Sunday, April 17, 2005
Emotional Freedom
The first I heard about EFT- Emotional Freedom Technique was from
croc's journal, who at the time was trading in woodie's cci room (
croc's current blog). His observation is worth repeating before proceeding further
EFT will help you to stay calm, but EFT will not be a shortcut on your trading path. If you have not enough experience, not enough screentime, EFT can not substitute for lack of experience.
The same thing can be said of meditation. These emotion-management tools will not make you a better trader. But they will help clear the fog so that you can evaluate your methods and performance as a trader from a position of clarity.
EFT uses accupuncture meridian stimulation along with intention-based somatic (and/or memory) focus. The
technique is straightforward and consists of first
tuning into the problem, from which a phrase is composed and repeated during the Setup. I want to stress the importance of this phase, to focus attentive care and awareness into it. Then, using only the "tag end" of the Setup phrase, one "taps" the meridian points as described in the
technique link.
I would like to make one observation that, to some extent, deviates from the EFT methodology. You will see some suggestions to focus on prior "negative memories". If one has an extremely specific and overpowering memory, perhaps this is appropriate. However if one
does have such a memory, perhaps professional help is also advised.
I do not do this as this is, in my opinion, a trip down an endless corridor of mirrors. From my experience and study of feedback, focusing on body responses associated with a complex emotional form will yield significant and important results. I believe this because from the day of our birth we begin registering reactions to the world around us, and from a very early age begin to embody our memory with emotional attachments. Who can say exactly which memory triggers which body reaction? Why search for a "possible" memory
in the past when you can feel a body reaction
in the now? I offer this in particular to those who just cannot dredge up a miserable memory for their setup. Instead say something like "Even though I put tension in my neck..." or "Even though I turn my stomach in knots..". Start with that, you know that.
Aside from the benefits it confers, "tapping" can be just the Emotional Stop and Reverse break one takes
just when an emotional form threatens to disrupt things. Walking away from your trading office, to a quiet spot for tapping might help turn focus away from emotion and bring equanimity back to business.
Labels: attitude
