I'm sure you've heard that happiness comes from within. But what do you actually do with that information?

You may have even tried a couple things like meditation or yoga or therapy. And it hasn't stuck. Where is that clear path?

I'm here to show you your path to happiness.

I'll give you a hint. It's not getting the right job, the right partner, the right house, etc. Those definitely can make the journey more comfortable and enjoyable. But they aren't your golden ticket.
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​Have you ever noticed how something that you absolutely hate, that you feel so uncomfortable in, that other people handle just fine? It's no big deal to them. Yet it's something you want to avoid. These situations are hints to take a deeper look.
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​Ultimately, the way to find happiness is by seeing where we aren't happy. Maybe you're happy when you're watching a sunset. But miserable when you're confronted with a difficult conversation or needing to give a presentation. These may seem obvious. Of course you don't want to experience the uncomfortable situation!
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​AND what if you could still be happy in that uncomfortable conversation or putting yourself out there? This is where the transformation is. 

In order to be most effective & efficient in creating the life you want to live, you need to choose the right tools. Imagine trying to get a screw in with a hammer. It splinters the wood and takes a lot of effort. You'll get that screw in eventually but that was definitely the hard way.

If you've experienced talk therapy, you may have worked on the same issue for years, getting more and more clear about the issue and where it originated. If you had a really good therapist, you've made some leeway on it & maybe even made significant changes in your life. This is a long, slow process.
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​It's much faster to identify the issue, the core beliefs, your memories, etc and actually release them in one session. For big issues, 5 sessions maximum. Welcome to quick & efficient change!
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​How you ask? EFT Tapping, which stands for Emotional Freedom Technique (who doesn't want to be free of their emotions?), is ridiculously efficient and effective.

The first time I ever experienced tapping, I was completely floored with the amount of transformation I experienced in an hour. I went into this presentation having absolutely no idea what I was about to experience. I had never heard of tapping.

Not only did I completely rewire my brain and thoughts about living out my purpose, but I released the stories that had been passed down in my family for generations.

I had to learn more, so I dove in head first. What else could I tap on? Chronic pain, codependent relationships, fear of trying something new, money, sharing myself on social media. All of a sudden, I was creating a new me. My family started to notice that I was more pleasant to be around. And I thought I was great to be around to begin with! Oops

My friends started asking me what I was doing & if they could have a session with me. I became a better partner, a better lover, a better friend. Not because I was trying. Simply because I was removing the blocks in the way. It was effortless.

So how does EFT work?

It uses a mind-body approach. In order to change a thought, it doesn't work to just think it away. Or to have an inner battle of thoughts, convincing it to stop thinking that way or to think differently. This is why it's so important to work with the mind AND the body. The body stores memories, emotions, and trauma. So when we work with the body too, it allows the emotions and memories to actually release. Completely.

Add in ancient Chinese medicine. Similar to acupuncture, but using tapping instead of needles, we are working with the energy system in the body. Whether you believe in energy or not, it still works. It's like pressing magic buttons on the body that help you to come back into balance.

Think back to the caveman days. It wasn't unusual to be chased by an animal and have a near death experience. The caveman version of you would out-run, out-smart, or win a fight with the animal and make it home to tell the tale.

And with all the threat of imminent death, humans weren't living in a constant state of fear and stress. As humans, our bodies are actually designed to be resilient. We just forgot how.
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How do we bounce back now? Junk food, alcohol, drugs, social media, tv, workaholism, and overall distraction & numbing. The issue though is that it doesn't actually work. Which is why we keep compulsively doing these behaviors.
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​There's a part of you that knows that these don't work, which is why you're reading this now.
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​So what's the answer?
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​A combination of things. Ironically, the behaviors that help to get our systems into a state of calm tend to be judged in the society we live in.
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​Let's go back to the land of lions and antelope. When an antelope gets chased by a hungry lion, it goes into fight/flight/freeze based on what would help it survive. The antelope goes into a state of survival and terror. But if the lion doesn't catch the antelope, it doesn't spend the rest of its life in terror. Guess what it does? Its entire body will shake. Any remaining energy and tension that was being used to escape the lion shakes out of the body. The antelope is then back in a state of calm.

But when was the last time you saw someone shaking it out in the grocery store? This is just weird today. So our bodies have been keeping in the stress instead of releasing it.

And even stranger, our brains are still designed for caveman times. Instead of running away from lions, our survival is actually tied to being loved and approved of by our family. Belonging ensures meant that we got fed and had shelter. So these days, our survival threats aren't as simple as lions and tigers.

So shaking it off does wonders. If you feel inspired, try it out for 2 minutes. Put on an energizing song and shake every part of your body, bounce up and down, move it all (careful of the neck though). Notice how you feel after.

BUT because today's survival experiences are more complicated and relationship focused, it's not as simple as just shaking it off. It definitely helps, but there's a bit more.

Have you ever been around someone senile or with Alzheimer's? They tend to tell the same stories again and again and again.

​Those stories keep looping inside of them. Maybe it was a sad story. Or a time of their greatness or an accomplishment. They keep reliving it on repeat.
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​We keep reliving stories too. It's just that our stories may be a bit more subtle and we aren't constantly saying them out loud. These stories sometimes are ones we want to be acknowledged for. For someone to say that they are proud.
​Other times, more sinister. 
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​You may have stories on repeat that you aren't even aware of. That it's just normal that people always look to you for the answers. Or that when it comes to conflict, it's better to just back down than share your perspective. Or that it's easier to get along with your cat/dog than humans. Whatever your "normal" experience is, it all started with a pivotal memory. That memory created a belief within you, such as "I'm smart" or "I'm stupid" or "No one cares about me" or "I can't rely on anyone except me". The list goes on.
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​These beliefs keep getting reinforced throughout our lives. This is called "cognitive bias", where your experiences and perception keep proving the beliefs correct. Sometimes they can be really helpful, such as "I'm smart" or "I can figure it out" or "I am good with money". You want to keep those since they're still serving you. Other times, these beliefs can be debilitating. That's when it's time for change.
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​Story Time! When I was a kid, most times that I had strong emotions, I was sent to my room for time-outs. If anger came up, "Go to your room". Sadness or complaining,  "Go to your room". I soon learned that if I had negative emotions that I would get banished to my room. So the belief that I took on about myself was "I will be rejected for my negative emotions". 

If I were someone else in that same exact scenario, I may have taken on a different belief. But that was the one I created. So I continued the next 27 years believing that others would reject me for my emotions. I did everything that I could to hide them and pretend I was okay. When the emotions did come up, my story was "See! I'm being rejected for my feelings."

Working with those key memories allowed me to see that emotional intimacy with others actually strengthens my relationships (instead of isolating me). That my emotions show me what's out of alignment for me. And they show me opportunities for growth. They're one of my superpowers now. 

Whether you're focusing on feeling fulfilled in your work, building a passionate love relationship, being an incredible parent, or creating a thriving community of friends, each of these accomplishments are connected.

Even when it seems like one area of our life is isolated from the rest, it has a ripple effect on other aspects. Becoming a better parent will also improve your relationships with your partner, friends, and coworkers. It might increase your productivity and enjoyment at work. It might increase your emotional stability. Take any goal or aspiration and the same applies. Hence the saying "A rising tide lifts all boats". When one area improves, they all do.

A client story: My client had $10 to her name. She was in LA and couldn't even afford to travel across the city. She was in paralyzing fear. Unsure what else to do, she went home to her small town family. She did everything that she could to make money-  She worked at the trailer park she was living in, she worked at a local shop downtown, she helped out her family. She looked at her limiting beliefs around money, released old stories, and created new ones. Soon she started holding workshops in the shop she was working in. She became a part owner of the store, and she moved in with her new loving partner into a beautiful apartment. She went from feeling like she had absolutely no resources to financial abundance, an exciting career, an incredible love relationship, and a beautiful community.

Lucky for you, you don't need to hit rock bottom to have a breakthrough into the life you want to live. Even if you don't even know what that life looks like yet!

All you need to do today is to say yes to your future, who you want to become, and the life that you want to live. ​Take a moment to really feel into it. What if this could be your new normal instead of just a dream? I invite you to take that step forward today.