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From the archived Rick and Carol EFT podcast series. The series is complete.
Episode #31 – When You Are Running Late
It’s very stressful to run late. No matter what the reason, when we’re late, there is a tendency to feel bad about ourselves, beat ourselves up, and notice everything else that is going wrong. Not only does this not feel good, but since we’re tuned to a low vibration channel, we end up attracting more of the same. From our vantage point, your one job is to see if you can change that trend… to shift your vibration to one of even surprising calm confidence. Ready to shift your vibration? Listen now!
Companion Guide
Once you know you are late, the body often shifts into alarm. You search less effectively, drive less safely, notice every obstruction, and rehearse how disappointed or angry everyone will be. Shame and blame may arrive before you do.
You cannot recover elapsed time, but you can change the state in which you handle what happens next.
This Guide Helps With
- panic, shame, or defensiveness when you are late
- calming enough to communicate and arrive safely
- examining a recurring pattern without self-hatred
- noticing when lateness expresses overwhelm, rebellion, or a hidden no
- reducing fury when someone else is late
First, Do Not Make the Situation More Dangerous
If you are driving, do not tap with your hands, read, type, or rush unsafely. Slow your breathing, soften your grip, and accept the factual sentence: “I am going to be late.” Contact the person only when it is safe, or use hands-free communication appropriately.
When you are stationary, tapping for even a minute may restore enough focus to find the keys, choose what actually matters, and stop creating additional delay through frantic movement.
Address the Feeling, Not Just the Clock
Ask what is strongest:
- fear of losing a job or opportunity
- embarrassment about being late again
- anger at traffic or another person
- shame about what lateness “proves” about you
- dread of the event itself
The factual problem may require an apology or changed plan. The emotional problem needs enough care that you can offer that response without ten minutes of excuses, attack, or self-punishment.
Tapping: I Am Late, and I Can Still Be Present
Side of the Hand: Even though I am late and I hate it, I accept myself and all these feelings.
Even though I am anxious about how they will react, I choose to feel surprisingly calm and confident enough to respond.
Even though I wish I had been on time, I cannot change the past few minutes; I can make the best of what is true now.
Top of the Head: I am late.
Eyebrow: I hate being late.
Side of the Eye: What are they going to think of me?
Under the Eye: I feel ashamed and defensive.
Under the Nose: I want to blame someone or something.
Chin: This alarm is making it harder to think.
Collarbone: I can calm down without pretending it does not matter.
Under the Arm: I am going to be late, and I can handle that responsibly.
Top of the Head: I can arrive as present as possible.
Eyebrow: I can communicate clearly.
Side of the Eye: I can apologize without attacking myself.
Under the Eye: I can listen to their response.
Under the Nose: I can learn from this if there is a pattern.
Chin: I choose safety over frantic rushing.
Collarbone: I accept what is already true.
Under the Arm: I am bringing my best available self to what happens next.
Take a breath. Decide whether the next responsible action is a safe message, a changed plan, or simply arriving with steadiness.
Later, Investigate the Pattern
If lateness recurs, ask when it began and where it appears. Are you late everywhere, only with family, only for events you do not want, or only when success and visibility are involved? Does it express disorganization, unrealistic scheduling, passive resistance, overwhelm, or disregard for your own transition time?
Self-acceptance makes honest responsibility more possible. You can recognize the emotional pattern, repair its impact on others, and build the practical structures that help you be on time.
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