Feeling down, grumpy, agitated, anxious, sad or lonely? There may be a brief, free, and easy technique that you can use right now, without even having to fix a relationship or any other problem, to feel immediately calmer and happier. Temporal tapping is a quickee method for influencing your feelings, thoughts or actions for the better.
This rapid-acting and easy-to-do technique, which involves no invasive procedures, medicines or risky procedures, has been around for centuries. Yes, not just for years, but for centuries. Can you use it to change your occasional grumpy, anxious or irritible mood? Maybe yes, and maybe no. But rather than let a bad mood spoil your day or spill out on folks you cherish, learning to do temporal tapping could well be worth a try.
Donna Eden, a master practicioner of this and other surprisingly effective new therapy and self-help intervention methods, gives a more full explanation of temporal tapping here. If though you just want to get on with it to rid yourself of a bad mood right now, check out the video below. It will take less than 2 minutes to watch. Implementing the technique then takes less than 30 seconds.
I make no promises and have no research to back up the validity of temporal tapping. I've just seen it work for clients, and with myself, enough to feel that the technique is worth sharing.
The underlying mechanism seems to be the same as the mechanism of post-hypnotic suggestion. That's when the hypnotist plants an idea for action subsequent to the trance by saying something like "When you come out of this trance you will...."
Have fun with it!
If the short video above is not working, try clicking here.
"Calm and happy" is one option for a target emotional state. If you would prefer another, feel welcome to say that instead. E.g., "I am ok with the dilemma I am facing. I feel ready to figure out how to handle it effectively." Or, "I feel optimistic that this situation will work itself out for the best." Or whatever statement feels right for you.
Two rules for choosing your own message to tap into your subconscious:
1. The statement must be in the present tense. Instead of "I will feel ..." which would be future tense, use "I am" or "I feel... ."
2. The statement must be phrased in the positive, with zero not's or a but's. That is, avoid "I don't feel irritated ... " which would be phrased in the negative since don't has within it an abbreviated not. Instead, keep the format a description of the state you are hoping to be feeling as a result of the tapping, i.e., "I feel relaxed and appreciative that ....."
This is an experiment.
Do use the Comments option below to let me and other readers as well know what your experience is with this technique. When did you use it? And what has been the outcome? This is an experiment that all of us can do together.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
(c)Susan Heitler, Ph.D. -----------------------------------
For an indexed listing of Dr. H's Blogposts see her clinical website.
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Denver clinical psychologist Susan Heitler, Ph.D, a graduate of Harvard and NYU, is author of Power of Two, a book, a workbook, and a website that teach the communication skills that sustain positive relationships.
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