Ed Diener, Ph.D. is one of the most well respected researchers in the field of positive psychology. As a member of the International Positive Psychology Association, this summer I had the good fortune of hearing Dr. Diener speak during a teleclass about his new book,  Happiness: Unlocking the Mysteries of Psychological Wealth  which he co-wrote with his son, Robert Biswas-Diener. During his call Dr. Diener’s shared information from his new book. This included an overview of the benefits of being happy. Some of these include:

Social Benefits – happy people are likely to be more social, self-confident and warm

Work Success – happy people tend to be rated more highly by their supervisors, perform better on the job and make more money.

Health and Longevity- happy people have a stronger immune system and in a study of nuns, the happier nuns lived longer than the less happy nuns

Societal Benefits -happy people tend to volunteer more, be more peaceful and more cooperative.

For a delightful interview of Ed Diener and his son Robert Biswas-Diener by writer Gretchen Rubin, see Gretchen’s blog post of her Happiness interview with Ed Diener and Robert Biswas-Diener

Gretchen is writing a book called The Happiness Project which will be published in late 2009.

One of the benefits of EFT is that it is beneficial for healing and soothing a vast array of conditions and symptoms. This is what one woman had to say after tapping on concerns about her weight:

“You are amazing, your facilitation of tapping is amazing, and I get it. . . .After our session I made a phone call to a friend to share how wonderful you are AND [to share] some of the experience of tapping . . . Two hours after our session I felt the full weight of my body like I never felt it before BUT there was no debasing dialogue going on, no critical self ranting about ‘I really should be blah, blah, blah.’  AMAZING.”   

-K.L. New Hampshire.

Often what keeps us “stuck” and prevents us from being clear is our own internal dialogue that we have going on inside our head. It is as if the there is an inner critic or judge that comments on everything we say, think or do. This just compounds whatever physical or emotional challenge we are facing, makes us feel worse, and pulls us down. By using EFT, that internal struggle or chatter is often quieted. The internal fight ceases as we come into alignment energetically and become clear. This is the place in which healing occurs and new possibilities are available that were previously out of reach.

Please post your comments on some of the techniques that you have used for quieting the internal struggle. Do you have a particular affirmation or phrase that you have used?

Deborah Barnett, Ph.D.

www.ManifestingWellBeing.com   www.DeborahBarnett.com

Emotional Freedom Technique Description and Benefits

What is EFT?
Deborah Barnett, Ph.D.

. Energy Psychology is an emerging field of psychology that is based on the premise that everything, in its essential state, is energy. From this perspective our thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations are a manifestation of energy. Therefore, using specific techniques, we can bring ourselves back into balance by rebalancing our energy.  Thus, distressing thoughts, emotions and physical sensations are soothed and feelings of well-being, joy and physical balance are restored and enhanced.    

  The Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a popular Energy Psychology technique that is gaining wide-spread recognition and respect for its rapid effectiveness.    

Benefits of using EFT may include:
 Emotionally

            Ease depression
            Soothe anxiety
            Decrease stress
            Calm anger
            Soften the impact of past traumas
            Enhance well-being
            Promote joy 
            Gain self-confidence
            Improve relationships 

 Physically

            Relieve pain
            Support weight loss
            Enhance ease in exercising

  Addictions/Habits/Phobias

            Smoking cessation
            Support in relieving alcohol/drug craving
            Greater control over eating choices
            Free yourself from phobias 

Research

Preliminary research is being conducted on the effectiveness of EFT and the results are very positive http://www.emofree.com/Research/andradepaper.htm

Deborah Barnett, Ph.D. www.DeborahBarnett.com   www.manifestingwellbeing.com