This spider issue has been a long one. I'm not quite done with it yet because I have some final elements to which I have not yet diligently applied EFT. Yes, this work sometimes requires diligence in being aware of, breaking down and removing every single aspect that you have regarding a specific issue. However, if you pay attention to yourself or take notes on intensity and the difference between your aspects as you apply EFT, you will be able to notice the changes. Notice, also, that any change is good because is signals that EFT is working and that alone should encourage you to persevere.
I have been afraid of spiders for as long as I can remember. My mother used to kill them for me. Then I moved out. I had to learn to kill them myself. I trained myself to do that (notice I say trained, this is not something I did with ease but it was better than living with spiders near me). Then I became more aware of everyone/thing's right to live and trained myself to trap them in glasses so I could throw them outside but heaven forbid one should touch me or scuttle out of sight!!! The glass would end up shattered on the floor and my heart beating 100 mph, frantically scanning for the now lost spider.
Over time, I have gone through many, many rounds of different phrases regarding spiders but I specifically remember one time that helped me to see (again) that EFT really does shift our perspective on things - allowing "bad" things to transform into "good" before our eyes.
I was looking at a small spider that was on the edge of my bathtub. His legs looked similar to little crab-like claws. They seemed to be reaching out to me in a nasty way so I tapped:
Even though his claws are reaching out to grab me, I completely love and accept myself.
Reminder phrases: Grasping claws. Scary claws. Trying to get me.
Even though he wants to get me, I completely love and accept myself.
Reminder phrases: He wants to get me. He's reaching for me. He's out to get me.
Even though he wants me to pay for all the spiders I've killed, I completely love and accept myself.
Reminder phrases: He'll make me pay. I've killed his friends and family. He's out to get me for it.
As I tapped, I never took my eyes off his legs. As I tapped and watched, they turned from claws reaching out to grab me to the legs of a dancer doing a mini-River Dance. I am completely serious. All of a sudden, instead of being frightening and out to get me he seemed to be dancing an Irish jig. I had to laugh. It was fascinating!
With all the work I've done on my spider phobia, I am now able to allow them to live in different corners of my home and not feel the need to check their whereabouts at all times. This was impossible before. I always knew where they were and was afraid they were coming after me. I can also take small spiders onto my hand or arm to take them to the window and let them go free when necessary. Next summer I plan to work on the last (I hope) aspect of my spider phobia - the ones I call the "big, gooey" ones. I'll let you know how that goes when I get there. I expect excellent results.
