When Willpower Doesn’t Work... Sometimes It’s Not Procrastination. Sometimes It’s Protection.
Discover Why Your Nervous System Shuts You Down,
And How EFT Tapping Helps You Move Forward.
If you're building a personal brand as a speaker…
There are all these things you know you’re supposed to do.
Posting... Pitching… Networking… Selling…
And we all have those days when you know exactly what to do...
But you still don't do it.
Then, if you’re like most motivated people…
When you don’t do what you know you need to do, you get super frustrated with yourself.
Many people think this is a mindset problem. Or a discipline problem.
Because sometimes when willpower doesn't work, or stops working, you think you just need to power through it.
But, when you don't power through, you naturally think you have a mindset or discipline problem…
And when you come from that perspective it makes sense for you to be frustrated with yourself.
But there's another perspective you may not have considered....
the truth is… You have a
Nervous System Overprotection Problem.
I talk more about this in other articles and in my programs, but just for a quick recap…
Your nervous system is always trying to protect you.
It does this by controlling how your body reacts…
- Your breathing...
- Heart rate…
- Muscle tension...
- Focus…
- Energy…
Especially when something feels unsafe.
When your nervous system senses danger...
It shifts your body into protection mode by tightening muscles, speeding up thoughts, or shutting things down to keep you safe.
When building a personal brand…
It looks like:
Procrastination. Perfectionism. Avoidance. Overwhelm...
And unfortunately, you can’t talk your way out of a nervous system protection response anymore than you can talk your way out of an allergic reaction.
"you can’t talk your way out of a nervous system response...
Just Like You can't talk your way out
of an allergic reaction."
You need a way to settle your nervous system… And get it back to a place where you can actually do the things you know you need to do.
That's where EFT tapping becomes incredibly useful.
(Not for an allergic reaction, but for getting into ACTION...)
Calm Your Nervous System with EFT...
EFT stands for Emotional Freedom Techniques. Most people just call it tapping.
You tap on specific acupressure points while focusing on what's bothering you, using words that match your real experience.
- The repetition calms your nervous system.
- When your nervous system calms down, your thinking gets clearer.
- The tasks that felt impossible start to feel doable.
This isn't positive-thinking your way past fear.
This is feeling safe enough for your brain to come back online.
Why This Matters for Personal Brands...
When you're building a personal brand, you're navigating real threats.
Visibility. Judgment. Rejection. Authority. Belonging...
Somehow your subconscious mind has learned that these things can cause you pain. Now, it tries to prevent you from doing things that might risk you feeling that pain.
These aren't logical problems…
They're subconscious threat problems that trigger your nervous system protection patterns.
That's why you can "know what to do" and still freeze.
Tapping lowers the threat signal so you can take action.
Why I Teach It
I first experienced nervous system regulation as a troubled teenager at boarding school…
I was captain of the baseball team, but if I didn’t get any A on my next science test, I was going to be benched for the State Championship game.
I had never gotten an A in this class.
Naturally... I flipped the F*** out.
I instantly shifted into fight mode and felt rage flowing through my veins.
Just then on of the staff, Bill, came up and said, "Hey man, would you like to feel better about whatever's bothering you so much?"
I remember thinking… “That’s literally impossible.”
Fifteen minutes later, I was neutral. Completely calm.
The thing that had been destroying me just... didn't have ANY charge anymore. I went home and studied with hope instead of despair.
I then remember thinking… “How is this even possible?”
During my entire life, I’d never had such an abrupt and profound shift from anger to calm.
With my faculties at full power… I got my A.
That's when I first learned…
Many times people don't need more motivation. They need fewer threats.
Quick Disclaimer
I'm not a therapist. I don’t play one on TV. And this isn't therapy.
EFT is a self-regulation tool, not a substitute for professional support.
If anything feels like too much, stop and come back later.
You're always in charge.
How to Do EFT Tapping:
- Pick One Specific Issue
- Notice How It Shows Up
- Rate the Intensity (0–10)
- Tap the Points
- Measure Progress (0-10)
1. Quick Disclaimer
Don't tap on your entire life.
Pick one thing you want to do but aren’t doing, for example:
- Posting the video
- Sending the pitch
- Raising your prices
- Going live
Just one moment. One situation.
2. Notice How It Shows Up
Before you start tapping, the most important step is to pause long enough to notice what’s actually happening. This brings in awareness of, and eventually control over, your specific protection patterns.
Most people aren’t immediately aware of what they’re thinking or feeling when they’re activated. That’s normal. This step is about gently bringing awareness online before you try to change anything.
Don’t judge. Just observe. Take note of what is happening. There’s no right or wrong.
Now, take a few seconds and ask:
What emotions are present? (fear, pressure, shame, dread, irritation, numbness — simple words are best)
What thoughts are showing up? (“I’m not ready,” “This won’t work,” “I’ll look stupid,” “This is too much”)
What do I feel in my body? (tight chest, stomach drop, throat constriction, buzzing, heaviness)
Where do I feel it most clearly?(Chest, stomach, throat, jaw, face, shoulders, etc.)
If nothing feels obvious, that’s okay.
Even noticing “I feel disconnected or blank” is enough to begin.
3. Rate the Intensity (0–10)
Now that you’ve noticed what’s there, ask:
When I think about doing this, how intense does it feel in my mind or body?
0 = neutral
10 = maximum intensity
This isn’t about being precise. It’s just a reference point.
4. Tap the Points
Now you’re ready to tap.
Light-to-medium pressure
Use 2–4 fingers
Tap each point 5–10 times
Speak out loud if you can (quietly is fine)
You’re not trying to eliminate the feeling.
You’re helping your nervous system feel safe enough to release its protective grip on you.
The Tapping Points
Cycle through these in order:
0. Karate Chop
(side of hand)
*Setup point
1. Top of Head
(Crown of Head)
2. Eyebrow
(inner corner,
near nose)
3. Side of Eye
(outer corner)
4. Under Eye
(cheekbone)
5. Under Nose
(Upper Lip)
6. Chin
crease below
lower lip)
7. Collarbone
(just below it)
8. Lower Rib
(a few inches
below bra line)
9. Under Arm
crease below
lower lip)
End: Gamut
(Between Ring
finger & Pinky)
A Beginner Script for Speakers And Anyone Building a Personal Brand
Setup (Karate Chop)
Say each line while tapping the side of your hand:
- "Even though part of me doesn't want to be seen, I accept where I am."
- "Even though my body feels resistance, I'm open to feeling safer."
- "Even though I'm afraid of judgment, I can work with this gently."
Round 1: Acknowledge What's There
- Top of Head: "This resistance in my body."
- Eyebrow: "I don't want to post this."
- Side of Eye: "It feels risky to be seen."
- Under Eye: "What if people judge me?"
- Under Nose: "What if I look stupid?"
- Chin: "This pressure to get it right."
- Collarbone: "My nervous system thinks this is dangerous."
- Lower Rib: "This protective part of me."
- Under Arm: "It makes sense that I feel this."
Round 2: Create Safety
- Top of Head: "I'm allowed to feel this."
- Eyebrow: "This is protection, not failure."
- Side of Eye: "My body is trying to keep me safe."
- Under Eye: "Thank you for protecting me."
- Under Nose: "We can go slower."
- Chin: "I don't need to force confidence."
- Collarbone: "I just need enough safety for the next step."
- Lower Rib: "I can take the edge off this."
- Under Arm: "I can move with support."
Round 3: Choice
- Top of Head: "What if it can be imperfect?"
- Eyebrow: "What if it can be simple?"
- Side of Eye: "I can handle someone not liking it."
- Under Eye: "I can survive judgment."
- Under Nose: "I can learn as I go."
- Chin: "I'm building a brand, not proving my worth."
- Collarbone: "I choose forward movement."
- Lower Rib: "Next step, not perfect step."
- Under Arm: "I can do this."
Close
Pinch between pinky and ring finger.
Take a slow deep breath.
Let it out slowly.
5. Measure Progress (0-10)
Re-rate your intensity. (0-10)
Progress looks like:
- Less intense feelings
- Calmer breathing
- Clearer thoughts
Any progress is a win.
Even if the overall intensity rating dropped only from an 8 to a 7.5, that's a win. If it dropped more, even better.
You can do another round if you need to.
Often I like to tap until it’s a 4 or less. Occasionally, I like to tap all the way down to a 1 or 0…
It doesn’t have to be perfect.
Sometimes the level drops fast. Sometimes it is persistent and you have to work at it in stages.
The goal isn't to eliminate fear and resistance forever...
The goal is to calm your nervous system and reduce its protective grip enough that you can take action…
Here’s your micro-experiment:
try this:
Net time, don't wait until you're stuck or frustrated.
This week, tap for 5-10 minutes before you do one thing that you would normally procrastinate or stall...
Experience for yourself how much easier it is to take action without resistance.
With you in the pursuit of Awesome,
Nathan & The ICON Guide Team,