The Most Challenging Part of EFT Practice
For many people, one of the hardest parts of EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques), also known as tapping, is saying the words “I love and accept myself.” Though it’s a phrase at the core of self-acceptance practices, it can feel deeply uncomfortable. It may even trigger feelings of inadequacy, guilt, or disbelief. If you’ve found yourself unable to say it, or say it with sincerity, you’re not alone. This resistance is a very common block.
Why Saying “I Love and Accept Myself” Feels Hard
Old Stories
If you’ve been taught to focus on your flaws or experienced rejection in the past, that inner critic can easily take over. Self-love can feel impossible when negative messages dominate your thinking.
Misconceptions About Self-Love
Many people mistakenly think that self-love equals arrogance or selfishness. But self-love isn’t about being conceited. It’s about honoring who you are, flaws and all. You can still be humble and kind while loving yourself. In fact, that self-love actually makes you more compassionate.
Emotional Baggage
The weight of guilt, shame, or fear that you carry from past experiences can make it hard to believe you are worthy of love. But it’s time to unpack that emotional baggage, and EFT is a great tool for doing just that.
Meeting Yourself Where You Are
This discomfort can be a starting point for some deeper work. Saying “I love and accept myself” is hard for a lot of people, especially if they have been carrying shame, self-criticism, or doubts about their worth.
If you feel uncomfortable saying “I love myself” or “I accept myself” because it does not feel true or right, you can start with something more neutral and accessible, such as “I acknowledge my feelings about this problem” or “Right here, right now, I am OK.”
This is where EFT can really support you. EFT has always been about gentleness, sincerity, and compassion. It’s not about forcing belief or pushing through discomfort. It’s about gently meeting yourself where you are and allowing space for your feelings to shift in their own time.
If you would like some support with this, the tapping script below will help you gently meet the resistance and work with it step by step.
EFT Script for Resistance to “I Love and Accept Myself”
Side of the hand:
Even though I find it hard to say “I love and accept myself,” I accept that this is where I am right now and I honour my feelings.
Even though saying those words is so hard for me, I accept my feelings.
Even though there is this resistance, the EFT process can work for me and I am OK as a person.
Eyebrow:
Saying those words is so hard
Side of the eye:
Why should I say them
Under the eye:
That feels like a lie
Under the nose:
I do not love myself
Chin:
It feels so wrong to say this
Collarbone:
And it also feels wrong to say I love myself
Under the arm:
I am resisting saying those words
Top of the head:
I would feel like a fraud saying those words about myself
Eyebrow:
Saying those words is so hard
Side of the eye:
It is not OK to say them
Under the eye:
I don’t feel like I am a good person
Under the nose:
I don’t feel like I should love myself
Chin:
It doesn’t feel right to express love for myself
Collarbone:
I have made mistakes and I have hurt people
Under the arm:
I don’t think I deserve to be loved
Top of the head:
I would feel like a fraud saying I love or accept myself
Eyebrow:
Why is it so hard?
Side of the eye:
When I look at children
Under the eye:
Who make mistakes
Under the nose:
I can see that love is not taken away from them
Chin:
Their parents still love them
Collarbone:
And children still love themselves even when they make mistakes
Under the arm:
When did I stop loving myself?
Top of the head:
What would happen if I said those words to myself?
Eyebrow:
Saying those words feels so hard
Side of the eye:
It feels inappropriate
Under the eye:
It must come from others, not from myself
Under the nose:
But if people don’t tell me they love me, who else can give me love but myself
Chin:
What if I tried
Collarbone:
I love myself
Under the arm:
I accept myself
Top of the head:
How does it feel
Eyebrow:
Love
Side of the eye:
Accept
Under the eye:
I love and I accept
Under the nose:
Myself
Chin:
Me
Collarbone:
This is me
Under the arm:
All of me
Top of the head:
I love and I accept myself
Daphne
EFT is a great tool that can help you address a variety of issues.
If you would like to have a chat about some problem you have and are not sure if EFT can be of help, do not hesitate to contact me.
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