“Susan” knew she needed a particular surgery but her resistance was strong. “I just can’t bring myself to call and schedule it,” she told me. “I’m not sure what this is about, but I really don’t want to face having surgery.”
She was willing to bring some imagery into our tapping work, so I asked her to focus on the feeling of the resistance. It was a heaviness in her chest and stomach. I asked her, what image might embody this heavy feeling of resistance? She immediately said, “Oh, it’s a wall. A tall stone wall. I can’t see over it and I can’t get around it.” So we tapped using her words — “Even though there’s this tall stone wall and I can’t see over it and I can’t get around it, I can be with this and see what happens.”
As we tapped, she got more details, as if the wall were coming into focus. She also reported feeling lighter, as if there might be more space inside her. Then she said, “Huh! Now there is a ladder leaning up against the wall.” So we tapped to acknowledge the ladder. She then had a strong feeling that she should climb the ladder. More tapping. Suddenly she laughed. “I’m looking over the top of the wall and there are the surgeon and the surgical team all sitting around a table having tea in a garden! They’re waving at me and asking if I want to join them. They seem so friendly!” We tapped. “Even though the wall was blocking me before, now I can see the surgeon and the medical team… and they are so friendly and inviting!” She smiled as we tapped, looking surprised and delighted.
When I asked what she was feeling, Susan reported that her resistance had completely melted away! She felt confident that she would be able to make the call to schedule the needed surgery. She did so the next day. She was able to have the procedure, which was successful, and was relieved and happy that she had finally gone ahead with it.
I always say that the subconscious is brilliant. We never had to figure out what the wall was about. Her subconscious knew exactly what would change that energy and release her resistance, and it was smooth sailing after that.