WTF is EFT Tapping?
Do you ever feel caught in the same cycles of behavior and outcomes that you swear you’re ready to let go of, but it just feels like you’re hitting the same wall over and over? You’re not alone. Many of us hold onto deeply wired patterns that work against us, looping automatically through the body and the mind—no matter how much we try to think or manifest our way out. That’s where EFT Tapping comes in. It’s one of the fastest ways I know to break those cycles, regulate your nervous system, and finally open the door to new outcomes—right in the moment. ⚡️
EFT, or Emotional Freedom Techniques, is an evidence-based somatic practice that combines cognitive therapy and acupressure to regulate the nervous system and ease both emotional and physical distress.
Often described as “psychological acupuncture,” EFT replaces needles with gentle fingertip tapping on nine meridian points on the upper body while you voice acknowledgment and reprogramming phrases, either aloud or silently. This simple yet powerful practice dismantles stress patterns, stabilizes the nervous system, and rewires limiting beliefs into expansive new truths.
The work fits seamlessly within THE ENERGETIC EDIT framework: here, the aim is to systematically upgrade your internal operating system, nervous system, beliefs, and behaviors so you can embody your highest, most resourced, and expansive life. EFT is one of the most direct bridges between the body, the mind, and the energy field to support that level of change. It’s also a surprisingly efficient way to shift your reality—fast. And you all know efficiency is my love language. 🤌🏻
I’ve personally practiced EFT for well over a decade and have witnessed truly remarkable—at times almost absurd—results. My relentless hunger for truth has made for an interesting balance with this type of subtle work, and I’ve spent years experimenting with the method, refining my approach so that what I share is grounded in both lived experience and measurable results.
THE STRUCTURE OF EFT
It’s called EFT “Tapping” for a reason, so let’s begin with the tapping points.
EFT begins with an Opening Statement, repeated three times while tapping on the side of the hand at what’s often called the “karate chop” point. From there, you move through the other eight meridian points on the upper body in rounds, voicing your EFT Statements as you tap. 👆🏻
THE 9 POINTS OF EFT TAPPING
including their official names and abbreviations if you’re a nerd like me:
Karate Chop (setup point) — Small Intestine 3 (SI3)
fleshy outer edge of the hand, between the base of the little finger and the wrist, where you would hit something with a karate chop
Top of Head — Governing Vessel 20 (GV20)
just literally the very top of the head, don’t over think it
Eyebrow (inner brow) — Bladder 2 (BL2)
inner edge of the eyebrow above the nose
Side of Eye (temple) — Gallbladder 1 (GB1)
on the bone at the outer corner of the eye, think “the tail” of your eyebrow
Under Eye — Stomach 2 (ST2)
directly under the pupil on the upper cheekbone, think where we may occasionally have some dark circles
Under Nose — Governing Vessel 26 (GV26)
between the nose and upper lip, don’t overthink it
Chin (center of crease) — Conception Vessel 24 (CV24)
crease between the lower lip and chin
Collarbone — Kidney 27 (K27)
just below the inner edge of the collarbone, near the sternum
Under Arm — Spleen 21 (SP21)
about a hand’s width below the armpit on the side of the body, exactly where a bra strap might be
THE ORDER OF THE EFT CIRCUIT & WHY
You might be wondering: why do we always tap through the points in the same order? Think of it as a circuit. Each point corresponds to a different meridian in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and when tapped sequentially, the whole circuit clears and regulates. It’s not random—it’s a full-body reset.
Here’s what each point connects to and why it matters:
Karate Chop — Small Intestine Meridian
used only in the setup phase / opening statement
addresses “psychological reversal” by calming resistance and opening the system to change
Eyebrow — Bladder Meridian
linked to releasing fear, trauma, and hyper-vigilance
starts the round by grounding the nervous system
Side of Eye — Gallbladder Meridian
connected to frustration, indecision, and resentment
tapping here helps move stuck energy and shift perspective
Under Eye — Stomach Meridian
tied to worry, anxiety, and rumination
this point is known to soothe the body’s stress response
Under Nose — Governing Vessel
regulates shock, shame, and feelings of powerlessness
brings the system back into presence
Chin — Conception Vessel
linked to self-doubt and confusion
helps integrate new clarity and alignment
Collarbone — Kidney Meridian
one of the body’s main “panic buttons”
calms fear, fight-or-flight, and restores a sense of safety
Under Arm — Spleen Meridian
associated with worthiness and clearing stuck emotions
creates space for acceptance and renewal
Top of Head — Governing Vessel
the crown point that ties the whole circuit together
restores flow, integration, and openness to new truths
By following this exact order, you’re tracing a loop across the body that tells your nervous system: you are safe, the threat has passed, and it’s time to rewire. Each point builds on the last, making the sequence a complete energetic reset instead of a scattered set of taps.
Some points sit on the body’s main meridians, channels tied to specific organ systems, while others are on vessels, the master regulators that connect and balance all the meridians. Together they form one seamless circuit for calming, clearing, and rewiring. 🙌🏻
So, for example, if you’re feeling stressed about your finances, here’s how EFT might look in practice:
EFT FOR FINANCIAL STRESS
Take a few deep breaths, pause for a somatic check-in, and let yourself arrive fully in the moment. I want you to bring this issue to the forefront of your mind and rate it on a scale of 1-10; 1 being I’m a little bothered/worried about this and 10 being I am completely crashing out over this issue. Set that number aside for now.
Opening Statement
a setup statement that is always repeated 3x while tapping the karate chop point
Tapping Point: KARATE CHOP POINT
“Even though I’m feeling a ton of pressure around money, I choose to deeply love and accept myself.”
“Even though this stress feels really overwhelming, I choose to deeply love and accept myself.”
“Even though I genuinely don’t know how this is all going to work out, I choose to deeply love and accept myself.”
✱ The Opening Statements are meant to acknowledge the problem while pairing it with unconditional self-acceptance. They don’t need to be identical (but they can) and you can shape them to fit the issue you’re exploring (like I did here), but they should always end with a statement of acceptance and self-love. We’re programming in that both things can be true.
Tapping Statements
Spoken or silent phrases paired with the 8 tapping points, repeated SEQUENTIALLY in rounds until you feel a shift
ROUND 1
Tapping Point: EYEBROW
“I’m feeling so much pressure right now around money.”
Tapping Point: SIDE OF EYE
“I have a lot of anxiety, stress, and tension in my body.”
Tapping Point: UNDER EYE
“There is a lot of fear and uncertainty about my finances right now and it feels terrible.”
Tapping Point: UNDER NOSE
“But I completely understand why I’m feeling this way.”
Tapping Point: CHIN
“Because I genuinely don’t know how this is all going to work out.”
Tapping Point: COLLARBONE
“And this is a very unpredictable and ungrounded time in my life.”
Tapping Point: UNDER ARMPIT
“I hold space for myself to feel these emotions and acknowledge that they are 100% valid.”
Tapping Point: TOP OF HEAD
“I also know that this is not going to last forever.”
✱ Reminder, you will always tap in this exact order. Each point builds on the last, so follow them step by step.
ROUND 2
Tapping Point: EYEBROW
“I give myself permission to believe everything can work out.”
Tapping Point: SIDE OF EYE
“I open myself up to the possibility that it doesn’t have to be so hard.”
Tapping Point: UNDER EYE
“I allow support, stability, and abundance to show up in unexpected ways.”
Tapping Point: UNDER NOSE
“I release any and all limiting beliefs I may be holding onto about how money can come to me.”
Tapping Point: CHIN
“I release any and all old identities that may be blocking my full abundance.”
Tapping Point: COLLARBONE
“I anchor into the truth that I can trust myself during this season of breakthrough.”
Tapping Point: UNDER ARMPIT
“I anchor into knowing I am worthy of abundance and things are going to be different going forward.”
Tapping Point: TOP OF HEAD
“I anchor into the truth that I am steady, safe, and supported. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”
✱ I’ve found that closing with a statement of gratitude adds a powerful layer to this work. It’s my suggestion, but not a requirement.
A couple of FAQs I want to address right away:
Which side of the body do I tap on?
You can do right, left, or a combination of both. You can switch sides at any point during your sequence. You can use either hand. It totally doesn’t matter. 🩻
How do I know I’m hitting the right points?
Acupressure is forgiving—the points are broad areas, not tiny targets. I’m not just saying that to reassure you; it’s genuinely hard to get this practice wrong.
How many rounds do I do?
Go through the points as long as you have time, riffing and improvising as new things surface, until you notice a shift—a loosening in your chest, a deep sigh, feeling more grounded, feeling more connected to yourself. Look for any sign that some energy has moved, even in a small way. This is why we choose a number between 1 and 10 at the start—it gives us a measurable way to check in with ourselves.
What if I don’t believe anything I’m saying?
One of the absolute best parts about EFT is that your belief in the words isn’t required for it to work!!!
The tapping itself is sending calming signals to your nervous system, letting your body know it’s safe to be open to those outcomes. Even if your mind feels doubtful, your system is still receiving the benefit. 🧠 Over time, the resistance softens—sometimes in just a few rounds—and the statements start to feel more true and natural. All you need to do is show up and tap.
How do I know what to say?
Here’s my little hack to make sure you’re getting the most bang for your buck with your EFT Statements.
NAME → SHIFT → REWIRE
✱ NAME IT: Truth-Telling Phase
Begin by naming the fear, tension, or belief honestly while tapping through the points. This is where you allow the nervous system to feel seen and validated.
Examples:
“I’m feeling so much pressure right now around money.”
“There is a lot of fear and uncertainty about my finances right now and it feels terrible.”
Why It Works: The nervous system responds to truth first. Naming the discomfort signals safety and lowers resistance, which sets the stage for transformation.
✱ SHIFT: Opening the Window Phase
Once the raw truth has been named, you gently invite in new possibilities. This creates space for the nervous system to move from fear toward curiosity and openness.
Examples:
“I give myself permission to believe everything can work out.”
“I open myself up to the possibility that it doesn’t have to be so hard.”
Why It Works: By introducing possibility without forcing it, you’re showing the subconscious another way to interpret the experience. This is the “door opening” moment where expansion becomes possible. 🔓
✱ REWIRE: Integration Phase
Finally, anchor in empowering new truths and beliefs. This is where the rewiring takes hold and the nervous system installs a calmer, more resourceful response.
Examples:
“I anchor into knowing I am worthy of abundance and things are going to be different going forward.”
“I anchor into the truth that I am steady, safe, and supported. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”
Why It Works: Once the intensity has eased, the subconscious is receptive. The nervous system can now consolidate these upgraded beliefs into long-term patterns, so the new truth feels both safe and natural.
This arc ensures you’re not bypassing the negative emotion, but you’re also not getting trapped in it.
Instead, you’re meeting it fully, giving it space to be acknowledged, then guiding it into release. From there, the energy shifts into expansion and possibility, turning what once felt heavy into a launch point for real transformation.
As you move through the phases, pay attention to somatic cues—your breath slowing, your shoulders dropping, your body softening—as these are signs the nervous system is integrating the shift. On the flip side, if you notice a sudden tightness in your chest, your breath speeding up, or something that feels like a gut punch, those are equally valuable signals. They often mean you’ve tapped into a raw nerve or a deeper layer of stored emotion, and staying with it gently can unlock powerful release. In the process, you’re also laying new neural pathways that make it easier for your system to recognize and embody these healthier outcomes moving forward.
Now I realize that’s a hell of a lot of info, but if you’re still here…
The Science Behind EFT
Here are the major systems and mechanisms involved, illustrated through one connected example of hearing a raised voice that has been linked to conflict in the past:
Limbic System: The emotional processing center of the brain. Let’s say you grew up in a home where raised voices meant conflict, the limbic system stores that association. Today, even if you’re safe, hearing a raised voice may instantly trigger a fear response.
Amygdala: This part of the limbic system fires rapidly, sounding the alarm. In our example, the amygdala would flood the body with stress signals the moment a voice rises, preparing you to fight, flight, or freeze—even before you consciously think about it.
Hippocampus: The hippocampus hardwires the memory of past conflicts and links them to the present. When someone raises their voice now, the hippocampus pulls up the old file and says, “this means danger!” reinforcing the fear. EFT provides a new experience (calm body + new meaning) that allows the hippocampus to reconsolidate the memory so raised voices no longer automatically equal threat.
Reticular Activating System (RAS): The RAS filters what gets your attention. 👀 Once it has learned that raised voices are dangerous, it will tune your awareness to any change in tone or volume, keeping you hyper‑alert to conflict. After EFT, as the meaning of raised voices shifts, the RAS begins to highlight other cues instead—like tone, context, or even signals of safety—so you aren’t locked on threat detection alone.
Cortisol Regulation: Each time the amygdala and RAS react, they signal the HPA axis (the body’s main stress pathway) to release cortisol. Chronic exposure can significantly wear down health, vitality, and overall wellbeing. EFT lowers this stress response, so the next time a voice rises, cortisol release is blunted and your system stays steadier.
Together, these mechanisms show how a single trigger (a raised voice) can activate multiple brain systems, and how EFT interrupts the old loop: calming the amygdala, reconsolidating hippocampal memories, updating the RAS filter, and reducing cortisol.
Over time, this rewires the brain so that a raised voice becomes just that—a raised voice, not a danger signal.
Experience EFT for Yourself
EFT gives you a simple, powerful way to regulate, reframe, and rewire. Whether you use it once in a stressful moment or make it part of your regular self-care, it’s a direct bridge between where you are and where you want to be. 🔥 Try the example above for yourself—it only takes a couple of minutes and lets you feel the impact firsthand.
If you’re interested in going deeper with highly effective, fully guided EFT, where you don’t have to write a thing or remember any points (all you need to do is watch, tap with me, and repeat after me), you’ll find it all inside The Edit Library.
The full library is included in all four of my memberships and is organized into themed modules, each with its own Reiki session, guided EFT, EFT scripts, and somatic meditation—tailored precisely to that topic. Become a member today and you can dive right into Edits like Anxiety Relief, Trusting Yourself, and Relationship Detox. Get instant access to Burnout Recovery at no cost!