As a quick reminder, the Set Up Phrase is the wording you say at the start of EFT while tapping the Karate Chop point (or you may rub the Sore Spot), following the standard format of "Even though .. (I have this issue/feel this emotion), I deeply and completely accept myself".  The purpose of the Set Up Phrase is to deal with what's called Psychological Reversal. In other words, it deals with any self sabotage we have; any reason we've been holding on to these emotions and issues despite rationally knowing we would be better off without them. Psychological Reversal occurs in many cases, including but not limited to depression and addictio ns. Therefore it's a vital part of the EFT process and one that should never be omitted. In fact, why not follow the ideas in this article and then test your intensity straight after the Set Up. You may well have already made great improvements!

Here are my 3 golden rules for creating a powerful Set Up Phrase:

1. Choose your words carefully  I cannot stress how important it is to use the right words for YOU, ones that really capture the emotion you are feeling. So in your Set Up Phrase be sure to say exactly HOW you feel and be specific about WHAT you are working on. Saying "Even though I am absolutely livid about how Matthew at work talked dow n to me in the meeting.." is far more punchy and effective than a vague Set Up Phrase like "Even though I am fed up with work..". Remember the Set Up Phrase sets the whole tone for your EFT session, so make it really work for you.

2. Don't be afraid to ramble Although you may have chosen a succinct Set Up Phrase, you may find that once you start saying it more thoughts come into your head and the emotions are even more heightened. Take full advantage of this and say what you are feeling in your Set Up Phrase. It doesn't have to be one sentence followed by "I deeply and completely accept myself". Let the words - and the emotions - flow and you will be much more accurate and authentic, which makes EFT even more effective.

3. Be creative with the second half  The second part of the Set Up Phrase is traditionally "I deeply and completely accept myself". Firstly I want to remind you that if you have any trouble saying that because you don't feel it's true for you, try to say the words anyway as they will still do their job in reversing self sabotage. If you really have a problem with it, try tapping a round on "Even though I don't accept myself, I try to accept myself anyway". Now how to use this second half to improve your Set Up Phrase. It's really useful to extend this part of the phrase into something more detailed and meaningful. An example could be "I deeply and completely love and accept myself, and forgive myself, and anyone else who has contributed to this feeling". This may be really really hard to say, but it can be such a powerful statement to use. When I use a phrase like this in my Set Up, my mind literally flashes pictures of all the people, events or actions that have contributed to my current issue. You may not feel you are able to forgive, or even want to, but simply verbalising the intention to do so in your Set Up Phrase can make your EFT so much more powerful.

© Sarah Holland, 2009.

Sarah Holland from Tap Into Your Potential! is an EFT practitioner who wants to enable everyone to discover and learn EFT. Visit her site today at www.tapintoyourpotential.com to teach yourself EFT from her free ebook 'EFT Basics'.