Increasing your effectiveness with EFT, part 143.
Public speaking is a common source of stress and anxiety for many people. Whether you’re preparing for an upcoming presentation or reflecting on one that didn’t go as planned, the fear of speaking in front of others can be overwhelming. The good news is that EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques), also known as tapping, can help you process these feelings and approach public speaking with greater confidence.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to using EFT to address public speaking nerves:
1. Pick a Specific Situation
Start by choosing a specific moment or situation you’d like to work on.
• If you’re preparing for an upcoming presentation, focus on the thought of delivering your speech.
• If you’re revisiting a past presentation that didn’t go well, bring that memory to mind.
The more specific you can get, the more effective your tapping will be.
2. Identify Your Emotions and Body Sensations
Take a moment to reflect on the situation.
• What emotions come up? Embarrassment, fear, nervousness? Choose the one that feels most intense or that’s calling your attention the most.
• Where do you feel this emotion in your body? Perhaps a knot in your stomach, tightness in your chest, or a lump in your throat?
Noticing these sensations helps you tune into the emotional and physical aspects of your experience.
3. Explore the Details
Ask yourself: What about this situation is making me feel this way?
• Is it the thought of everyone’s eyes being on you?
• A specific moment when you struggled to find your words?
• Or perhaps a fear of being judged by a colleague or supervisor?
Zeroing in on these details will help you focus your tapping on what’s most relevant.
4. Start Tapping
Begin tapping on the side of your hand while repeating a setup phrase.
Here’s an example for a past presentation:
“Even though I feel embarrassed when I think about the presentation yesterday… I struggled, and I remember the look of pity on Joe’s face… and I feel this knot in my stomach, I accept myself anyway.”
Or for an upcoming presentation:
“Even though I feel nervous when I think about the presentation next week… everyone’s eyes will be on me, and I don’t want to make a fool of myself… and I feel this nervousness in my chest, this is just where I’m at right now.”
If these phrases feel too overwhelming, try a gentler approach, using fewer words:
“Even though I feel this [emotion] when thinking about this, this is just where I’m at right now.”
5. Tap on Other Points with a Reminder Phrase
Move through the other tapping points, repeating a shorter reminder phrase, such as:
• “This embarrassment in my stomach.”
• “Everyone’s eyes will be on me.”
• “The look of pity on Joe’s face.”
These phrases help you stay tuned into the issue while tapping.
6. Pause and Reassess
After one or two rounds, pause and check in with yourself.
• Has the intensity of the emotion changed?
• Do you notice a different emotion, like sadness or fear, coming up instead?
This is called “shifting aspects” and is a natural part of the EFT process.
7. Adjust and Repeat
Based on what you notice, adjust your setup and reminder phrases to match your current experience.
For example:
“Even though I feel this sadness when I think about my presentation… because I couldn’t control my nerves and it really affected my performance… and I feel this sadness in my throat, I accept myself.”
Then continue tapping, saying:
“This sadness in my throat.”
“My nerves were out of control, and it really affected my performance.”
8. Repeat and Reassess
Continue this process until you feel neutral about the situation, or until you decide you’re done for now.
The goal isn’t to erase your feelings but to reduce their emotional charge so you can approach public speaking with a calmer, clearer mindset.
Why EFT Works for Public Speaking Nerves
EFT addresses both the cognitive and physical aspects of public speaking anxiety. By tapping on acupressure points, you help regulate your body’s stress response (bottom-up), while the verbal component helps you process your thoughts and emotions (top-down).
The result is often a greater sense of calm and resilience, making it easier to focus on your message rather than your nerves.
Closing Thoughts
Tapping is a simple yet powerful tool for overcoming public speaking fears. Whether you’re preparing for an upcoming event or working through a challenging memory, EFT can help you feel more confident and grounded.
If you’d like personalized guidance or want to dive deeper into tapping for public speaking, feel free to reach out—I’m here to help.
I’m Bruno Sade, a clinical psychologist and Certified Advanced EFT Practitioner. Helping you manage emotional reactions and release triggers, in a way that’s tailored to your unique needs and goals.
If you’d like to experience a free EFT Tapping session in exchange for a brief market research interview, click here.
