine that, recall or invent a peaceful, joyful or loving scene – or invoke a state of gratitude. 

You might remember or imagine a scene with a baby, a beloved animal or a beautiful, tranquil scene in nature.  

Or you can think of things you’re grateful for. 

The scene I usually picture when using the HeartBreath technique is an imaginary one where I meet my father (who died when I was 12) and all my beloved former pets (TinkerToy, Tuffy, Shadow, Sadat, Nanook, Sophie).  

I see a beautiful nature scene with a creek, woods, grassy, wildflower meadow and mountains in the distance.  At first, I just met my dad there, but as I visit my special place again and again over time, the scene grows more full of beauty.  Lately it’s been populated with angels!  

When I breathe in an out through my heart center and imagine being in that scene, my breath and heart slow down, so the green light shows on the emWave.  

I encourage you to create your own healing refuge and visit it to create a sense of calm peace, love, healing. 

This morning, I counted 30 slow deep breaths as I watched the Emwave lights going up and down, guiding my breathing to be slower, deeper and more regular.  I imagined my breath coming in and out of my heart center. 

In about 5 minutes, my mind and body had gone from anxious to calm.  It took around a half hour before I felt good – as the anxiety had sapped my energy. 

You don’t need a biofeedback device to slow down your breath and heart.  You can count slowly to 3 or 4 as you inhale and again to 3 or 4 as you exhale.  

Keep your breathing regular, gradually slow it down, and do this for 25-30 breaths. That will get you out of Fight or Flight and back into the healthy Rest and Digest state of calm. 

5. Take Action, Remain Calm

It’s important that you take action on resolving whatever made you anxious in the first place.  If you’re anxious about the well-being of someone else, do something about it, even if it’s just sending an email. 

If you’re anxious about money, take some action that helps you move in the direction of greater financial well-being. That may be to look for job openings online.  Or it may be to complete your resume or follow up on a recent interview.  It may be to take a carload of things you no longer need to the consignment store.  It could be to make a flyer announcing a class you can teach. 

emWave showing green light - means I'm calm

Look at your situation to generate the most beneficial action. 

And while you’re taking that action, consciously remain calm. When you move, move slowly, deliberately and gracefully.

Keep your thoughts, your emotions and your movements all calm.  Anxious behavior will tend to make matters worse instead of helping. 

Ask one part of your mind to remain focused on your breath – keeping it slow, deep and rhythmic.  You can use your own body and awareness to retrain your heart and breath to be calm. 

I’ve found it very beneficial to have the help of a biofeedback device to help me retrain my nearly always anxious habit, as it is so ingrained from decades of living in the fight or flight state.  

Without a reminder, I tend to naturally return to an unhealthy state of rapid, shallow breathing, rapid heart rate and stressed/anxious or excited thinking.  

I enjoy working on my laptop with the Emwave hooked to my earlobe.  With a small part of my mind, I listen for those rhythmic gong sounds the emWave emits, telling me I’m calm.  (If it goes quiet, I know I’ve let my breath get shallow or quick and I consciously slow down my breath – an easy way to get it showing blue or green again, instead of red.)

emWave ear attachment pulse detector

Whatever method you use, intend to remain calm as you go about your day. This will benefit you by sending more blood to the creative, resourceful parts of your brain.  

It will help your body remain young and healthy – in the Rest and Digest state.  And you’ll be training your body how to be active while remaining calm.  

Here’s your question for the day:

What tips do you have for calming your anxious mind?

“Stay hungry, stay foolish.”  With those words, Steve Jobs ended what has been called THE best commencement address ever, at Stanford in 2005. See what he meant by that advice.  Watch, listen and reflect. 

Don’t Be Foolish?

Maybe today’s the perfect day to reflect on the importance of being foolish. Today is April Fools Day and it’s got me wondering why we think foolish thinking and foolish acts are such a bad thing.

Things we hear about foolishness:

Penny wise, pound foolish

Don’t be foolish

That’s a foolish idea

You’re a foolish woman

Just foolish pride

That’s foolish thinking

If you do that, you’ll look foolish

We definitely get steered away from being foolish and taught it’s wrong and bad to be foolish.

Steve Jobs Was Foolish

I recently finished the Steve Jobs biography  by Walter Isaacson and was left amazed at how complex a man Jobs was. He was undoubtably a world-class jerk, insensitive and rude.  If you read the book, you’ll surely come to the same conclusion. 

He was also a genius.  

Do you own an iPod, iPhone, Mac or iPad?  

Then you’ve enjoyed the mark of that genius – from the beauty and quality of the packaging, to the simplicity, functionality, intuitive cleverness of the way the product works. 

When I bought a Mac and switched over from the PC world to the Mac world, I felt like I’d changed my political party, my world view, my dominant brain hemisphere . . . the shift was that big for me.  

It felt like I’d gone from seeing the world as black and white, in straight lined logic to a creative perspective of beauty and possibility.

Jobs Was a Jerk – And He Blessed Our World

I didn’t like discovering it, but it’s true that Jobs was a jerk.

My brother even confirmed it!  

My brother, Jimmy ( who can also be quite a jerk sometimes), met Jobs way back when he and Steve Wozniak were dreaming up the first Apple.  

My brother said, “Jobs was the biggest A$$hole I’ve ever met.” 

This speech is inspiring – and according to the book, Jobs wrote it himself, after lots of anxiety about what to say. It differs from the typical formal commencement address, full of inspiring quotations and advice. 

Instead, Steve tells three stories from his life and the lessons he learned from each of them. 

While I don’t necessarily recommend the book about Steve Jobs, it was fascinating to learn more about the man, his life and the development of all the Apple products.  

Let’s get back to being foolish.

When I look around at the accomplishments in our world – the enormous bridges, even freeway overpasses – that we come to take for granted.  At the buildings.  At works of art, great movies, books worth reading.  Airplanes, cars, electronic equipment. 

I think every one of those awesome accomplishments must have seemed foolish to many around the one who kept dreaming.  Who kept pushing to find a builder, a publisher, a producer.  

You can accomplish great things.  

But not if you’re afraid of looking foolish.  Of feeling foolish.  Of being told you’re foolish. 

Join the Conversation!

I’ve love to know what it means to you:  Stay hungry, stay foolish.  

In what way are you “hungry” and searching to be fed?  

How are you fearing you’ll look foolish, so you’re holding back.  

How are you daring to be foolish?  

Fear of risk taking is a topic I’ve been thinking a lot about lately. 

Seems like every movie I’ve watched and every book I’m reading has the same theme – how to overcome the fear that blocks you from going for what you really want, rising after failure, doing what it takes to live YOUR life.

I must be either attracting this theme, or choosing to see it everywhere I look. Like that!

My Recent Fear of Risk Taking Movies and Books:

• We Bought a Zoo
• Elizabethtown
• 10X Rule, Grant Cardone
• No Excuses, Brian Tracy
• Tribes, Seth Godin

They all have an element in common, the way the discuss fear and failure (which is the same as fear of risk taking) at some point.  Let me take just one – Elizabethtown. 

Have you seen the movie Elizabethtown?  

I watched it on my computer from Netflix recently and paused the film to write down the inspirational speech Kirsten Dunst’s character said near the end.  

A little context first.

The main character (played by Orlando Bloom) works in some kind of creative genius role at a shoe factory. 

The year before he invented a shoe that took the world by storm.  He became famous for his brilliance and creativity.  The company honored him. The world celebrated him.  

Then something happened and his shoe flopped.  His company lost billions of dollars because of it. He lost his job and was publicly shamed.

He now feels like a failure.  

He thinks his life is ruined and is in the process of killing himself when he’s interrupted with a phone call telling him his father has died and he must represent the family at the funeral. The rest is the subject of the movie (which I give an 8: entertaining, fun, unique and with a GREAT message).

Here’s the speech Kirsten Dunst delivers toward the end of the movie, after XXX has admitted to her his shameful secret about the shoe failure.

“You failed.  You really failed.  You failed. You failed . . .

You’re an artist, man!  

Your job is to break through barriers.  Not to bow and say “Thank you, I’m a loser.  I’ll go away now.”

You wanna be really great?

Then have the courage to fail big and stick around. Make ‘em wonder why you’re still smiling.

That’s true greatness to me.

No true fiasco ever began as a quest for mere adequacy.”

. . .

[Then, in the voice of a narrator]  The Pacific Northwestern salmon beats itself bloody on its quest to travel hundreds of miles upstream with a single purpose . . . sex, of course.

But also . . . life. 

Did you hear that?  

“No true fiasco ever began as a quest for mere adequacy!”  I love what that statement implies.  

It implies that fiascoes . . . grand failures are the proof of going for greatness.  Failures are indicators of an unwillingness to sit still, play safe, hide and be small.  

I’m thinking it’s about time we honor fiascoes, flops and failures of all kinds.  

This is going to change the way I think about the next mediocre movie I watch.  Instead of criticizing it for the whole ride to the restaurant with Ellie, my movie buddy, I’ll preface my criticism with, “Impressive the way they spent all that time, money and effort on a feature length film.  I wonder what got in the way of the filmmakers from bringing their big dream to successful fruition?”

Remember the Peter Principle?

In Tribes, Seth Godin says that it’s not the Peter Principle that stops us from succeeding at a higher level.  It’s not that we’ve risen to our level of incompetence.  

He says that when we’re blocked, we’ve risen to a level that scares us so much that we’re frozen with fear.  

Well I’m ready to break through my fear more boldly than ever before.  Not that I’m ready to beat myself bloody in the quest for My Life, but I am willing to take a few hits.  To risk a few fiascoes even in my quest to be awesome instead of adequate. 

My Favorite Way to Reduce Fear

For conquering your fears, my tool of choice is EFT. Once you learn to tap, you can much more quickly and easily identify the fears that are holding you back and get back on track again. 

The easiest way to add the tool of tapping to your transformational bag of tricks is with the EFT manual. 

Seth also says we don’t really want to overcome fear of success.  He says our real fear is that we’ll be criticized, blamed, ridiculed. I get that.  I bet you do too. 

This need for other’s acceptance and approval certainly got in Whitney Houston’s way.  And Justin Bieber has found a way to overcome it. 

Our need to be accepted and to fit in is an ancient tribal survival need. It’s in our genes to fear being ostracized. 

This fear of failing even stops us from trying to find your passion in life.  And it can make you afraid to try something new. 

I think the main difference between those people out there making a big difference, and those of us playing it safe, is that the difference-makers have learned how to let those fears arise, and go for it anyway. 

When we’re afraid to try something new, we’re letting that primal need to fit in hold us back. 

What about you?

Are you frozen with fear or moving beyond it, in your quest for Your Life?

In that quest, what failure are YOU willing to risk?  

Have you ever thought, “I am a failure,” and let that stop you?

Was there a time when your fear totally daunting, but you rose above it anyway?  

***Take courage and share with us one fear that blocks you from having either success or a fiasco.  

EFT Summit 2012

I want to invite you to the 2012 Tapping World Summit and give you some reasons why I think you might want to attend. In fact, I’ll give you 5 reasons.

Reason #1

It’s free! It costs nothing.  You can do the Tapping Summit from home. You don’t have to go anywhere.

This event is the equivalent of a 4-day conference of workshops that could easily cost you $500 + airfare + hotel + food.  

The EFT Summit is an amazing opportunity for learning, growth, feeling good, getting more energy – all for $0!

Reason #2

You can do it in your jammies. On your sofa. In the comfort of your home.

I don’t know about you, but I do love comfort.  To be able to listen while relaxing is worth a lot to me.  

And because the interviews are all recorded, you can stop and start them at your convenience.

You can even stop the Tapping Summit recording and back up, in case you want to hear something again, or pause to take some notes. 

Reason #3

You can make some amazing progress on your issues, rapidly, in the 10-day Tapping World Summit.

Honestly, you should see the thousands of testimonials the Ortners have received from people who have transformed during the World Tapping Summit. 

Pain > gone

Sleep > better

Anxiety > now calm

Haunting memory > peace

Stress > relief

The transformation people get during this Summit is nothing short of amazing. 

Reason #4

This is the equivalent of a multi-thousand dollar treasure chest that you can use during the 10-day summit and beyond.

If you wish, you can buy the recordings so you can listen again after the EFT Summit.

And the price of the recordings is very reasonable.  $100 for the digital recordings and workbook.  $200 for the CDs and bound workbook shipped to you home + the full digital set as well. 

Reason #5

By listening and tapping along, you can up your vibe! It’s a great way to raise your vibration.

You’ll have more energy.  Feel happier. Life will get easier in every way.

The higher your vibration, the more good things come your way.

This is the essence of the Law of Attraction.  

And if you’ve ever found that repeating affirmations or making vision boards is not effective for you, Tapping may hold the secret.  

When you first remove your blocks – doubts, fears, resentments – then do your Law of Attraction work . . . you’ll find you manifest good things more quickly and easily. 

This is all covered beautifully in the 2012 Tapping World Summit. 

Hope to see you at the summit!

Blessings,

Natalie

p.s. Begin your journey to a better life for a more wonderful tomorrow by trying EFT Tapping today. Here are 4 things you can do:

1. Start tapping by learning the points in just a minute or two and feel more at ease to proceed with EFT.

2. All you have to do is: Just Tap.  The most simple tapping technique of all.

3. Get more inspiration when you watch this awesome tapping movie and witness the power of EFT unfold for 10 people whose lives were changed forever.

4. Start tapping!