Butterfly Hug
The butterfly hug is a gentle calming exercise you can use when you are feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or emotionally stirred up. This is a specific way to use resource tapping. It involves crossing your arms over your chest and tapping from side to side in a slow, steady rhythm, like butterfly wings. Many people find it soothing because it gives the body something simple and comforting to focus on.
How to Do It
- Find a comfortable position, either sitting or standing.
- Cross your arms over your chest so each hand rests on the opposite upper arm or just below the collarbone.
- Begin tapping gently, one side and then the other, at a pace that feels calm and natural.
- As you tap, let yourself take slow, easy breaths and notice the support of the chair, the floor, or the ground beneath you.
- Continue for a little while and stop whenever you begin to feel more settled.
How It Helps
This gentle back-and-forth tapping can help bring your attention back to the present moment. For some people, it softens the intensity of anxious thoughts or strong feelings and creates a greater sense of steadiness in the body. When paired with slow breathing, the butterfly hug can offer a small moment of comfort, helping you pause, reconnect, and care for yourself in a stressful moment.
If this exercise brings up strong feelings, that is okay. You can pause, look around the room, and gently reconnect with your surroundings.
Want to learn other ways to help calm your nervous system? Take a Leap of Faith!
