I can’t remember the first time my boyfriend snapped at me. Now that I look back, I suppose it started gradually.

He was so sweet to me at first. Lots of flowers, gifts and sentimental greeting cards. I felt very special and cherished. I thought I had finally found my soulmate.

It was easy to overlook his reaction to my time away from him. Sure he wanted to know where I was and when I was going to be home, but I thought it was because he loved me.

Now we had been dating a few months and I began to feel smothered. He called me countless times during the day and the tone of his voice was no longer kind and gentle.

I tried not to answer the calls but then he called more often. If I turned off my cell phone, he was enraged. How had I allowed myself to get into this situation AGAIN.

Yes, I said again. My last three boyfriends all had similar behavior. This one was the worst! It was hard for me to admit that the only thing in common in all of these relationships….was me.

Sound familiar?

Have you been or are you now in a bad news relationship that is going no where fast? As Dr. Phil says, we teach others how to treat us. There is only one time to get out of this kind of partnership and that is NOW.

In order to move on, here are three practical steps:

1. Look Yourself In The Eye

Louise Hay, beloved pioneer in the self development field, always suggests “Mirror Work”. Look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself that you love you. Call yourself by name and say, “__________, I really love you.”

If this is too hard for you to do and you feel emotion rising in you, that is good news. You are at last finding something that you can work with.

You cannot change the guy…period. With EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques), you can begin to change the feelings you have while expressing your love for yourself in the mirror. Once you start to love yourself with your own words, you are on your way to stepping away from him….for good.

2. Get a Break Up Buddy

Find a friend to be an accountability partner for you. Tell her that you are committed to treating yourself with love and that means no more accepting bullies into your life. Explain the mirror work and ask her to do it too. Share with each other the insights you each learn about self acceptance as you complete this simple exercise.

3. Stand Strong

An Ex is an Ex for a Reason. This is critical. Learn this phrase as a mantra and don’t forget it. Whenever you are tempted to go back, call your breakup buddy and get moral support. I know he is sweet from time to time and I know he swears it will never happen again. We don’t care. You are done and you can do this.

Even if you have never tried EFT before, it will still work. Simply repeat these statements as you look into your eyes in the mirror. A full description of EFT How To’s can be found here.

Meanwhile, try this on for size:

Karate Chop: Even though I can’t look myself in the eye, I deeply and completely love and accept mysef.

Even though I can’t get the words “I love you” out of my mouth, I deeply and completely love and accept myself.

Even though it feels really stupid to be doing this, I deeply and completely love and accept myself.

Even though I don’t love myself, I deeply and completely love and accept myself.

Eyebrow: I don’t know why this is so hard.

Side of the Eye: I feel so uncomfortable with this.

Under the Eye: Why can’t I just say, “I love you” to myself?

Under the Nose: Who is Louise Hay anyway and how does she know this will work?

Chin: I just want him to love me.

Collar Bone: I guess I can try it.

Under Arm: (Fill in your name), I love you.

Top of head: Even though it feels strange, I am going to practice until it feels easier.

Eyebrow: There are parts of myself I do like.

Under Eye: I am willing to learn to say I love you to myself.

Under Nose: I want to feel better about myself.

Chin: If this will help me, I am willing to try.

Collar Bone: (Fill in your name), I love you.

Under Arm: This is getting a little easier.

Top of Head: I love you, I really do love you, bless your heart.

Take a deep breath. And another.

You will find that tapping as you look in the mirror will put you on the fast track to finding the strength to treat yourself like the valuable woman that you are.

Loving yourself is the key. Once you love and value yourself, flaws and all, you will be able to wiggle out of the mess you have gotten yourself into.

For more tips on EFT and emotional freedom, download a free teleclass recording at http://www.NeverFearEFTisHere.com Catherine specializes in creating innovative teleclass programs, workshops and seminars that bring together the Law of Attraction and EFT.