So what happens...

• We run and run and run ourselves ragged to please others... and end up with fibromyalgia or cancer or some other mystery dis-ease.
   
• We are totally overwhelmed and consumed by grief when someone dear to us dies... and we are convinced we can never be happy again.
   
• We excel in ways a sibling or parent does not... we start holding back in order to make others happy... and develop a habit of self-limitation and self-denial that sticks with us.
   
• We enjoy delicious food and get criticized for it... skewing our relationship with everything we eat.
   
• We develop a phobia... and it doesn't matter what it is... rats, snakes, elevators, water, airplanes, bridges, public speaking... and we feel like such a weakling... a loser... not good enough... less capable than everyone else.
   
• We were blamed for so much as a child that when a traumatic event strikes, we naturally are 100% convinced that "It's my fault!"
   
• We become addicted to smoking or gambling or sex or drugs to soothe other unhealed emotional pains, and now feel so ashamed and weak-willed that we don't really believe there is hope for us.
   
• We learned the hard way growing up that we MUST control and constrain all impulses--including the impulses to laugh, play, create, and love--or else we will get punished. "I must be perfect!!!" But we know we are not... and it's stressing us to death.
   
• ...And we should've known better! Right? Shoulda... woulda... coulda... We've mastered the art of second-guessing and self-criticizing every decision, every action, and every inaction.

If any of these apply to your world, you are not alone. It just FEELS that way sometimes, right?

Back in October 2007 I was invited to be one of the EFT practitioners leading a four day retreat. A small group of participants came together and brought their issues like grief, physical pain, phobias, disease, traumas, and addictions. The experience was filmed and is now a movie: Try It On Everything! -  http://www.tryitoneverything.com

The participants knew almost nothing about Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), so we started off by teaching them the basic tapping steps. And then we literally tried EFT on everything!

• On all the stuff they wished never happened in their lives... especially specific traumatic events.
• On physical pains.
• On emotional distresses and where those emotions were felt in their bodies.
• On limiting beliefs and negative self-talk.
• On regrets and self-blame.
• On relationships... past, present, future.

And what were the results??? What were the marvels and life-changing miracles the participants experienced?

Well, I am going to intentionally downplay the specifics (just as those who produced the movie have). In our culture we focus too much on the fix-a-flat aspects of healing rather than on the day-to-day aspects of going from stressed to okay and then from okay to thriving.

What the movie demonstrates poignantly are the benefits of developing the skills of:

• Self-awareness: Noticing what is going on in your habitual thoughts and in your physical body... and how the body-mind's energies are interwoven in surprising ways.
   
• Self-honesty: Acknowledging how you really feel at the core... including inner conflicts... without artificial sugar-coating.
   
• Self-acceptance: Learning to deeply and completely accept yourself... no matter what's in your past or your present.
   
• Self-empowerment: Knowing that you can now bring relief to your negative emotions and memories... no matter how long you have suffered with them.

THESE are the reasons I recommend people start using EFT and use it on everything negative that is coming up in their lives and in their bodies. Those who try EFT diligently for just 21-days start becoming more aware, more honest with themselves, more self-accepting, and feeling more empowered.

The movie demonstrates what happens in four days. What kind of difference could it make in your life if you used EFT every day and tried it on everything...?

Here are some suggestions:

• Buy the movie Try It On Everything! -  http://www.tryitoneverything.com
  It paints a heart-centered, under-hyped, and understandable picture of how EFT can make a difference in people's lives... and in your life. It includes commentary by experts in energy medicine, law of attraction, medical science, limiting beliefs, pain relief, and psychology that portrays a balanced picture of how using EFT soothes disruptions and then positively uplifts the energy in the body-mind. (People who see the movie finally "get" EFT, so many people are getting copies to share with friends, family, and clients.)
   
• Work with a coach
  I've never mastered any skill working entirely on my own. Because of the nature of how the mind protects itself, self-awareness and self-acceptance are easier to develop working with a professional. There are EFT practitioners around the world, and I was honored to work on the movie with fellow practitioners Helena Johnson of www.LivDelicious.com, Steven Munn of www.YourClearPoint.com, Nick Ortner who co-created the movie, and EFT Master Carol Look of http://www.AttractingAbundance.com and www.PainReliefwithEFT.com.
   
• Consider working with a group
  Borrowing benefits means tapping along with others as they address their specific issues. Who of us has not experienced grief, loss, and traumas big and small? Who has not struggled with limiting beliefs? Everyone in the movie recognized that coming together made the progress faster and the emotional shifts more comprehensive. That is why the core of my emotional freedom coaching is group work through the Thriving Now Team:  http://www.thrivingnow.com/team -- I encourage you to join with the 21-day complimentary membership, listen to 3-5 recorded calls (of over 200 hours in the library), and then participate on one of the 7-10 calls per month. See how it works for you.
   
• Use EFT everyday... Try it on Everything ... SERIOUSLY!
  Even three minutes five times a day... on whatever you are feeling in your body or feeling stressed about in your mind... try it and see.

P.S. Clearly the creators of Try It On Everything! and I share a passion for spreading the word about EFT and the emotional healing journey. In the interest of full disclosure, I was a volunteer for the workshop and do not receive any payment for recommending the movie. I am very proud of my contribution to this effort, though... and so is my mother.

Are you excited about your future... or anxious...? Are you thriving in every area of your life (experiencing the joys of physical vitality, emotional freedom, mental clarity, spiritual connection, and financial abundance)? Or are there some energetic blocks that have resisted your previous attempts to clear them...?

I know many of us are looking ahead and realizing there are a few old pains, old patterns, and old limiting beliefs that we'd just as soon NOT carry forward any longer. If that is the case for you, I invite you to work with me as your emotional freedom coach for the next three weeks.

The Thriving Now Team is a group coaching program consisting of seven to ten coaching calls a month (at various days/times to suit almost every world time zone). On each telephone call, selected individuals and I use EFT on specific issues, feelings, and limiting beliefs... and everyone else taps along and "borrows benefits." This can be amazingly effective at helping raise your vibration to one of well-being... even when I am not working with you personally!

Calls are recorded so you need not be live on the call in order to profit. In fact, as a new team member you have access to over 200 hours of recorded calls INSTANTLY... download them and listen and tap along using your MP3 player or computer.

As a team member you also have access to our private coaching forums where you can get advice and clarity on how to best use EFT and vibrational approaches for your own specific issues. If you have ever wanted some support making the journey from where you ARE NOW to where you WANT TO BE, this is a perfect opportunity to see if coaching is right for you...

21-day complimentary membership
then only $39.95/month.
Cancel anytime!

Look, I know that most of us value our independence. I love the fact that EFT is a terrific tool for emotional self-management. But there are some areas of our body-mind that are a lot easier to soothe, shift, and uplift with some professional support. It is a bit like massaging your own back; you can do it... sorta... but it's not nearly as easy or as fun as getting some helping hands!

So work with me for free for the next three weeks... my gift to you. Download the recordings. Interact on the forum. I believe that you'll find that being a part of the Thriving Now Team will absolutely help you move towards your dream of a thriving life... in every respect.

Regardless of your starting point, we're here to help you move forward towards optimal health and total well-being. If you dream of thriving... and not just surviving... the team membership is designed for YOU!

Team Membership Features

• Seven to ten group coaching teleconferences each month! As a Team Member you may attend as many calls as you want. Calls are also recorded so you can listen and benefit at your convenience—even download the audio to your computer or MP3 player. You will also have immediate access to our archive of over 200 previously recorded calls on a wide range of subjects.
• Unlimited internet coaching through the members-only discussion forums. The forums allow us to collaborate so that Together Everyone Achieves More.
• Priority scheduling for private telephone coaching for when you'd prefer an individually tailored and focused hour ($120) or half hour ($75). An internet-delivered MP3 recording for your private listening and tapping along is available at no extra charge.
• FREE 21 Day Trial... then only $39.95/month (recurring subscription billed each month to your credit card or PayPal account, cancel at any time. Valid payment information is required to start the trial.)

Thriving Now Team Members come from many backgrounds and life experiences, and from around the world. One thing we all have in common is a desire to live life joyfully. We all want to be able to shout out, "I'm Thriving Now!" Our team mission is to help you get from where you are to where you want to be... and beyond. We invite you to join us today by clicking the Subscribe button below.

(Or click here to login and renew an expired membership)

We hope you will continue to benefit from being a Thriving Now Team Member for many months to come. You can, of course, cancel your membership subscription at any time by clicking the button below or emailing Rick@Thrivingnow.com.

P.S. Professional massage therapy, energy therapy, and body unwinding are also available for those who live in our region or who plan to travel to Morgantown, West Virginia.

Most people have heard that if you can focus on your breathing... slow it down... deepen the breaths... it can shift you to a calmer state. For many people, that does not work very effectively when they most need it. Why is that?

Well, I find that the primitive brain likes to be acknowledged. EFT does that in the setup statement. "Even though I feel _____ ...."

Our brain also likes to know how we want to feel. EFT does this, too, with the second half of the setup statement: "I deeply and completely accept myself" or even something more specific like "I choose to find it surprisingly easy to relax, feel safe, and take deep breaths." This focuses both your intention and the vibrational direction of the energy.

And there is a part of us that is still wired just like a big baby, and we want to be physically soothed. Ever try talking a baby into relaxing? Sometimes it works, but most of the time you get better results if you pat, rub, and rock them. The part of us that freaks out and feels scared at times is no different. The tapping points used in EFT are natural comfort points... they physically soothe our system and help shift our state of being towards calm confidence.

One of the most popular articles and audios on Thriving Now is a simple breathing exercise. I encourage you to listen, tap along, and maybe even download it to your iPod or other portable MP3 player. Use it when you're feeling stressed and notice the shifts that happen in your body. feel free to let me know what you discover for yourself.

Anxiety Constricted Breathing

Note: Sometimes, this EFT breathing exercise can bring up some of the deeper issues that have been stored or suppressed in your breathing and elsewhere in your body. EFT can be used to help release these stress-inducing energies, too. So if stuff starts coming up, take it as a Good Thing. Continue tapping the points until you start relaxing. Consider reaching out to a coach or therapist to help you. Our group coaching program is perfect for helping you apply EFT for such issues. Consider starting your 21-day complimentary membership right now.

I recommended to one client that he tap using this exercise 2-5 times a day for three days. He wrote, "My breathing has become very, very good... which is unbelievable to me!" Those of us who use EFT and energy approaches everyday for "whatever stuff is coming up" don't find that unbelievable at all... Try it, and see for yourself.

Anxiety and stress affect both our body and our mind DEEPLY. Learning to self-manage your emotions and how they affect you physically is a core skill necessary for living a thriving life. If you would like to learn more, start your free 21-day membership in our group coaching program now.

If you were portraying an anxious person on stage, how would you breathe? Would you take slow, deep breaths? Or would you take shallow inhales constricted by tension in your throat and chest?

When we breathe with shallow, constricted breaths, we are adopting one aspect of the emotional posture of anxiety. It is almost impossible to feel deeply calm and relaxed when we are telling our body, through our breathing, that we feel unsafe.

It’s easy to tell ourselves when we're anxious, “Slow down, relax, take a deep breath” when in reality we may have significant challenges to overcome:

(1) We may physically have forgotten how to take a slow, deep breath.

(2) The muscles of our rib cage, diaphragm, abdomen, and neck may be chronically out of balance and unable to cooperate to allow deep breathing.

(3) Our base emotional state may be one of anxiety and suppressed fear, and from that state deep breathing is extremely difficult (almost like trying to take a deep breath through a straw; it takes that much effort).

(4) Pain anywhere in the body can cause all our muscles to “brace for impact,” leading to tension all over including the breathing muscles.

For example, I was working with a young client a few years ago. She suffered from nearly constant anxiety and was taking medication to provide some minimal relief. A quick check of her breathing depth showed that it was only a “4” on a 10 point subjective scale. And this was after we had done a full session of massage therapy!

So let me ask you, is your anxiety causing the shallow breathing, or is the shallow breathing reinforcing the sense of anxiety? Or BOTH!

Situations that make us anxious further contract the breathing muscles. Once constricted, even in non-anxiety-producing situations, our body doesn’t feel relaxed. The mind keeps sensing that there must be something to be fearful about because “the body is not breathing in a relaxed way.”

Let’s see if we can break that vicious cycle using a simple EFT procedure to release the constriction. If you need to review the EFT Tapping Points, do so now.

(If you do have a chronic disease such as asthma, COPD, pneumonia, congestive heart failure, emphysema, etc., please do not do this exercise if if deep breathing might cause you any distress; when in doubt, as always, consult a medical professional).

Constricted Breathing Technique

At the top of this article, you can start the audio and tap along by clicking the green play button, or download the audio for listening on your computer or portable player by clicking the MP3 link.

First, we’re going to take three deep breaths. On the third breath, I want you to judge on a scale of 0-10 (where 0 means you can’t breathe at all and 10 is the deepest breath you could possibly take), how deep are you breathing right now?

Breathe in......  breathe out.....
Breathe in......  breathe out.....
Breathe in......  breathe out with a big sigh....

Okay, how deep a breath was that last one? 0-10. Make a note of your number and let’s continue.

Now, let’s tap together. Starting at the karate chop point, tap continuously while repeating after me:

"Even though I have this constricted breathing,
     I deeply and completely accept myself.”
“Even though I have this constricted breathing,
     I choose to breathe deeply.”
“Even though I have this constricted breathing,
     I ask my body to feel safe breathing deeply."

Now we’ll move from point to point, saying our reminder phrase while tapping about 5-7 times at each point:

Top of the head: “This constricted breathing”
Eyebrow: “This constricted breathing”
Side of the eye: “This constricted breathing”
Under the eye: “This constricted breathing”
Under the nose: “This constricted breathing”
Chin: “This constricted breathing”
Collarbone: “This constricted breathing”
Under the arm: “This constricted breathing”

Returning to the karate chop point, tap continuously while repeating the following statements aloud:

"Even though I still have some of this constricted breathing,
     I ask my body to remember how to breathe deeply.”
“Even though I still have some of this constricted breathing,
     I ask my breathing muscles to cooperate and breathe deeply.”
“Even though I still have some of this constricted breathing,
     I choose to find it surprisingly easy to relax, feel safe, and take deep breaths."

Top of the head: “Remaining constricted breathing”
Eyebrow: “Remaining constricted breathing”
Side of the eye: “Remaining constricted breathing”
Under the eye: “Remaining constricted breathing”
Under the nose: “Remaining constricted breathing”
Chin: “Remaining constricted breathing”
Collarbone: “Remaining constricted breathing”
Under the arm: “Remaining constricted breathing”
Top of the head: “I choose to take relaxed, deep breaths.”

Now, take a nice deep breath and really sigh on the out breath....

On the same 0-10 scale, how deep a breath was that? Did the air seem to flow in and out more smoothly, with less effort? Did you feel more relaxed and less anxious or worried? If you are not at least an “8”, I encourage you to follow this procedure again (and again) as many times every day as feels right to you.

Sometimes, this EFT breathing exercise can bring up some of the deeper issues that you can use EFT to help release. If that happens, take it as a Good Thing, and use EFT right away or call a coach or therapist to help you. Our group coaching program is perfect for helping you apply EFT for such issues. Consider starting your 21-day complimentary membership right now.

Additional Tips:

• If you are not in a place where you choose to go deeper, be sure to honor your body’s intelligence, as I describe answering the question, “What if I get really emotional at the ‘wrong’ time?”
   
• Massage therapy can be extremely helpful here, too. Massage can both release stored tension and re-educate muscles in what “relaxed” really means. Have your therapist focus on the breathing muscles of the neck, rib cage, and diaphragm as well as the shoulders, back, and abdomen. (This type of work requires both skill and sensitivity; be sure to choose a manual therapist who specializes in detailed work rather than relaxation Swedish or spa massage.)

Feedback:

• Thanks so much for the breathing technique! I have been feeling very terrified and sad today, and the exercise really helped me move the energy! Love, Mary
• This is amazing!! Thanks....my headache went away this afternoon after learning and concentrating on deep breaths....thanks.... Tom
• I thought I wasn't really stressed when I listened. I found myself yawning quite a bit and now I do feel more relaxed. Thanks! Michele

We move from one emotional state to another. And sometimes we develop certain emotional states that we move into easily, just as we walk, stand, or sit a particular way. I call these “emotional postures.”

Some people stand straight and tall, with a physical posture that is balanced and strong. Some people slouch, with their back hunched, shoulders weak, and head bowed. Our physical body adopts certain positions out of habit, past injury, and repetitive movement (or lack of movement...).

Can posture be improved? Absolutely!

To improve posture requires awareness ("there is a problem"), a willingness to change ("I’d like to have better posture"), hope that it can be changed ("I can do this"), and a long-term plan combined with new skills and exercises taught by a experienced coach. Postural change requires persistent application of these skills and exercises over a period of time until the new posture becomes “habit,” and it is the old posture that feels unnatural and unbalanced.

Just like our physical body adopts certain postures, so too does our energy system. It is my theory that any emotion we feel “easily” and that feels comfortable “like an old shoe” to us, we’ve had a lot of practice feeling. Our energy system adopts the state easily, and while it may be a negative emotion, it nonetheless is a familiar one.

“Worried” and “angry” are emotional postures. So are peevish, cynical, critical, lonely, unmotivated, ignored, friendless, untrusting, not-good-enough, unappreciated, and unloved. Let’s also include overwhelmed, frustrated, impatient, and stressed. If a person demonstrates such a state of being on a consistent basis, it is an emotional posture. It has become how the person stands and relates to the world.

I used to be a worrier. I had plenty to worry about, of course. Most worriers have a list a mile long. What is interesting is that as I changed my emotional posture to be closer to “Don’t worry, Be Happy” (a song title I used to despise), I noticed that my list of things I could worry about is just as long as it used to be. Only, my emotional posture is so different, I don’t process them in the same way.

When we change physical posture, we include practices such as stretching the short, tight muscles, strengthening the long, weak muscles, using massage to bring deep relaxation and relieve localized areas of pain, adding non-habitual movement to teach the nervous system new tricks, and heightening body awareness to catch us when we start “falling” into the old posture and to maintain the proper alignment.

When we seek to change emotional posture, we need to do similar exercises. We stretch ourselves emotionally by exploring feelings we don’t habitually feel anymore—like gratitude and forgiveness. We strengthen our emotions through affirmations that acknowledge our painful truth while choosing a brighter, more peaceful present. We use EFT to address specific painful issues and to teach our energy system a new, faster resilience in the face of all daily stresses. And we bring awareness to our emotional state so that we catch ourselves before we fall into the old posture. We use EFT, meditation, prayer, and other techniques to maintain proper alignment.

Does this sound like a lot to do on your own? Well, it is. I’ll be the first to admit that I love having help for myself and helping others. We may idolize the rugged individualist, but I think suffering alone in silence so as not to appear weak is… stupid. Sorry, men.

It does take courage to seek, ask, and receive help. Just know that the purpose is never to make you dependent on other person’s support. Changing postures can feel strange and uncomfortable; professional support can help show you how and where to focus for maximum benefit, and it helps to reflect your progress back to you. The ultimate goal is for you to feel physically vital and emotionally free, with mental clarity and a spiritual connection that becomes your personal inner guide.

Our Thriving Now Team is a group coaching service designed to help you establish powerful, new emotional postures… such as a feeling of surprising calm confidence… no matter what! If you are interested in making a shift in how you process life situations emotionally, we encourage you to try out this program. You can start your free 21-day membership today.

If you have a passionate EFT story and are willing to share your own journey, they would love to interview you! Each interview is recorded over the phone. This is a great way to let your story inspire others to do the same. If you are interested please email Jessica Maya Ortner at Jessica@The http://www.EFT-Revealed.com website interviews some of the best EFT practitioners in the world to spread a message of hope. Now they are expanding to include interviews with people who have used EFT to better themselves.

If you have a passionate EFT story and are willing to share your own journey, they would love to interview you! Each interview is recorded over the phone. This is a great way to let your story inspire others to do the same. If you are interested please email Jessica Maya Ortner at Jessica@TryItOnEverything.com—They are looking for all kinds of stories and experiences. No matter how “big” or “small” you think your story is they would love to hear about it.

In the subject of your email please write, “Share my Story” and in the email please include what you have used EFT for (backpain, fears, ect.) and the best time to reach you. Each interview will vary in time but will be around 15 minutes. It’s just a fun chat about you and your experience with EFT. Lets continue to use our lives to inspire others! They are looking for all kinds of stories and experiences. No matter how “big” or “small” you think your story is they would love to hear about it.

In the subject of your email please write, “Share my Story” and in the email please include what you have used EFT for (backpain, fears, ect.) and the best time to reach you. Each interview will vary in time but will be around 15 minutes. It’s just a fun chat about you and your experience with EFT. Lets continue to use our lives to inspire others!

Note from Rick: I am one of the practitioners for the movie Try It On Everything so I know Jessica well. She’s a delight to be interviewed by! You can listen to her interviews with me on Anger and Back Pain on the http://www.EFT-Revealed.com website.

Special Offer: When you order any of Carol Look’s products through links from Thrivingnow.com, we offer 30-days of free email support to help you make the most of your purchase.

Weight Loss with EFT — Audio CD’s or Downloadable MP3 Audios
So often we don’t know where to begin on the journey to transforming stored energy into something more to our liking. In these audio CD’s or downloadable MP3 files, Carol takes a group of individuals through that process as they tap on all the emotional causes of their cravings, overeating, and blocks to success in restoring their body to balance. Books are fine, and individual work with a practitioner is better. Yet, the clients I have listen to this series find an emotional connection in the group work that helps them feel supported between sessions. Order Weight Loss with EFT Audios ($65 for MP3s, $75 + S&H for CDs)

How To Lose Weight With Energy Therapy — Training Manual
I refer to this manual with all my clients who are interested in transforming their “stored power” in the form of weight into healthy inspiration. This is a training manual primarily for EFT practitioners; I typically have clients listen to Carol’s Weight Loss CD Series (described above). Here are some of the topics covered: What is Energy Therapy? EFT?, Advantages of using EFT for Weight Loss, Are You an Addict?, Definition of Substance Abuse, Obsessions vs. Compulsions, Why Diets Don’t Work, When Food Is Your Drug of Choice, Treatment vs. Healing, Intake Questions for Weight Loss Clients, Emotional Themes, Body Image, Exercise, The Past, Guilt, Shame, and Low Self-Esteem, Comfort Zones, The Future, End-Result Imagery, Stress Journal, More Energy Therapy Exercises, Troubleshooting, Treating Plateaus, Nutritional Support, Sample Treatment Plans, and Sample Workshop Formats. Order How To Lose Weight With Energy Therapy ($30 + S&H)

Quit Smoking Now With Energy Therapy — Training Manual
Millions of people quit smoking every year… only to start up again when they cannot find another (non-fattening) replacement to sooth their anxiety. EFT can help! This manual is designed primary for EFT practitioners to use as a guide when working with clients who really, really want to quit smoking for their own selfish reasons (the best kind of reasons; few people make such big shifts in behavior “just” to make another person happy). Topics include: Treatment Guidelines for EFT, Why Use EFT for Smoking Cessation, Limiting Beliefs, Psychological Reversals, Cravings, Favorite Times of Day to Smoke, The Past, Withdrawal symptoms, The Future, The Present, Choices, When There Are Other Addictions, Other Quit Smoking Aids, Meditation/ Trance, Writing, Energy Toxins, Case Study: Chewing Tobacco Addiction, and Other Stress Relief Techniques. Order Quit Smoking Now With Energy Therapy ($25 + S&H)

Free Attracting Abundance Email Newsletter
Carol Look also publishes a free email newsletter on Attracting Abundance with EFT. You can sign-up on her home page as well as read the back issues. 

Hi! Welcome to Thriving Now! We're delighted to have you. Here are some tips for getting started:

• Sign-up for our free client newsletter
• Join our group coaching program... Thriving Now Team Membership... FREE for 21 Days!!
• Look at our recent articles shown below and check back often for new articles
• Review the categories of articles on the left side of the screen
• Listen to our EFT audio tips and EFT coaching sessions
• Tune into my EFT-Talk Podcast with co-host Carol Look. It's designed to help you feel good... really good... using the power of EFT and the Law of Attraction.
• Learn more about us.

Rick Wilkes, LMT, EFT-ADV
Emotional Freedom Coach • EFT Pain Relief Specialist • Rick@Thrivingnow.com

Thriving Now, LLC — Transforming Pain into Optimal Health™
2567 University Avenue, Suite 3038, Morgantown, WV 26505 • (304) 284-0711 • (888) 222-3856

Private telephone sessions: $120/hour or $75/half hour. Email Rick@Thrivingnow.com with three days/times east coast time (United States) that would work for you, along with the specific issues you’d like to address. Payments can be made after the session through PayPal by clicking here or the logo above. MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover, eCheck, and your existing PayPal account are accepted. (The Paypal page says “donation” only because you have to enter the amount you are paying. It is a payment for services to Thriving Now LLC, not a donation).

In-person EFT and massage therapy: Email me at Rick@Thrivingnow.com for in-person massage therapy and energy bodywork rates and scheduling.

For those clients who prefer to pay by check (U.S. Funds), please make it payable to:

Thriving Now, LLC
2567 University Avenue, Suite 3038
Morgantown, WV 26505-4509
Phone 1-304-284-0711

Thriving Now, LLC
Grand Central Business Center
2567 University Avenue,
Morgantown, WV 26505-4509
Phone 1-304-284-0711

For massage therapy and intuitive energy bodywork: Suite 3039 is immediately inside the door on the left. Sign on door says Mother’s Intuition Massage.

For EFT and coaching sessions: Suite 3038 is down the hall on the right.

Maps (can be used for directions)

Google Maps (This maps show the location a bit further north than the actual building)
Microsoft Windows Live Maps

From I-68: Take Exit 7 West CR-857, go 1 mile, turn Left onto US-119 towards airport. At top of hill continue straight on US-119 (The Mileground). Continue past the right hand turn for WV-705, and take the following right hand split onto College Avenue. Continue down the hill on College Avenue for about a mile to the stop sign. Turn Right (North) onto University Avenue. Follow University Avenue as it winds around and up the hill. Towards the top of the hill you will see a sign on your left for Grand Central Business Center. Turn left at that sign and continue past the building to side parking lot. Enter on 3rd floor side entrance. Suite 3039 (on left) or 3038 (down hall on right)—see above.

From I-79: Take Exit 155 West Virginia University (WV-7/US-19). You’ll go about 0.7 miles on Osage Road and then go straight past the Sheetz at the light onto WV-7/US-19. Continue up to the light at the coliseum where you will make a Left turn. Follow coliseum directions below.

From WVU Coliseum (Intersection of WV-7/US-19 and Patteson Drive WV-705): Turn onto Patteson Drive (WV-705). After 0.7 miles, before you get to where Patteson Drive becomes Van Voorhis Road (also WV-705), you will be turning Right onto University Avenue. Go 0.7 miles on University Avenue, past Evans Street on your right, and take next Right onto Ensign Avenue
(street sign is often missing). Grand Central Business Center will be ahead of you a few hundred feet on your left. Park in the side lot
and enter building on 3rd floor side entrance.  Suite 3039 (on left) or 3038 (down hall on right)—see above.

Phone: 1-304-284-0711 or 1-888-222-3856
Email:  Rick@Thrivingnow.com

Directions to the studio

Rick Wilkes, CMT, NCTMB, EFT-ADV

“I am earnestly committed to helping every willing person to transform their pain into optimal health so they know what it means to be Thriving Now!"

- Emotional Freedom Coach
- Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) Advanced Training Certificate of Completion (EFT-ADV)
- Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCTMB #33573100)
- West Virginia Licensed Massage Therapist (WV #2006-2011)
- Maryland Certified Massage Therapist (MD #M02477)
- Professional Member, American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), http://www.amtamassage.org
- Member, Association of Comprehensive Energy Psychology (ACEP), http://www.energypsych.org
- Member, Association for the Advancement of Meridian Energy Therapy (AAMET), http://www.meridiantherapy.org
- Member, Johns Hopkins Computer Science Advisory Board, http://www.jhu.edu
- Ordained Interfaith Minister

ExpressionEngine — Web Content Management and Weblog Software
Our websites are powered by ExpressionEngine, a content management system published by pMachine. We have been very pleased with this software as it has evolved. While not for the rank beginner, if you want to have a dynamic, easily updated website, I strongly recommend having your webmaster look into this product. The company also offers hosting, if you don’t want to do the installation of the software yourself.

AudioAcrobat — Web Audio Playback and Telephone Recording
If you are looking for a service that allows you to add audio to your website, I encourage you to compare AudioAcrobat to other services such as InstantAudio and AudioGenerator and BYOAudio. AudioAcrobat offers more storage, much lower cost per additional gigabyte of transfer, and a lower cost per month ($99/6 months = just $16.50/mo). You can use the service to upload audio you record on your own computer, record directly to their service over the internet, and record by telephone. Using three-way-calling, you can also record teleconferences up to two hours in length. You can also set up client testimonial lines. Best yet, it is easy to integrate the audio into any website where you can paste HTML.

AWeber — Email Broadcast and Auto Responders
AWeber has excellent deliverability and pricing, as well as integration with PayPal and email parsing. We previously used Intellicontact; we switched to AWeber for greater system reliability, performance, required double opt-in, powerful autoresponders, and automatic newsletter generation from RSS feeds… all with lower pricing.

SEO Elite — Search Engine Optimization
Search Engine Optimization is complicated and many webmasters spend thousands on tools and services to optimize their placement. Brad Callen has a free e-book, Search Engine Optimization Made Easy which gives an excellent introduction to on-page and off-page search engine optimization techniques. He also offers a free series of lessons when you sign-up at his website. Even if you do not purchase his SEO Elite software, what you learn by reading his e-book and receiving his lessons is worthwhile to know as an introduction to SEO techniques.

Smugmug — Photo Sharing and Printing
I have been using SmugMug for almost two years to store and catalog ALL our digital photos. For a very low yearly fee, you get UNLIMITED storage for your photos. It feels so good to know that we have a backup of all the original images in full size. They offer a DVD copy service that will send you back the originals, whenever needed. Family and friends can download images, too, as well as order prints at a reasonable price. We password protect our SmugMug site to give us privacy.

Audible — Audio Books
I’ve been an Audible customer since the service was launched years ago. I love having an audio book or three on my digital media player so I can listen in the car, on the airplane, or shopping. If you spend ANY time in traffic and are not already listening to some of the 25,000 books available from Audible at a dramatically reduced price over CDs and tapes, I encourage you to check them out.

Skype — Free calls over the internet
Skype makes it possible for us to talk to clients from India, Europe, Asia, wherever… for free. While dial-up voice quality is “okay,” those using a broadband connection can hear very well indeed as we use EFT. SkyeOut can dial-out at your destination for just pennies a minute. Voice mail and SkyeIn are also available.

GoDaddy — Domain Registrar
Sometimes the low-price offering also has excellent service. We’ve been pleased with GoDaddy to register our domain names and transfer and renew domains we originally registered with more expensive registrars.

LogoWorks — Logo Design
When we were ready for a logo for Thriving Now (one that would work on both the website and our shirts), we looked into local design studios as well as internet offerings. We decided on Logoworks and their Gold package that gave us three designers offering multiple concepts and then unlimited revisions until we had just what we wanted.

VistaPrint — Business Cards
VistaPrint offers new customers 250 business cards for free. I ended up designing my own color card with a picture of our dandelion on a custom color background. VistaPrint also printed up our refrigerator magnets for a lot, lot less than any local shop could quote. We’ve been pleased with the service. The one time they made a mistake, they quickly credited our account and redid the printing as a rush job.

Of all the energy therapies (and there are dozens), EFT is the most widely applied and is gaining the most interest. Why? It’s simple. It’s effective. It’s long-lasting. It’s empowering. EFT truly is emotional self-care. And Gary provides a wide range of products that can help you learn EFT. (You may also want to refer to our Learning EFT section here on Thrivingnow.com)

Special Offer: When you order your Gary Craig EFT DVDs through links from Thrivingnow.com, we offer 30-days of free email support to help you make the most of your purchase and get off to a great start with EFT.

Borrowing Benefits EFT DVDs
Everyone should own this DVD series! Personally, I recommend you look and tap along with these before even reading the free manual Gary has (described below). Why? Because you get to see EFT in action. You get to tap along for your own issues and experience the benefits of EFT right away. You get to see 13 full EFT sessions lasting 30-60 minutes each. These sessions are outstanding because they show times when the intensity increases, when EFT doesn’t seem to be helping yet persistence and the “art of delivery” leads to core pains that do release with EFT. If you are going to receive emotional freedom coaching, these videos will give you a clear sense of the process as well. They are universally useful and re-usable. I continue to get benefits from them each time I use them for myself or others. Here are the sessions you will see:

• Instructions


• Stacey: Money blocks


• Roger & Mary: Couples counseling


• Kim: Molested at age 6


• Betty: Putting herself forward--"Mr. Smythe dealt me a mortal blow"


• Gary: Spiritual growth


• LaVern: Rejection--"I don’t want to dance!!"


• Kathy: Fear and dread of making presentations to unknown people.


• Andy: "I could never do anything right."


• Patricia: Social discomfort & "Momma didn’t want me"


• Yvette: Overweight & "I don’t want to be controlled"


• Lucille: Claustrophobia and related items


• Tam: Repressed memory--childhood school trauma


• Sarah: Alcoholic mother & "I must fix the world"

This EFT DVD set is only $60 with a 60-day money back guarantee. Even better, when you order it with another EFT DVD set, you get a 40% discount! ($60 + $60 = $120 less 40% = $72)... meaning the second set of DVDs is only $12 more! Order Borrowing Benefits EFT Videos

The EFT Couse on DVD
The second DVD set I want to recommend you purchase (again, for only $12 more when you purchase two sets at once from Gary’s website!) is this foundational EFT Course. This is the original series of videos. They use the long form of EFT rather than the short form used in the Borrowing Benefits set. (The short form is no less effective, and it has the benefit of being… shorter!). This DVD set has some wonderful learning opportunities. Indeed, it helped solidify my commitment to EFT as the core of my coaching practice when I saw both Dave’s Fear of Water and 6-Days at the Veterans (VA) Hospital. It includes numerous other cases as well. I encourage you to get this set, too, and tap along with the clients as Gary works with them. Order EFT Course Training Videos

EFT for Serious Diseases: Series 1 & 2
I attended all of Gary’s seminars where he worked with serious diseases. It is crucial for clients to understand that a chronic condition has made a serious impact on your energy field. It takes skill to get to the core energies and the issues, beliefs, and specific events involved in creating and re-creating the energy system disturbances that perpetuate the condition. These DVDs offer a intimate view into the process. You can learn a great deal about how to apply EFT for your own situation. Any serious student of EFT should certainly review both series 1 and series 2. Order

EFT for Serious Diseases Series 1: This set contains 19 hours on 7 DVDs: Watch as EFT Founder Gary Craig applies advanced EFT to 12 clients for impressive symptom relief. Because EFT is a Universal Healing Aid, the approaches used herein can be applied to any ailment. Illnesses covered in this set include CFIDS, Cancer pain, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, Lou Gehrig’s Disease, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Keratakonis, Parkinson’s Disease, Cystic Fibrosis, Breast Cancer, Blood Pooling, Breathing Problems and War Trauma. Order

EFT for Serious Diseases Series 2: This set contains 21 hours on 8 DVDs: Watch as EFT Founder Gary Craig applies advanced EFT to 14 clients for impressive symptom relief. Because EFT is a Universal Healing Aid, the approaches used herein can be applied to any ailment. Physical problems covered in this set include Head injury, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Parkinson’s Disease, Neurogenic Bladder, Pituitary Gland Problem, Hepatitis C, Vaginal Distress, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Asthma, Neuropathy, War Trauma, Prostate Cancer, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Diabetes. Order

Free EFT Manual and Newsletter
This 87-page manual (Fifth Edition) helps those who prefer to read and digest a new subject plenty of opportunity to do so! It covers the following points:

• The Science behind EFT


• The Full Basic Recipe (including the tapping points and procedures)


• 6 Tips on Applying EFT


• EFT on a Page for a simple reminder


• 19 Actual case histories on a wide variety of issues


• Sections on using EFT for Fears & Phobias, Traumatic Memories, Addictions, Physical Healing and Self Image.


• Short cuts to further streamline the process


• Detailed description of our DVD sets


• Questions & Answers

The “basic recipe” is also known as the long form of EFT. Gary uses the long form in his EFT DVD Course (described below), so if you want to know how to do it, this manual is one place to learn. Most EFT practitioners, including Gary, have now switched to the short form of EFT (which generally does not use the 9 Gamut or the finger points). Both the long form and short form work well.

With your manual will come a free subscription to Gary Craig’s EFT Insights email newsletter. It is published 3-4 times per month and contains links to a host of EFT Tips and case reports. As a professional, I read every issue.

Gary Craig’s Emofree Website
Gary Craig’s website has a wealth of case studies and field reports on the use of EFT for a wide variety of specific issues.

Additional Gary Craig EFT Training
Gary has put together several other sets of DVDs from seminars he has given over the years. These sets are especially cost effective when you buy over $100 worth (retail cost) at a time so you get your 40% discount. Indeed you can buy all four of the remaining sets for $144 plus shipping and handling. If you are considering using EFT as a professional or volunteer, I strongly recommend that you deepen your EFT training by studying these EFT videos.

From EFT to the Palace of Possibilities
This 13 DVD set includes a foundational EFT workshop as well as Gary’s approach to rewriting limiting beliefs (the “writing on our walls” as Gary calls them). Order

• The Foundational EFT Workshop. This provides a good look at the EFT basics but does not replace the EFT Course.


• Turning Relationships into Elationships


• Turning Dreams into Dollars


• The Palace of Possibilities

EFT Specialty Workshop 1
As a professional I learned a great deal from this set of DVDs. Gary addresses many issues on using EFT for your own business. Carol Look introduces using EFT for weight loss. I continue to use her approach with my optimal weight seeking clients. Order

• Gary Craig on Doing Business with EFT


• Carol Look on Using EFT for Weight Loss & Addictions


• Paul & Layne Cutright on Using EFT for Relationships


• Lori Lorenz, MA on Using EFT for Sexual Trauma


• Ann Adams, LCSW on Using EFT with Emotionally Disturbed Children...AND...Getting EFT Accepted by Institutions

Steps Toward Becoming the Ultimate Therapist
Recommended for EFT practitioners and serious students, this 13 DVD set covers a broad range of topics, some of which are not core to EFT. Read the description and see if it is for you. Order

EFT Specialty Series 2
Of all the sets of DVDs, this is the set I return to the least. I do, however, feel the methods and approaches of certain of the professionals showcased here are worth investigating further: Patricia Carrington and her Choices Method, Steve Wells and David Lake for peak performance and trauma, and Sandi Radomski for allergy antidotes. Order