Hi ,
This week I've been thinking about how we connect with our emotions when we sit down to tap..
When you're in the middle of a really overwhelming moment, like acute anxiety or sudden anger, tuning in happens almost instantly. The emotion is right there on the surface, loud and clear 📢😬
But what about when you want to tap on something that happened earlier in the day, last week, or even years ago?
I like to think of tuning in like adjusting an old radio dial 📻
When an event is in the past, our system isn't automatically playing that station anymore. To tap on it effectively, we have to deliberately adjust the dial to find that specific frequency...activating the memory in our nervous system so we can work with it.
If the dial is completely off frequency, all you get is static or silence...that's when a memory feels flat, distant, or like nothing is coming through.
If you turn the dial too quickly or crank the volume up, the sound can suddenly feel overwhelming and way too loud 🙉
Tuning in with gentle sensory clues allows you to find the frequency softly. You get to keep your hand on the dial, bringing in just enough clarity to know what you’re working with, while keeping the volume at a safe, manageable level for your system 🙏
What I used to experience when tuning in...
Before I did a lot of my own personal EFT work, I used to struggle with this so much!
Sometimes, I’d try to tune into a past memory and feel absolutely nothing...nada...it felt flat and distant distant...like trying to access something that had nothing to do with me...
Other times, I’d try to tune in and suddenly feel completely flooded 🌊 where the intensity, emotions and memories came rushing back all at once, feeling way too big to manage safely (flooding happens when our nervous system gets overwhelmed by the emotion returning too quickly.)
Looking back, both reactions were just my mind and body trying to protect me. Nowadays, after years of gentle practice, both on my own and guided by practitioners, I feel hyper in-tune with my body and emotions, and can find that sweet spot much more easily. But if you’ve ever felt stuck between 'feeling nothing' and 'feeling overwhelmed', please know it’s completely normal!
How to safely tune in using small sensory clues
A quick note: if a memory feels completely numb and distant, or if it suddenly floods you with intensity, both are signposts that your body is holding trauma. If you notice either happening, please go gently. Ideally, work with a practitioner who can safely guide the tuning-in process with you.
If you do feel safe enough to explore a past memory, you don't need to force yourself to feel the big emotion straight away. Instead, try finding the frequency using small details...
Sight: What were you looking at in that moment? Notice specific details in your mind's eye - like colours, objects in the room, facial expressions, or what people were wearing.
Sound: Was there a specific sound, voice, or silence? Listen for background noise, the tone of someone's voice, footsteps, or an awkward silence.
Environment: Where were you standing or sitting? Were you indoors or outdoors? Bright or dim? Notice the temperature or the texture of a chair beneath you.
Body: As you recall one of those small details, notice if your body gives you a quiet cue - a subtle tightness in the chest, a knot in the stomach, or a shift in your breath.
Sometimes it can be helpful to just start with the body and physical details, as you give your nervous system a gentle entry point without overwhelming yourself.
I’ve just shared a post about this over in our community today, alongside a script that focuses purely on physical sensations and keeping things safe.
If you’re already a member of The Heart Circle, pop over to the community space to try out the script and let me know how you usually find your frequency when tapping on older memories - I'd love to read your thoughts.
And if you're not in the community, I hope this gentle tip brings a bit of ease to your self-tapping practice this week.
Tapping news
I always love seeing somatic tools featured in the wider world! Author and practitioner Tess Allen recently released her new memoir and healing guidebook, Courage to Feel: A Path To Healing For Survivors Of Sexual Assault.
In the book, she shares her personal journey alongside practical somatic tools - including EFT tapping, nervous system education, and emotional inquiry - to help readers gently move through old patterns and rebuild self-trust at their own pace. If you enjoy reading about how tapping integrates with somatic recovery and nervous system work, it might be one to add to your reading list! 📚
Inside the members' community
Post highlight: We're voting on our group tapping sessions - audio or video?! What would you prefer? Members are casting their vote and it's looking like video is winning!
Recently added: Friendly thoughts video tap along and cultivating enoughness in the root chakra audio
Reminder! This months tapping: Releasing regret group tapping, happening on Tuesday 13th October
Tapping wins: Check out the latest comments from our tap-along library...
Not in the community yet? We'd love to have you join us! Membership is for everyone - whether you're completely new to EFT, building a regular routine, tapping for years, or are a practitioner yourself 🥰
Thanks so much for taking the time to read today - and if you've actually made it all the way down to the bottom here, well done! ⭐️ I know my emails can run a bit long 🙈so I really appreciate you sticking with me.
I hope you found the radio tip useful! Feel free to hit reply and let me know how you get on with tuning in, or what works best for you when tapping on less recent events/memories.
P.S. Already a member? Don't forget to log into the portal this week to jump into the community space, ask any questions about setting up your practice, or share your tapping wins with us. See you inside!
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