Release Perfectionism With Guided EFT Tapping (Live Replay)

Perfectionism can keep us stuck—waiting until we’re fully “ready” before taking action, speaking up, or sharing our work. In this live EFT session, we’ll gently explore the fear that drives perfectionism and tap on the pressure to be flawless. You’ll be guided to shift from self-judgment to self-acceptance, and reconnect with the courage to show up as you are—imperfect, real, and enough. This session is part of my full Visibility Tapping Course on Insight Timer. If perfectionism has been holding you back from being seen or expressing yourself fully, this is for you. Follow me on Insight Timer to stay up to date with future live events and tapping meditations.

Transcript

So we're talking about perfectionism today, And this is something that I've come across a lot in my own life and work. And it shows up in ways where it can just make you freeze and not be able to move forwards. So it's a wonderful one to work through together and yeah we'll do some tapping on it. Yeah, Let's start making our way through. So talking about perfectionism today. I have to say, I don't know about you, I don't think I resonated with being a perfectionist as such. I saw other people around me and thought maybe they were but not myself and then it was only when I started learning what it means to suffer from this sort of perfectionism block that it really resonated with me and for me it was when I was trying to show up at work, Maybe do presentations or I had things to do and I would obsess over and over and over with it and it was never quite perfect. It always had to be something else that I could do and I just procrastinated. And it was terrible. I used to freeze with it. So tapping has really helped me. Move forward and just shift some of that energy and start feeling more comfortable with progress over perfection really, You know, And trying to show up more as my vulnerable self. So this session today is inspired by a full session which is in my visibility tapping course which is on Insight Timer. If anyone's already a member here you can access that. If you're new to tapping, I know some people are, EFT stands for Emotional Freedom Techniques. It's a body-based method where we gently tap on specific acupressure points to calm the nervous system. Helps to release unhelpful patterns physically, Mentally and emotionally. So I'm going to guide you the whole way through. You don't need to have done this before, Just follow along best you can. I'll be tapping on certain parts of the body. I will also be calling out the places as well, You know, Saying like under the nose, Chin, Collarbone. So we'll all know what to do and we'll do it together. I will say words and then you repeat them after me. I'll leave a space for you. But also when you're listening, If my words resonate, Absolutely use them. If they don't and something else comes to mind, Use your own word, Because the more specific we get, The better. Let's start by getting present and we can just take a breath. And just settle into the moment. Sigh Perhaps let your shoulders drop. You can just feel your body settle into your seat. And tune in. So today we're going to create space for this, How it shows up in our thoughts. Our bodies and the way we hold ourselves back from being seen. So let this be a moment of honesty without judgment. You don't need to fix anything right now. You don't need to perform or get this right. You can just show up exactly as you are. So just take a deep breath in. And slowly release. So in EFT, We use a SUD score, Which is subjective units of distress. We rate it on 0-10 with 10 being the highest. So when you think about being visible and that's showing up imperfectly or needing to have everything perfect before moving forwards and getting in that procrastination loop, How does it make you feel? And just notice any sensations that come up in your body. Maybe you might feel a tightness across your chest. Perhaps in your throat is a very common area where people will feel perhaps a tightening or a sensation there. And notice on a 0-10 where it is, You know, Maybe you're a 6, Maybe you're a 9. I mean, You know, There's no rules, It's whatever. Whatever your number is, Is right for you. And just a little note on perfectionism. So perfectionism isn't about high standards, It's about fear. Fear of getting it wrong, Fear of being judged. So deep down, It's a survival response. If I mess up, I'll be rejected. And for many of us, That fear started early. We were only praised when we excelled, Or we were criticized when we didn't. The truth is people connect with authenticity, Not perfection. So EFT helps us gently release that fear so that we can stop wanting to be ready before we can just start living. I'm holding my breath so often. Just take a breath and release. Yeah. So if we can show up as our vulnerable self, The one that might make a mistake, And believe me, My journey to get here has definitely been some bumps and some blocks that I've had to work through to be able to show up in a more vulnerable form. And not know the answer and get it wrong. And when we can do that, People actually warm to us, Which is really quite beautiful. So. Let's get moving on. If you like for this session, You can set an intention. And think about where perfectionism may have been holding you back. What have you been putting off? Waiting until you're perfect and just keep that in mind as we tap through. So I mean this is a short session today, Half an hour at the most, 20 minutes. But what may happen today is thoughts may come up, Memories may come up. Um. . . You know and we might be able to shift some energy here where you might get a greater insight as to what has been holding you back and why this perfectionism is in place. And then as always, You can just keep going and keep using this. Right, So let's get tapping. We're going to tap on the side of the hand first on this fleshy part and you can tap on one hand or the other hand, It makes no difference if you want to mix it up. I'll say the words, Repeat them after me. Even though I feel a need to be perfect before I'm visible. I deeply and completely accept myself. Even though I put so much pressure on myself to get it right. I choose to be kind to myself. Even though I fear making mistakes and being judged. I allow myself to embrace progress over perfection. Okay, Let's get tapping through the round, So stop the eyebrow. Again, You can do it with one hand, The other hand, Both hands. You're going to be hitting the meridians which run down either side of the body. I keep thinking I have to get it right. Side of I. Like there's no room for error. Under the eye. I put so much pressure on myself to be flawless. Under the nose. It feels like perfection is the only option. On the chin. I worry that if I slip up, I'll be judged. Collarbone so it's not actually on the bone here I'm not really wearing the right top for this but if you imagine you've got your collarbone you come to the end knobbly bits down an inch, Out an inch, And you're in that sort of soft groove underneath. I feel frozen, Unable to move forward. Under the arm. I hold myself to impossible expectations. I'm tired of needing to be more before I'm allowed to begin. Eyebrow. I'm scared of what people will think. I've been criticized before and it stings. Under the eye. I fear they'll see my flaws and turn away. Under the nose. I fear being misunderstood or dismissed. The chin. Maybe it's safer to hide than risk that again. Collarbone. This fear keeps me editing, Delaying, Doubting. This is the one that used to get me. Under the arm. I can't relax unless I'm perfect. Top of the head. But deep down I know that fear is running the show. Eyebrow. They're going to think I'm stupid. Side of I. I should know what I'm doing by now. Under the eye. It's too much to show my vulnerability. Under the nose. I fear I'm going to get mocked or laughed at. The chin. Maybe it's safer to avoid the task altogether. Collarbone. I'm making excuses to get out of it. Under the arm. I can't relax unless I'm perfect. Top of the head, But I'm tired of feeling this way. Okay, Let's take a pause. How's everyone doing? Maybe if you notice what number you were on to begin with. And just check to see what rating you would give yourself now. How's your body feeling? Because now we've called it out and we're looking straight at it. Sometimes it can go up. Sometimes it might go down. There's no right or wrong answer at this sort of midway point. It can bounce all over the place, But the good thing is hopefully the energy is moving. Okay, Let's keep going eyebrow. What if I don't need to be perfect to bring value? Side of I. What if I'm allowed to make mistakes? Under the eye. I would like to let go of this. Under the nose and give myself permission to be a messy human. On the chin. What if I'm allowed to try, Even if it's not flawless? Collarbone, No matter how old I am. Under the arm. What if I could choose progress over perfection? Top of the head and learn to trust my imperfect self. Keep going. Eyebrow. I really want to show up authentically. Side of I. I'd rather be real. Takes a lot of effort to be fake. Under the eye. Maybe imperfections can make me relatable. Under the nose. Maybe they can help me connect with others more deeply. What if I give myself room to grow? Collarbone. What if I could be open to taking up space? Collarbone under the arm. What if I can show up just as I am? And still be respected. Top of the head. And trust that good enough is truly enough. Okay, Let's just take a breath. You can get quite buzzy doing lots of rounds of tapping. There's some words in there that really resonate with me. I don't know if they do with you, But. . . Good enough? Could be enough. And the other one that I really love is progress over perfection. Because reaching for perfection, We're just going to get stuck and not move forwards, Whereas progress. . . We're always going to keep moving. And that's the only way we can improve. Okay, Let's keep going eyebrow. I feel this pressure lifting from my body. Side of eye. I'm breathing easier with each touch. Under the eye. I don't have to prove anything to be worthy. Under the nose. My voice matters. On the chin, I am letting go of this thinking. On the collarbone. I allow self-kindness to replace self-judgement. Under the arm. I am more than my mistakes. Up with their head. I am enough exactly as I am. For this round, We're just going to breathe on each of the tapping points. Because there's a lot of words that have been said, A lot of tapping. Sometimes it's just really nice. To tap on a point and breathe. Side of I. Under the eye. Under the nose. On the chin. Collarbone. Thumbs up y'all. Top of the head. Okay, Let's come back to tapping on the side of the hand. How you're doing. Okay, Even though I've spent so long trying to be perfect. Maybe I can show up just as I am. Even though I feared being judged. If I'm not flawless. I'm learning to trust that my real self is enough. Even though a part of me still worries about getting it wrong. I choose to meet myself with kindness instead of pressure. Okay, Last round of tapping. It's safe for me to be visible. Side of I. I choose progress over perfection. Under the eye. I don't have to prove anything. Under the nose. I have something to share with the world. Chin. I may not be perfect, But that's OK. Collarbone. I am real. I am human. And I am doing my best. Under the arm. I'm a work in progress. And I choose progress, Sorry, Top of the head, And I choose progress over perfection every time. Okay. Take a breath. Oh gosh maybe you've done some yawning as you've been tapping that's a great way of seeing the energy shifting through the body If you have some water, Take a sip. Also a wonderful way of getting the energy to move around the body. And if you feel cool too, Share in the comments how you're feeling. How does it feel to get that energy moving through the body? Did you feel any. . . Shifts in how your body feels. Did your SUD rating, The 0-10, Did that go down at all? Let me know in the comments if you feel like sharing.