Tapping into Self-Care and Emotional Education for Healing and Becoming Our Best Selves
Hi Love,
As we reflect in the wake of Veterans Day, honoring the courage and sacrifice of those who’ve served, let’s also turn inward to explore the transformative power of emotional education and self-care. These practices are not just for veterans navigating the complexities of their experiences but for all of us striving to heal, grow, and become our best selves. By tapping into intentional self-care—particularly through Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) tapping—we can transform our struggles into strength, fostering Post-Traumatic Growth and inspiring positive change in our communities. Our personal healing ripples outward, influencing others even when we don’t notice.
Emotional Education: Unlocking the Key to Healing by Tapping into Self Care.
Emotional education is the cornerstone of personal transformation. It’s about developing the skills to identify, process, and manage our emotions—whether it’s the weight of military service for veterans, the stress of daily life, or the lingering effects of personal challenges. For veterans, emotional education can mean unpacking the trauma of combat or the challenges of reintegration into civilian life. For all of us, it’s about understanding our triggers, recognizing our emotional patterns, and responding with intentional responses rather than reaction.
Learning to navigate our inner world builds resilience and creates space for growth. Emotional education teaches us to name and be aware of our feelings—anger, grief, fear, or joy—as well as understand their roots/orgins. This clarity empowers us to move through pain with purpose, fostering a sense of agency over our emotional lives. By embracing this practice, we lay the groundwork for healing, allowing us to approach challenges with greater compassion for ourselves and others.
Tapping into Self-Care: EFT as a Path to Wholeness and Emotional Education for Healing and Becoming Our Best Selves
Self-care is not a luxury; it’s a deliberate, essential act of nurturing our mind, body, and spirit. Among the many self-care practices available, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) tapping stands out as a powerful, accessible tool for healing. EFT, often called “tapping,” combines acupressure with cognitive and exposure therapy principles. By gently tapping on specific meridian points on the body—such as the side of the hand, top of the head, or under the eyes—while focusing on emotional challenges, we can release stress, reduce anxiety, and process trauma.
Tapping into self-care through EFT means choosing practices that resonate deeply with your needs. For veterans transitioning to civilian life, EFT can help address feelings of disconnection, hypervigilance, or unresolved trauma. Research supports its efficacy: a 2016 study published in The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease found that EFT significantly reduced symptoms of PTSD in veterans after just six sessions. For anyone navigating personal battles—whether it’s stress, self-doubt, or emotional overwhelm—EFT offers a practical way to restore balance. By tapping on meridian points while voicing affirmations or acknowledging emotions (e.g., “Even though I feel overwhelmed, I deeply and completely accept myself”), we can calm the nervous system and rewire negative thought patterns.
Beyond EFT, self-care encompasses a range of practices tailored to your unique needs. Meditation can bring clarity and calm to a racing mind, while physical activities like yoga or running energize the body and release endorphins. Journaling allows us to process emotions, capturing thoughts and gratitude to foster perspective. Setting boundaries—saying “no” to overcommitment or toxic dynamics—protects our peace. For example, a simple boundary might be carving out 10 minutes daily for a tapping session or a quiet walk in nature. These acts, though small, are lifelines, restoring strength to show up fully for ourselves and those we love.
Becoming Our Best Selves: The Ripple Effect of Post-Traumatic Growth when
Tapping into Self-Care and Emotional Education for Healing and Becoming Our Best Selves
EFT tapping is particularly versatile because it can be done anywhere, anytime, with no special equipment. Guided tapping videos, available on platforms like YouTube or through EFT coaches, provide structured sessions for beginners and a different perspective from the mindset that may have helped create the issues. For veterans, tapping can address specific triggers, such as memories of service or feelings/behaviors of isolation. For all of us, it’s a tool to release emotional blocks, fostering a sense of wholeness and empowerment.
When we commit to emotional education and tap into consistent self-care practices like EFT, we unlock our potential to live with intention. Healing is not just a personal journey—it’s a gift to those around us. A grounded, compassionate self can listen deeply, act with kindness, and influence for good, creating a ripple effect that transforms families, workplaces, and communities. This is the essence of Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG), a concept well-documented in psychological research. PTG describes the positive transformation that can follow trauma, where individuals emerge stronger, with deeper relationships, greater self-awareness, and a renewed sense of purpose.
Veterans often exemplify PTG, turning the resilience forged in service into leadership that uplifts others. For example, many veterans channel their experiences into advocacy, mentorship, or community-building, inspiring those around them. Similarly, when we prioritize our own healing—through EFT tapping, emotional education, or other self-care practices—we become beacons of hope and strength. A recent X post by @DrFumiPsychDNP captures this beautifully: “Self-care is about setting boundaries, getting enough rest, eating well, asking for help, and doing what you need to stay mentally and emotionally strong.” By becoming our best selves, we honor the sacrifices of veterans and amplify our capacity to create positive change.
EFT tapping enhances this journey by addressing emotional blocks that hinder growth. For instance, tapping on feelings of guilt or unworthiness can help us embrace our strengths and let go of limiting beliefs. A typical EFT session might involve tapping while repeating phrases like, “Even though I feel stuck, I choose to move forward with love, courage and self compassion.” This process rewires the brain, fostering a mindset of possibility and resilience. Over time, these small shifts compound, helping us embody our best selves and inspire others to do the same.
Call to Action: Tap into Healing Today
This post-Veterans Day, let’s commit to healing by tapping into self-care and emotional education. Start with one practice today: try a 5-minute EFT tapping session using a guided video from Brad Yates or myself on YouTube or work with an EFT coach to address specific challenges. Alternatively, take a mindful walk, journal about what you’re grateful for, get grounded or have a heartfelt conversation with a therapist, journal or meditate. Also embrace emotional education by learning one new way to process your feelings—perhaps through a mindfulness app like Calm or a book like The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk.(Love this book!)
EFT tapping is especially accessible: begin by tapping on the side of your hand while stating your emotional truth (e.g., “Even though I feel anxious, I accept myself” if it resonates use “I love, honor and accept myself just as I am.”). Move through the meridian points—top of head, eyebrow, side of eye, under eye, under nose, chin, collarbone, under arm—while repeating affirmations. This simple practice can shift your energy in minutes, creating space for healing and growth. For veterans, consider exploring EFT resources tailored to PTSD, such as those offered by the Veterans Stress Project. For everyone, tapping can be a daily ritual to nurture emotional well-being. It offers healing layer by layer, building on the work that was done before.
Together, let’s honor the sacrifices of veterans and ourselves by building a stronger, more compassionate world and the only way to do that is to build a stronger more compassionate self. Healing is a collective journey, and every step we take toward becoming our best selves creates a ripple effect of love and change. What self-care practice are you tapping into this week to nurture your own growth? Share below to inspire others!
Believe in you, I do.
Lesley VanDeventer-Witt
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