EFT Tapping to Ease Stress for Musicians

As a musician navigating the complexities of today’s fast-paced world, maintaining inner peace and balance is essential. One practice that has profoundly impacted my life is Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), commonly known as Tapping. This therapeutic approach combines ancient Chinese acupressure with modern psychology, offering a unique method to address emotional and physical challenges. While I personally don’t find that EFT significantly improves my performances—meditation seems to do a better job in that regard—I do believe its number one benefit is eliminating the emotional charge from negative thoughts. By doing so, I can more objectively recognize them as thoughts or beliefs that I don’t have to adopt if they’re not serving me.

Discovering the Power of EFT Tapping

My introduction to EFT came through personal connections—my wife and brother-in-law mentioned its benefits, but it wasn’t until a life coach guided me through a session that I truly experienced its transformative potential. This experience sparked a deep interest, leading me to explore various resources and integrate Tapping into my daily routine.

EFT involves tapping on specific meridian points on the body while focusing on particular emotional issues. This process is believed to balance the body’s energy system, reduce stress, and resolve negative emotions. For musicians, who often face performance anxiety, self-doubt, and creative blocks, EFT offers a practical tool to release these obstacles and gain clarity.

Influential Resources on EFT

Nick Ortner’s “The Tapping Solution”

Nick Ortner’s book, The Tapping Solution, was a pivotal resource in my journey with EFT. Ortner provides a comprehensive guide to using Tapping for addressing a variety of issues, from daily stress to deep-seated fears and traumas. The book offers practical exercises and real-life case studies, demonstrating the effectiveness of EFT. Through Ortner’s guidance, I have learned to use Tapping as a tool for achieving a more balanced and harmonious life, addressing my anxieties, and fostering a greater sense of well-being.

Pamela Bruner and Jack Canfield’s “Tapping Into Success”

Building on the foundations laid by Ortner, Tapping Into Success by Pamela Bruner and Jack Canfield explores the application of EFT in achieving personal and professional goals. This book delves into how Tapping can dismantle limiting beliefs, clear mental blocks, and create pathways for success. Bruner and Canfield provide a blueprint for using EFT to overcome obstacles and achieve personal growth, which has been invaluable in my journey as a musician. Their insights have helped me address the pressures of performing and the fear of failure, allowing me to approach my craft with greater confidence and authenticity.

Scientific Insights into EFT Tapping

Research supports the benefits of EFT. Studies have shown that Tapping can reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD. For instance, a study published in the Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease found that EFT significantly reduced anxiety among participants compared to other interventions. Another study highlighted that Tapping could lead to reduced cortisol levels, a hormone associated with stress.

In addition, research published in Energy Psychology: Theory, Research, and Treatment found that Tapping sessions were correlated with significant improvements in emotional regulation, particularly in individuals experiencing chronic stress. This suggests that musicians, who often deal with the pressure of performance, could benefit from incorporating EFT into their routine to manage emotional highs and lows.

A Step-by-Step Guide to EFT for Musicians

If you’re new to EFT, here’s a simple process to get started:

1. Identify the Issue – Choose a specific negative thought or belief that you want to address.
2. Assess the Intensity – On a scale of 0 to 10, rate how strongly you feel the negative emotion associated with this thought.
3. Set Up the Statement – Use an affirmation like, “Even though I feel [insert emotion], I deeply and completely accept myself.”
4. Begin Tapping – Tap each of the following points while repeating a phrase related to your issue:
   • Karate chop (side of the hand)
   • Eyebrow
   • Side of the eye
   • Under the eye
   • Under the nose
   • Chin
   • Collarbone
   • Under the arm
5. Repeat Until Relief – Go through multiple rounds until the intensity level decreases.

Common Misconceptions About EFT

Some skeptics dismiss EFT as pseudoscience. However, growing research supports its effectiveness. Here are some misconceptions:

• “You have to believe in it for it to work.” While belief can enhance results, studies show measurable physiological effects regardless of belief.
• “It’s just positive thinking.” Unlike affirmations alone, EFT combines cognitive focus with physical stimulation, engaging the nervous system in a unique way.
• “Results are immediate or it doesn’t work.” While some people experience rapid relief, deeper emotional patterns may require repeated sessions.

EFT for Sleep, Creativity, and Emotional Balance

One of the most significant benefits I’ve experienced with EFT Tapping is its ability to help me unwind after a long, overstimulating day. There are times when I struggle to fall asleep or wake up in the middle of the night feeling wound up. A few rounds of tapping have been incredibly effective in calming my nervous system and allowing me to sleep better.

Additionally, by removing the emotional weight from negative thoughts, EFT helps me engage in creative work with more clarity and focus. It doesn’t necessarily make me a better musician, but it does clear away mental clutter that can interfere with creative expression.

My Tapping Audio Recordings

To deepen my practice, I developed personalized tapping audio recordings. I began by listing recurring negative thoughts that affected me, such as “I’m not good enough, so why bother?” For each, I crafted affirmations to counteract them—for instance, transforming the previous thought into “I have talent, share it freely with the world, and reap great benefits from it.”

Using a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), I recorded these affirmations, carefully pacing them to match my preferred tapping rhythm. Each phrase aligns with a specific tapping point, creating a seamless flow. I organized these recordings into subject-specific MP3 files, allowing me to select topics as needed or engage in a comprehensive 45-minute session addressing multiple areas.

Additionally, I structured my recordings so that each MP3 contained an even multiple of eight affirmations. Since there are eight tapping points, I ensured that even if a topic only had five affirmations, I cycled through them multiple times to reach a total count that aligned with the meridian points (e.g., 5 affirmations repeated three times equals 24 total taps). This structure helped maintain rhythmic consistency, which I found to be beneficial for staying engaged with the process. Unlike some guided EFT recordings, I chose not to include background music, as I found it distracting. However, I have used harmonium drones in other types of meditative recordings, which might be an option for those who prefer a more immersive auditory experience.

Conclusion

EFT Tapping, complemented by personalized audio recordings and structured repetition, has become a powerful tool for breaking free from negative thought patterns and stepping into a more objective mindset. By embracing these tools, I’ve been able to reduce self-doubt, manage stress, and cultivate a healthier mental space. Whether you’re dealing with creative blocks, performance anxiety, or simply seeking emotional freedom, EFT offers an accessible method for personal growth. I encourage anyone curious about it to give it a try—it might just change the way you engage with your thoughts and emotions.