All posts by Laura

EFT, EFT Videos, Videos

How to Do EFT with Laura Lawson Boatman

Leave a comment

In this video, I go over the simple steps to learning EFT.  As I said in a recent post about this simple but powerful energy technique, you can use EFT to help you let go of practically any issue that is bothering you.  It works for negative emotions, limiting beliefs, painful past experiences, and even a variety of physical symptoms.

What Is EFT?

I also have a video that talks more about what EFT is from my perspective.  If you’d like to watch that, here’s the link:  So What Is EFT Anyway?

A Quick EFT Reference for You

I cover all of the following in the How to Do EFT video above, but here is a simple outline that you can use as a reference:

1.  Identify the issue you want to address.  Come up with a short phrase to describe it and be as specific as you can.  This is what we call the reminder phrase.  An example might be: This anxiety about my job interview.

2.  Give it an intensity rating on a scale of 1 to 10, one being the least intense and 10 being the most intense.

3.  Say the setup phrase three times as you rub on the tender spot or tap on the karate chop point.  Here’s the structure: Even though I have (state the issue), I deeply and completely love and accept myself.

4.  Tap on the seven key acupressure points on your face and body as described in the video as you say the reminder phrase.

5.  As you tap on the karate chop point on the side of your hand, restate the setup phrase and add a positive affirmation.  I use something like this: Even though I have (state the issue), I deeply and completely love and accept myself.  And I choose to let go of (this issue) now and let myself feel unconditional well-being.

6.  Take a deep breath and re-check on the intensity of the issue.

So that’s one round of the basic EFT process.  If the intensity is going down, do another round of EFT and continue until you get the rating down to one or zero.  If it doesn’t go down, do the Nine Gamut Procedure as I describe in the video between rounds.

And that’s all there is to it.  A lot of times, persistence is the key to success with EFT.  Just stick with it and you will make progress.

Trust Your Inner Wisdom

Just follow your intuition as well as you’re doing EFT.  The issue you’re working on may shift, the emotion may change, or you may have some past memory emerge.  Trust that this is your inner guidance showing you what you need to tap on to fully let go of this issue.  I’ll go into this more in a future video post, but I just wanted to touch on it here.

I’d Love to Hear Your Questions or Experiences

If you have any questions or would like to share your experience with this video or with EFT, please leave me a comment below or here.  I’d love to hear from you.

Thanks for visiting.  I love sharing EFT and I’m so glad to be able to share this wonderful technique with you here.

Blessings,

Laura

To learn more about my EFT-based self-help program, click here: 

Your Inspiring Life

EFT, Perfectionism, Procrastination

EFT for Procrastination and Perfectionism: A simple way to let them go

Leave a comment
I should probably get started on that… right after I check my email…

In my last post, I talked about how I found myself procrastinating about getting started on my videos for my blog and YouTube.  I talked about how I realized how important it is to give ourselves permission to not be perfect when we’re just beginning something new.  When we expect ourselves to be brilliant from the start, we put way too much pressure on ourselves and that creates a lot of resistance.  Instead of facing the anxiety of not being perfect, we decide to do other busywork that isn’t as likely to lead to feelings of failure and inadequacy.  Like I said, that’s way too much pressure and it takes all the fun out of it.  You know what I mean?

Some Issues to Tap On to Get Past Procrastination and Perfectionism

So, in this blog post I thought I would give you a few tips on how to use EFT to help you get over these perfectionistic roadblocks that lead to us to procrastinate.  If you don’t know how to do EFT, check out my next post where I have a video that shows you just how to do it.  (See, it works… I got my first videos done!  🙂 )

To get you started, here are some suggestions for phrases you can target with EFT:

Feeling like I have to be perfect from the beginning. 

Frustration and anxiety when things don’t go the way I want them to.

This feeling like I’m not good enough because I’m not perfect at this right now.

This anxiety and sadness about not being perfect. 

You get the idea.  Of course, you can adapt these to fit your particular feelings and situation or just use them as a starting place to help you get clear about what’s going on within you.

A Nice Affirmation to Use

Whatever the specific target issue is, you can use a positive affirmation at the end at the side of the hand point, something like this:

I give myself permission to not be perfect right now.  I choose to play and have fun and know that even when things don’t turn out the way I want them to, I’m practicing and learning and getting better all the time.  All my experiences will eventually lead me to learn how to create the beautiful things I envision.  I don’t have to be perfect to have fun.  I give myself permission to enjoy the process.  And I know these experiences will help me to eventually get to where I want to be. 

That feels better, doesn’t it?  With enough tapping, you will actually get to where this affirmation feels absolutely true to you.  And you know what will happen after that?  If you’re like me, you will find yourself feeling inspired and excited about taking the next step.  And that’s a wonderful place to be.

About My Program

My self-help program, Your Inspiring Life, includes recorded EFT processes to help you overcome procrastination and the negative beliefs that trigger it.  In fact, the program has 22 mp3 EFT processes and a number of guided visualizations and meditations as well that help you move through a whole variety of negative beliefs and habits so you can really move forward and make your dreams happen.  Each EFT process includes affirmations similar to the one above so you don’t have to think of them on your own.  Listening to EFT recordings makes the whole process really easy.  You might want to check it out and see if it feels like it might help you on your journey.

So, Try EFT… it really will help

Give the process I outlined above a try.  Do a few rounds on it and then see how you feel.  If you do, I think it will really help open you up to letting yourself explore your dreams without having to be perfect right out of the gate.  Give yourself permisson to let that go and go have some fun!

See you in my next post.  If you haven’t already, you can sign up for my email newsletter or the RSS feed for my blog so you’ll get notified about my new posts and videos.  And leave me a comment or question below, too.  I’d love to hear from you.

Blessings,

Laura

Live Your Dream.  Your Inspiring Life

Procrastination

How to Stop Procrastinating on Your Dreams: Just Let Those Pots Fly Out the Window

Leave a comment

I’ve been wanting to get started making videos for my blog and YouTube but I just couldn’t seem to get myself going on it since the holidays.  But I had a breakthrough yesterday.  I was talking to a friend of mine who is a really wonderful potter.  We were talking about how it seems to be difficult to set aside the time to do what we really want to do… for me it’s making some videos on topics that really inspire me and that I want to share and for her, it’s making pots on her wheel at home.  There’s always something else to do first… the dishes, check email, and for me, I have this thing that I have to be in the “right mood” to do it.  Even though I have all the tools and understanding about negative beliefs holding us back, I just hadn’t thought about the underlying issues that were keeping me from going forward with making videos. 

But as I was talking with my potter friend, I realized that making videos is just like doing pottery: you have to be willing to start by making pots that will probably fall apart and fly out the window to begin with.  I used to do pottery years ago and I really loved it, but I do remember that the number of pots that actually go from a lumpy blob of clay to a beautiful finished pot is pretty low in the beginning.  I still loved it, I loved the feeling of it, and I just accepted that the pots that fly apart are just a part of the process of getting to the ones that are beautiful.  

And as I was talking to my friend, I realized that making videos is the same thing.  I have to be willing for the first videos I make to be just like a pot that gets a wobble and then flies off the wheel and into oblivion.  It’s all part of the process of getting comfortable with the medium, of learning how to center myself, and eventually, I’ll make a great video. 

So, for some reason, this was the idea that really helped me get through the barrier of getting started on my videos.  I realized I was putting a lot of unspoken pressure on myself to get it right the first time.  “Gotta be efficient and start getting videos out there right now!”  

Procrastination = Perfectionism

I realized that this is just another reflection of perfectionism and procrastination, which are two sides of the same coin, really.  If we expect our first pots to be perfect from the beginning, it’s likely that we’ll find a lot of other things to do before we get started, because that’s just not realistic and it’s too much pressure.  It’s setting ourselves up for failure.  And that’s no fun. 

So, of course the part of us that doesn’t want to feel bad says, Well, I’m not doing it.  But I’m not going to come out and say it directly, because I’ll get in trouble if I do.  I’m just going to subtly make suggestions like, don’t you need to do the dishes?  You haven’t checked your email yet, maybe there’s something important there.  And wasn’t there something else you needed to do first?  And on and on. 

The Big Shift

So, yesterday afternoon, I told myself that I was going to just make some videos that I was totally willing to let fly out the window.  They could be absolutely terrible and I would still have a good time.  Because I know that these first ventures into this new medium are likely to be a little goofy and awkward to begin with.  I’ll get there eventually.  And I’m sure that with some practice at the wheel, I’ll find that they get easier and easier.  And better and better.

I remember when my friend first started learning pottery, she would have days where she didn’t make one finished pot.  The clay would not cooperate and it was a frustrating, disheartening experience for her.  But that was all a part of how she got to where she is now.  She stuck with it, let herself have those days, and now she has her own growing pottery business and she can create a lot of beautiful pots in one session. 

What To Do About It

We can all get there with our chosen creative expressions.  We just have to be willing to sit down and let the first ones we create not be perfect.  It all begins here. 

If you want to get over procrastination about something you’ve been wanting to do, look at how you’re expecting yourself to be perfect right out of the gate.  Then give yourself permission to let go of that pressure and just explore and have fun with what you’re doing.  Give yourself permission to let a whole lot of pots fly out the window.  As you do, you’ll really get started on the path toward getting that perfect pot that you want, or video, or writing, or painting, or whatever you’re wanting to create.  And you will get there.  Imperfection will eventually lead to the perfect kind of perfection, if you let it. 

Update on My Video-Making Progress

It totally worked!  I recorded my first video the same day I wrote this post.  Yay!  And my video didn’t even fly out the window.  You can see it here (it’s about EFT: what it is and my perspective on how it works):  So What Is EFT Anyway?

Sometimes, all it takes is a little awareness and shift in thinking to move us forward.  I did need to do a little tapping just before putting it up on YouTube though, had some butterflies about it.  It turned out well for my first one though, don’t you think?  Funny, when we give ourselves permission to do something badly, we make room for ourselves to do it pretty well. 

Let me know what you think of this post and of my fist video by leaving a comment below or comment here. 

In my next post, I’ll give you some tips on how to use EFT to overcome procrastination and the shadow aspect of it that we sometimes don’t even realize is there: perfectionism. 

See you then!  And thanks for reading. 

Blessings,

Laura

EFT, EFT Videos, Videos

So What Is EFT Anyway?

1 Comment

What EFT is and how it works

I just love EFT.  It’s a wonderful technique for personal growth and healing in body, mind, and spirit.  Plus, it’s extremely easy to learn and use and it’s gentle, fast, and very effective. 

I created this video so I could share EFT (short for Emotional Freedom Techniques) with people who may have never heard of EFT or may have heard something about it but don’t really know what it is and how it works.

To summarize what I cover in the video, EFT is a very simple energy technique that involves tapping on nine different acupressure points on your face and body while you think about some issue that is bothering you.  You can focus on letting go of negative beliefs or let go of any kind of emotional or physical discomfort.  It works really well for anxiety, phobias, painful past experiences/traumas, PTSD, anger, sadness, physical issues… practically anything you can think of.

The thing is, it doesn’t take very long to learn EFT and it doesn’t take very long to use it either.  So, it’s worth it to try it on everything and see what happens.  From my experience, EFT helps you let go of emotional, mental, and even physical issues more quickly and effectively and gently than anything else I have ever tried.

How does it work?

By tapping on these specific acupressure points, you are opening up the flow of energy through your body and as a result, you feel yourself experiencing your natural state of unconditional well-being.  By focusing on an issue that is causing you discomfort while you tap on these points, you are programming your energy system to respond to that issue in a healthy, peaceful way.  It may take a few rounds to get there (which won’t take very long anyway), but once you let go of the intensity around a particular issue, you allow your inner wisdom to give you a new perspective on that issue.  In my experience, that means you see the situation from a much more loving, wise, and compassionate perspective for yourself and for anyone else involved.

One of the things I love about EFT is that it really gives you evidence that what lies beneath the outer layer of our negative emotions and limiting beliefs is a core of unconditional well-being and wisdom.  If you sit down and do EFT for 20 minutes on an issue that’s really bothering you, you will be amazed at how much better you feel and you will have new wonderful insights that will help you understand and resolve whatever problems you may be having.

It’s just so powerful.  But it’s very gentle as well.  And it works so quickly, too.

Try it yourself

The best way to discover what EFT really is, is try it for yourself.  In my next video, I’ll walk you through the process of learning how to do EFT yourself.  You can follow along with me as you tap on an issue that’s bothering you.  And as you do, you really will see for yourself how powerful EFT is.

Watch the video to learn more.  And please subscribe to my blog (click the little orange box) so you’ll get notified when I put new posts, videos, and podcasts up on my blog.  See you next time.  And have a wonderful day.

Blessings,

Laura

My Musings

Welcome to my Blog!

Leave a comment

Hi and welcome to my new blog.  In this first post, I’m going to talk about what I’m planning on writing about in this blog.  I’m just going to write about whatever inspires me at the moment.  My life is always unfolding in new, interesting ways (as most people’s are) and I thought I’d just write about my experiences and insights along the way.  I hope my readers will find my thoughts and experiences interesting and helpful on their own wonderful journeys in their lives.  We’re all finding our way and I hope that the people who feel aligned with my writing and videos and podcasts will come back and read more.  We can all help each other on the journey of remembering more and more of who we really are and that’s what I intend to do in my blog. 

It’s fun to think about all the wonderful things I can share here.  I have so many thoughts about different tools and ideas that I have found helpful to me and that I have shared with others in different ways.  I’m sure I’ll never run out of things to write about since I’m always looking within to bring myself back to the beautiful place of unconditional love, well-being, and wisdom that is within me… and within all of us. 

What I Like to Write About

To just give you an idea of what I’d like to write about right now, the things that I love to share include:

1.  EFT, short for Emotional Freedom Techniques, a wonderful, easy to use, energy technique that involves tapping on nine different acupressure points on you face and body while you think about something that you would like to let go of, such as a negative belief or feeling or physical issue.  I have a feeling that I’ll be writing and making videos and podcasts about EFT a lot as I go on with this blog.  It’s such a great resource; it works, it’s free to use, it’s easy to use, and it feels really good.  There’s so much more to share about my experiences with EFT and ways you can use it to bring you back to your natural state of well-being, but that’s enough for now.  More to come on this! 

2.  The joy of being present in the Now.  I have found such value in the teachings of Eckhart Tolle and his books and videos.  Some of the most beautiful experiences of my life have been triggered and nurtured by his work.  I have been able to really feel the unconditional beauty and joy of Being, accessed through the full experience of the present moment and I really want to share what has helped me get there in the hopes that I can help you more fully experience this place within you as well. 

 3.  Meditation practices and spiritual teachings and insights that have brought me to deep feelings of love and well-being. 

4.  How to affirm what you want and use various visualization techniques and spiritual ideas to help you manifest whatever you truly want in your life and make the Law of Attraction really work for you.  I’ll tell you about my experiences with manifesting things in my life and I’ll share what I discover about what really works as I go on. 

5.  How to connect with the inner wisdom within you to find answers that really resonate for you about any question you may have in your life.

6.  And I’ll just be sharing about new ideas and insights and resources as they come to me with the intention that I’ll be able to help others as I find my way on this wonderful adventure of life. 

So, that’s the idea for now.  I am open to this evolving into whatever it may become in the future as well.  My primary intention is to blog about whatever I am inspired to share as that unfolds for me in my life.  I will come from my heart and share what inspires and uplifts me on my journey in the hope that it will inspire you as well.

So, that’s a good place to start.  I hope you come along on the journey with me.  You can subscribe to my blog so you’ll get notified of new posts and videos and podcasts by clicking on the orange RSS subscribe button in the bottom left corner of this blog.  You can also subscribe to my eNewsletter in the sign up box at the top right of this page.  And just bookmark my blog and come and see what I’ve got going on whenever you like. 

I am planning to have lots of blog posts, videos, and podcasts all here to share with you. 

My Program

I also have a self-help program called Your Inspiring Life that uses EFT, guided visualization, guided meditation, and a variety of fun exercises to help you live a life that truly inspires and fulfills you.  First, it helps you discover what you really want for yourself and your life.  Then, it helps you figure out what’s holding you back from getting it and helps you let it go with EFT.  It also helps you envision what you want and attract it to you, connect with your inner guidance, and guides you to feel your unconditional well-being so you feel absolutely free to follow your heart with a deep sense of confidence, trust, and inspiration.  There are 29 mp3 recordings in the program plus an eBook that walks you through everything.  It’s a wonderful program and I’m happy to be able to share it with you.  If this sounds like something that you think might help you on your journey, I encourage you to go check it out.  Here’s the link to my program site: 

YourInspiringLife.com

So, that’s all for now.  I plan on adding to this blog regularly so come back soon as see what happens next.  And thanks so much for taking the time to read this first post and visit.

Leave Me a Comment if You Like

If you liked this post, please leave me a comment below.  I’ll be checking them regularly and I’ll be happy to respond if you have a question or suggestion about something you’d like me to talk about here. 

So, for now, have a wonderful day and I’ll see you next time.

Blessings,

Laura