# Why I Don't Use The EFT Tapping Set-Up Phrase (Pod #701)

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/tapping-q-a-getting-the-most-out-of-tapping-and-eft-794630/why-i-don-t-use-the-eft-tapping-set-up-phrase-pod-701
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/tapping-q-a-getting-the-most-out-of-tapping-and-eft-794630/why-i-don-t-use-the-eft-tapping-set-up-phrase-pod-701.md
Podcast: [Tapping Q & A - Getting the most out of tapping and EFT](https://stenobird.com/podcast/tapping-q-a-getting-the-most-out-of-tapping-and-eft-794630)
Published: 2026-04-20T11:00:00+00:00
Episode link: http://tappingqanda.com/701
Audio file: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/tappingqanda/Podcast701NotUsingTheSetUpPhrase.mp3?dest-id=224379
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/tapping-q-a-getting-the-most-out-of-tapping-and-eft-794630/episodes/why-i-don-t-use-the-eft-tapping-set-up-phrase-pod-701
Duration seconds: 696

## Resource

Why I Don't Use the EFT Setup Phrase (And What I Do Instead) If you've watched any of my tap-along videos, you've probably noticed something: I never start with the classic EFT setup phrase. That's a deliberate choice, and I get asked about it all the time. In this post, I want to explain exactly why I skip it and what I use instead. TL;DR / Key Takeaways The traditional EFT setup phrase ("Even though I have this issue, I deeply and completely accept myself") can backfire by activating unresolved self-acceptance issues when you only need quick emotional or physical relief. For many people, the self-love claim in the setup phrase triggers inner resistance so strong that they avoid tapping altogether. My alternative opening, "I recognize the fact," names present reality without demanding a self-acceptance leap, making it easier to start tapping immediately. Accepting that something is happening is completely different from declaring it acceptable. You can acknowledge the problem without endorsing it. Self-acceptance work is genuinely important and deserves its own dedicated sessions, with adequate time, space, and emotional safety. What Is the EFT Setup Phrase? The EFT setup phrase is a verbal statement used at the beginning of a tapping round to acknowledge the problem and introduce an element of self-acceptance. EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) is a practice developed by Gary Craig that involves tapping on specific acupressure points on the face and body while focusing on a particular issue. When Gary Craig gave us his original Basic Recipe, tappers would begin either by rubbing what he called the "sore spot" on the chest or tapping the side of the hand. While doing that, they would say: "Even though I have this issue, I completely and deeply accept myself." As EFT s…

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