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19h. Follow the instructions.
You will experience little, if any, benefit if you just listen to the program instead of actually doing the things I suggest as you go along. Many people, myself included, like to skip through the preliminaries and get right to the results. It may be very tempting to skip the tapping, or to forget about the Wellspring Phrase, or to skip to the "Strength and Confidence" section when your Level of Stress is still a "2" or higher.
You may think that "Clearing Out the Junk" is all you need to do, and that the other sections are unnecessary. In fact, you may even be tempted to skip using the program altogether, and think that you can just resolve an issue by tapping in the car on the way to work! Believe me when I say that I have tried all of these, and I have found that every time a piece is skipped, the overall positive effect is weakened. There is a very good reason for this...
The Wellspring Method is a combination of several therapeutic techniques, each one having it's own positive impact. The tapping and re-measuring are features of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), in which I have replaced alternating eye movements with knee tapping. This provides a structure in the thinking process for forward movement rather than thinking in circles.
The Wellspring Phrase is a self-suggestion or affirmation, which is very specifically worded to bring out the best from your subconscious mind. The technique of staying in the presence of an emotionally uncomfortable situation is the technique of "desensitization", a widely accepted psychological method for eliminating fears (and it works for other emotions as well).
The idea of "going with what you feel like doing in the situation" (i.e., following your natural tendencies) is a crucial part of this method's success. It originated from the "Utilization Technique", first developed by Milton Erickson, MD, a remarkable psychiatrist who was a founder the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis. The concept of "scenario progression", in which a person moves from one scene to the next into the future, is my own creation, and a useful way to change your perceptions about a difficulty. The "Strength and Confidence" section is essential for cementing positive changes into place through the technique of "mental rehearsal", a method used with Olympic athletes to improve their performance.
Becoming clear about the outcome you want in the situation is extremely valuable, especially if it is a major issue you are working on. Identifying the Desired Outcome " enhances your personal effectiveness to achieve your goal - concepts which have been used most in the world of business and success psychology. So, the bottom line is... Don't skip anything, follow the instructions, and maximize your experience!
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