I was in the UK for Christmas and New Year and I saw the slogan, Keep Calm and Carry On, on mugs, place mats and bags. Taken from the propaganda poster produced by the British Government in 1939 to raise morale, it made me chuckle as I passed shop windows in 2012.

So, when I learned my husband had been involved in a head on collision on his motorbike in Peru at the beginning of January, I realised I didn’t want to “keep calm” or “carry on”; nor did I want to “calm down”. I needed to wail. I needed to sob. I was devastated.

There was so little information at first, so of course, my mind made up all kinds of stories! Finally, I found out that his bike was a write off, and most of his equipment and luggage was ruined, but he had his life. Considering the impact, it is a miracle that he survived. He is now home, in Canada, battered and bruised, and in a lot of pain. The emotional and mental hurts are deeper than the physical hurts however.

And so we take one day at a time.

Sometimes, when life falls apart, the natural tendency is to make a great effort to remain calm, and keep going; to soldier on. People often comment, “isn’t she doing well, under the circumstances?”, or “he’s a real trooper”. However, all we’re doing is suppressing how we truly feel. And there is a deeply rooted part of us that needs to express what we’re thinking and feeling.

So, to honour that part of us that is squashed down and often ignored during times of crisis, I’ve created a tapping transcript. If it’s not relevant in your life now, please feel free to keep it so you can use it another time. Please respect the part of you that deserves to be heard.

If you are new to EFT,  click on tapping points to view a map of the meridian points.

Even though I’m scared and desperate, I really should keep going, so I accept myself deeply and completely

Even though they expect me to keep calm and carry on at this time, I don’t feel at all calm, and I want to _____________ [insert your choice: run away, cry and cry, be held, etc], so I accept all of me

Even though I’m not coping at all well with this situation and I should be stronger, I still accept who I am and how I’m feeling

Even though I shouldn’t be thinking of myself at this time, I accept myself for giving myself a voice

head: I’m so afraid

eyebrow: I’m hurting deeply

side of eye: I want to _____________ [insert what you want/need to do]

under eye: I’m expected to keep calm and carry on

under nose: they expect me to do that

chin: I expect myself to do that

collarbone: the world expects me to do that

under arm: and I don’t want to be calm,

head: and I don’t feel able to carry on

eyebrow: I’m not coping at all well

side of eye: and that’s ok!

under eye: who says I have to cope well?

under nose: why must I fit into a box and follow someone else’s rules?

chin:  this is a terrible time and I need to express that

collarbone: I’m giving myself permission to acknowledge ME

underarm: I’m allowing myself to feel my pain.

Now close your eyes and take a deep but comfortable breath. You might need to repeat this process or feel free to change the wording so it applies to how you really feel. The phrases you use are simply a way of outwardly expressing how you’re feeling. You don’t need to be creative or get hung up on finding the “perfect” wording – just state what’s on your mind and remember, opening yourself to vulnerability allows you to connect with your authentic self.

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