Procrastination and Perfection: Use the Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) to Get Things Done

The Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) is an easy to learn and self-apply form of 'emotional acupuncture' that can be used to address the emotional drivers behind perfectionism. The following sequence will show you how to apply EFT to perfectionism.

Think of something specific you have been putting off doing because you don't know if you can do it perfectly and follow through the EFT tapping points (see photos below) as follows:

Setup - Tapping on the karate chop point say,
"Even though I have to do this perfectly, I completely love and accept myself. Even though I don't know how to do this and have been punished in the past for doing something badly, I give myself permission to make mistakes as I learn this. Even though I haven't started this because I am afraid of making mistakes, I completely love and accept myself."

Then continue on to each of the tapping points:
Head: "Afraid of doing this badly"
Eyebrow: "Fear of making mistakes"
Side of Eye: "I have to do this perfectly"
Under Eyes: "I forgive myself for making mistakes as I learn"
Under Nose: "What if I do this wrong?"
Collarbones: "I'm not allowed to make mistakes or I'll be punished"
Under Arms: "I have to do this tapping perfectly"
Wrists: "I completely love and accept myself doing something badly at first because at least then I'll get started"

You might want to do a few more rounds about your specific situation. Maybe you can recall some times when your were punished for not being perfect and tap around those as well.

Remember to own your mistakes. It is only by acknowledging what we have done that we can change it. "Correct, don't protect." -- Keith Cunningham.

This article was originally published in the Tap4Health EFT Newsletter. Subscribe here for more EFT articles like this.