The Taming of the Tongue

I love teaching EFT classes, and I especially love using the Borrowing Benefits tool. Recently, in one of classes that I taught through the City of Ukiah, I asked one of the participants what she would like to work on. "Carol" didn't think that she had anything to focus on. After a closer examination, she admitted that there was a behavior that was absolutely driving her crazy. About six months ago, she had had some dental work, and ever since her tongue discovered the changes in her mouth, her tongue couldn't let it be. As our conversation continued, she admitted that her tongue was constantly probing the "new" area in her mouth. As a masseuse, Carol spends her work days silently massaging people's bodies. However, her tongue wasn't letting her truly be still. It just kept on moving as though it was in over-drive.

Her SUDS level was an "8". Some of the Set-up phrases that we started out with included, "Even though:

• my tongue is driving me crazy, I deeply and completely love and accept myself."
• my tongue just wants to keep exploring the same old place over and over and over again..."
• my tongue almost rubs itself raw."
• my tongue doesn't ever let me relax..."
  

This dropped her SUDS level down a couple of notches. We continued on with: "Even though:

• my tongue is doing the best it can do, and I deeply and completely love and accept my tongue for trying to help me out, and I forgive myself for getting upset with my tongue. I know that you have been doing the best you know how."
• I know that you have been trying to help me out by exploring that place in my mouth that got worked on, it isn't actually working for me for you to keep exploring that spot anymore. I know that you must have felt like you still needed to explore that spot, but it is no longer necessary, and I want to thank you for exploring my mouth so well."

Her SUDS level dropped to a '"3". Then we started reprogramming how we wanted her tongue to behave. While tapping, we alternated thanking her tongue with making clear what her tongue's new job would now be. She said things like:

• "you thought you were just doing your job exploring my dental work
  
• now you don't have to do that any more
• you can relax, and just let my dental work alone--we know what it's like there--really well!!! (laughing)
  
• thank you for helping me out, I really appreciate all that you have done for me
• now you can just relax
• and do things like, tasting,
• talking,
• and kissing (laughing)"

I asked how her tongue was doing. Her tongue was finally relaxed for the first time in six months. I believe it felt appreciated, and realized that it could relax and do more interesting tasks than exploring her dental work. Now, Carol is able to do her work in a relaxed manner, all the way down to her tongue.