ABSTRACT

Measures of emotional, psychological and mental wellbeing range from degrees of happiness and confidence to problem-solving ability and resilience. This chapter explores how Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) provides a natural way to cultivate positive emotional health. It begins with looking more closely at thoughts, emotions and beliefs. Emotions can be categorised in many ways, but for now consider the two principal emotions: love and fear. Anxiety, control, inadequacy and confusion are all fear-based emotions whereas joy, caring, trust, compassion, truth, contentment and satisfaction are love-based emotions. Using EFT enables us to be true to our feelings, releasing the energy disruption around any negative feelings, rather than needing to analyse them. Positive emotional health can be described in many ways: a sense of wellbeing; engaging in life through meaningful activities and positive relationships; positive self-worth and self-esteem; the ability to be truly resilient in less than favourable circumstances; achieving balance between play and work, peace and excitement.