There I was, in gym class in the 4th grade at Huckleberry Hill Elementary School in Brookfield, CT, in the midst of a volleyball game.
It was the whole class – girls, guys, good players, non-existent players (the “I will keep my hands pinned to my sides regardless of what we’re doing!” players) – the whole gang.
As you might know already, I’m an enthusiastic guy, and I was no different in 4th grade. So there I was, trying to rally the troops on our team. Now, I promise I wasn’t that obnoxious guy who yelled at the girls that weren’t playing. I was just trying to encourage people, have fun, and play some volleyball.
In the midst of this, after maybe a few claps to rally the team or a word of encouragement, one kid (I remember his name but we’ll keep him anonymous!), said to me, “Who are you, Captain Kangaroo?”
I actually didn’t know much about Captain Kangaroo until today, when I researched him and his TV show a bit. Captain Kangaroo was a children’s television series which aired weekday mornings on the American television network CBS for nearly 30 years, from October 3, 1955 until December 8, 1984, making it the longest-running nationally broadcast children’s television program of its day.
Now, at the time I had no clue who Captain Kangaroo was, but the meaning was clear. I’m sure a few kids laughed and I don’t remember all the details, what I do remember is that feeling of being deflated…of my energy, my being, sinking back into itself as I learned very clearly that it wasn’t safe to be myself or to stand out.
It’s silly, I know. And it makes it extra funny when we can look at Mr. Captain Kangaroo (What a haircut! See the picture? That’s him!). 🙂
But until I explored this story and tapped on my feelings around it, it was affecting who I was and how I showed up in the world.
Why? Because a small part of me (or maybe a big one), learned that it wasn’t safe to stand out, to be myself, to be enthusiastic.
What’s your “Captain Kangaroo” story? The one where you think back on your life, especially your childhood, where you learned it wasn’t safe to be YOU?
Who told you? What did they say? How did you react? How has it changed who you are?
These experiences, especially as they stack on top of each other, can have dramatic effects on your life today.
You know WHO YOU ARE…
Are you being THAT PERSON?
If not, WHY NOT?
It’s likely because of these experiences, and it’s essential that you tap through them and clear them out.
So how do you do that? Here’s how…
Here’s an easy three-step process to clearing an event from the past.
Try to be as specific with it as possible and only start with one for now. You can do more later, but for now, focus on ONE experience where someone said something to you, where you said something, where you learned that it wasn’t safe to stand out and be YOU.
When you think about the event, feel what you felt then or even how you feel now about it, and rate the intensity on a 0-10 scale.
With your eyes closed, tap through all the points, as you see the movie play. Keep tapping through the points, moving whenever you want, and running the movie again and again, in as much detail as possible.
See it, feel it, smell it, hear it, make it real, and keep tapping. Notice what stands out to you most about the movie, and focus on that issue. Notice where you feel a ‘charge’ and focus on that, and just keep tapping, tapping, tapping.
Tap until you can see the movie, without feeling an emotional charge.
What have you done? You’ve healed that event, cleared the emotional charge, processed the stuck energy through your body, reminded your body it’s safe!
Rinse and repeat for any events that you can think of!
By the way, I made this joke before, “rinse and repeat” referring to what a shampoo bottle says. Someone took it very literally and emailed asking if they should shower in between each tapping session! It’s actually not a bad idea, water is very cleansing, but you don’t have to do it between each tapping round. 🙂
It is often these childhood events, small and large, that limit us, that keep us stuck. The fear of standing out, of being different, of being seen is SO common and so limiting. Living the life of our dreams means we are being our most AUTHENTIC selves. There’s no getting around that. All your dreams, hopes, and desires are directly related to you being YOURSELF.
So clear out the junk from the past and BE YOU.
The themes I discussed above, both childhood traumatic events and specifically the fear of standing out or the belief that it’s not safe to be YOU in the world, can have a dramatic influence on all parts of our lives.
You can learn more about this idea and other key ways to use tapping to increase your self-confidence by downloading The Tapping Solution App. There are over 100 tapping meditations in there to help you become the most authentic YOU!
Until next time…
Keep Tapping!
Nick Ortner
Copyright © 2024 The Tapping Solution, LLC
There are people on this blog who believe that Bob Keeshan and Fred Rogers were war heros in the WW-2, Fred Rogers was busy with television programming and couldn’t have been there. He was not a navy seal but he was once an ordained presbyterian minister. Bob Keeshan joined the Marine reserve but Japan had already surrendered before he could get too far in the service. I don’t know where urban rumors start but people sometimes act more like ostriches and sheep—which can be good or bad (depending on your perspective of course.) The real truth is never hard to hear.
I spelled Captain Kangaroo’s name wrong- its Bob Keeshan. I think Keeshond is actually a dog! haha
Captain Kangaroo was a great role model for me. Back then my own father was so nasty and gave me so many bad personal moments that Bob Keeshond (the Captain) was practically a saviour to me. He was always positive and I knew he would always be a friend to his audience of children. Nick, there is not enough tapping in the world to counteract the crap my old man did to me. I’m sure there are others who wouldn’t admit that this was their plight too.
God bless you Nick; you and your whole family are truly outstanding.
Esop
This sounds great and I know there must have been a moment like that for me because I am an enthusiastic kind of person but often scared to open my mouth in case I get shot down. But I don’t actually remember a specific event, so how do you suggest I do this. It sounds like the perfect way to handle it but I can’t start.
Wow… At the tender age of 44 I still have knee jerk responses to comments from my Mom, and flashbacks to cut downs in high school. “Settle down!” “Slow down!” “Don’t be selfish!” “What a dog…” Feeling like an outsider… As a result I have done what I can to reinforce in my children that it is OK to be themselves, to the point that I told my mother if she asks how much my daughter weighs I would not visit as I was very, very close to anorexia in my teens. Mind you, without those experiences I don’t think I would have the open relationship I treasure today.
I am currently single, and this past year have returned to school, and found the old demons rising again. I have been admonished by a few people to not be so hard on myself, that I look great and sexy (still have some trouble with self esteem), and just last weekend told by my sister to be proud of my height and why shouldn’t I wear heels?
Thank you Nick for this blog. I honestly don’t read too many of them, but was led to this and am incredibly thankful for the synchronicity 🙂 And why it is also a reminder of Marianne Williamson’s amazing quote from “A Return to Love” about “Our Deepest Fear”:
“It is our Light, not our Darkness, that most frightens us…who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?… There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you… As we let our own Light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.”
Again, I thank you and all the people who commented.
Namaste
My Father use to ‘put me out’ of the house when I would not do what I was told. He even ‘put me out ‘ of the car and drove away once. I still remeber that. Talk about not feeling safe to stand up for myself; It has taken its toll on my freedom and confidence. Tapping is really helping to heal this. Thank you.
If you look into the back ground of captain kangaroo, you might be suprised. He was a hero actually during the war, He was a leader, one that was well respected and his men that he led, were grateful for him standing out! He may have looked goofy but he was a great man.
Thanks for raising this issue. I was bullied in high school for beeing too pretty, having boys who liked me, being a cheerleader and a straught A student. I became embarrassed for having so much going for me. I felt undeserving and deided that playing it small would be better to make others feel more comfortable. This lead to a lot of sabotage. Now, I am having difficulty sticking with a job, I am ready to divorce and in jeapordy of loosing my house due to unemplyment. The good news is that I have finally come to understand my problems and to work on real solutions – tapping, getting rid of limiting beliefs and practicing gratitude are my primary strategies. Thanks for reminding me to confront this issue. I grew up loving Captain K. and even in my adult years, through you, he is still hellping me. Smiles to you and everyone!
Nick, this was a truly powerful story and the tapping was incredible – thank you! This is 6/30/12 and strangely, I just had a incident today “delivered” by a new friend. For a good
part of my life, I lived, worked and travelved extensively overseas, and had remarkable ex-
periences, some really outrageous. Often, in my small area of New Mexico, have told some
of these stories, mostly for others’ amuzement, and some good memories for myself. I have
been told, on occasion, that my stories are hard to believe, or not believable at all. Today, I has “deflated” again when a friend told me that when she tells people she is my friend, the
reponse is, “Oh, she and those stories” and they roll their eyes – in other words, indicating
that I am just making it all up. It really set me back, but I am now OK with the tapping.
I appreciate very much the care you, Nick and the team, have taken in building a bridge through which I can help myself. It’s incredibly important, especially these days of my life, to feel a friendly and qualified help. Thank you for your encouragement.
I guess I’ve missed it, but I can’t find any info on the points I’m suppose to tap. Would anybody be able to tell me this info. I would love to learn this, for my self, and my mom has been in bed for Five years with depression and I want to help her with this.
Please help me,
Ronnie
Who are you, David Chapman?
Do you really want…to hear my Captain Kangaroo stories ? I love to write so it would not be much of a hassle to do it. And as I look back now, I often see how funny at times it as was, and at other times, how those comments stayed with us because of our fragile self, unable to defend itself or accept itself. I think one of the biggest things in our lives, is to be ourselves, and you know, it can take a lifetime. But its worth it. Lilia Gracia Castro
I don’t usually leave comments….(that made me think,… probably should tap on that)…anyway, I feel compelled to say thank you to all those people who did.
Reading about your ‘moments’ made me realise that I had ‘overlooked’ so many small ‘moments’ in my childhood, which, I can now see how they have affected me and why I am the way I am.
As a child I thought it was normal to be told off (that’s what parents do) and to be teased (because that’s what kids do), however…I didn’t bounce back as well as other kids did.
I always thought I was too thin skinned because I would get upset when things seemed unfair, but when you’re young you’re an idealist and when there’s no one around to validate your feelings to….well…there was but then you got shot down in flames and you learned to shut up….anyway…
…I have a lot of tapping to get through so I’ll just say THANK YOU again, especially to Nick and Jessica. I admire what you have done over the years and are still doing. The work you are doing is inspirational and phenomenal, seriously!!!
I know that you get heaps of positive feedback but I don’t think you realise just HOW MUCH of an impact you are making on this world. You are changing, enlightening and helping soooo many people, many of whom don’t even let you know it, so I thought it was about time that I overcome my ‘stuff’ and did let you know.
I did this exercise over and over and, right now, I am feeling pretty good about myself. A mother who constantly berated me with “Who do you think you are?” left a deep mark. This is definitely overcomeable! Thank you.
Wow… this has bought up so many occasions for me, & they just keep coming up…endlessly, in so many different facets of my being & here I am with several ailments, single, running for seclusion due to not wanting to pass on my thoughts(in fear of distressing others w my encounters & watching them run from cover, look or run the other way when they see me to avoid another encounter. Being forced to answer fine or ok, when asked how are you, so not to create another scene..
Spending days, weeks & months alone, because my thoughts are not right to share.. fearing the distress put before others. Crying in silence, depressed w no where to go..
carrying multiple sickness ailments & being treated for extremely low testosterone levels, being unemployable due to past medical history, lacking enough financial benefits to make ends meet(not even enough to share rent, so remain homeless living in vehicle. The list goes on, with a lot of resentments from my past encounters & responses from other people, parents, teachers & others.
Have never realised until now the hidden realities of spiteful replies which have & obviously are still having on me till this day. Thanx for the advise, hope it helps & gets me thru this. Glen
Thank you Nick! I’ve gone through some severe trauma in my life and thankfully received counseling to help overcome it. I sure wish I would have known about tapping sooner as it provides immediate relief to the stored emotional charges. With that said, counseling does benefit in helping one to rethink behavior patterns and establishing new, desirable outcomes. In that light, I would encourage folks to continue tapping (after their movie) and picture the desired outcome of being oneself and standing out in the crowd (receiving appreciation for showing enthusiasm, including others, sharing new ideas, etc.) to help reinforce the new behavior.
God Bless! Judy
Ah, there it is Woops!
Sorry, never heard of Captain Kangaroo, however, I tapped along anyway to an issue which just ‘popped’ into my head. I lived in an Ashram for a few years and I was really happy, full of life, bounce, laughter, love, innocence, slim, attractive (I realise with hindsight but at the time didn’t even think about it). One day I was ‘taken to one side’ and told that I should quieten down a bit, less laughter and exuberance, wear a bra (I didnt need one for goodness sake I only had tiny boobs) because ….. “you are in the ashram now, are too loud and you are disturbing the boys!!”. My world collapsed, I felt like dirt, cautious that every action could be stopping a soul (male souls apparently!) from reaching God because they might have been looking at me and my boobies!! Subconciously have felt the same ever since, my innocence disappeared that day. Now 35 years later and labelled as someone who has a condition called lichen schlerosis where your vulva fuzes together! Why? no one seems to know. I realised that this event could have been the catalyst that may have caused it. Whilst tapping along with ‘Captain Kangaroo’ and running the movie and bawling my eyes out I suddenly realised that maybe I have created this condition to stop being attractive and to save all the male souls in the world … only joking, but maybe, just maybe the release of this memory could be the ‘one thing’ that has eluded me for the past four years of EFT tapping and that I can now, again be the person that I am somewhere deep inside, full of happiness, life, bounce, laughter, love, innocence, slim and attractive. Thanks Nick xx
Thanks for sharing this Nick. As I was growing up I remember it as every time I was having a little fun, you know laughing perhaps being a bit silly I would be slapped down verbally( Usually by parents) and like you I would feel really deflated. As an adult I’m a serious person. ‘Fun’ is very hard to come by. Now I know why. As I have just sat and really thought about those times the emotions are quite overwhelming. I think a tappathon is called for. Thanks again.
Thanks Nick,
Great idea to run these incidents as a movie and tap on them. I tapped until I saw these blocked emotions simply as energy that needed to be felt again, but this time allowed to flow through and be gone. It also was amazing how tapping on one incident would trigger the memory of others I had mentally forgotten, but obviously my body memory was still holding on to.Thanks for standing out and sharing these valuable insights.
I did a word study on the word encourage once. The root is “couer” which means “heart” so to encourage someone is to strengthen and fortify their heart which you so graciously do with tapping.
Bless your heart, Nick!! Not to make light of how you felt from that comment but, I LOVED Captain Kangaroo and watched him every day along with Mr. Greenjeans, Bunny Rabbit and all the characters!! Perhaps now you can turn that then embarrassing comment into one you can be proud of to be compared to Captain Kangaroo since he was also an encourager!! He was loved by many as you are now!!!
When I was in grad school, back in 1969, I still thought that being enthusiastic was a good thing, so I responded enthusiastically and positively to most people and events. One day, another dorm counselor said to me, “Do you have to be so gung-ho about everything?” It shocked me, but it made me realize that some people feel uncomfortable around folks who are more energetic and expressive than they are. While it temporarily knocked the wind out of my sails, I learned to be more sensitive to various kinds of people, and that’s helpful.
Hi, doesn’t matter what my Captain Kangaroo was but what does matter is that at the ripe age of 69 I have discovered that life is an adventure and I am loving everymoment.. I have learned that I am funny, fun, and people like being around me… Some call me selfish because I do as I please and what makes me happy and those ( most of those) around me… Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you don’t have anything to offer, we all do.I’m loving everything around me and most everyone lol…. Don’t waste time on those around you that are negative, laugh, love and enjoy.. Life is short but wonderfilled… Find that joy, my kangaroo is laughing…
In 7th grade I went to the playground and joined my best friend Marsha, and her new best friend Sharon. As I approached them, Marsha said to me, “Can’t you see when you’re not wanted?!” That remark, coming from the girl who had been my closest friend/sister, was so painful that I decided that day to become a counselor and help other people to be happy.
I have lots of issues about trying to be Captain Kangaroo. My father when learning to drive,” Your no good at it”. But I have had no accidents so far touch wood, but still it gets me when other people say it.
I remember in a Sunday school class, the teacher said, “who has ever heard God speaking to you?” I raised my hand, and then he said, “Linda, God doesn’t speak to people nowadays”… and everyone snickered. I felt stupid, idiotic, and mentally ill. I think that one incident affected me deeply for a long time. Good to dig it out and tap on it… thanks for the suggestion.
I love you! Thank you for sharing. Going to go tap now! 🙂
An awesome connection if we see the heart-level essence here as COURAGE, i.e., having the courage to BE who we truly ARE, no matter what people say or do. Both Bob Keeshan (Capt. Kangaroo) AND Fred Rodgers (Mister Rodgers) knew a LOT more about courage than most of us will ever learn. So, Nick, your “insult” was really high praise, because…
Bob Keeshan was a combat Marine who won the Navy Cross–TWICE–for heroic actions at Iwo Jima, one of the most horrific battles in World War 2. Fred Rodgers was one of the first Navy SEALS, back in the early years of the Vietnam War. His portrait hangs in the SEAL museum “hall of fame.” Both men were true heroes. By facing death many times, they went beyond their own egoes. And both men chose to devote the rest of their lives to helping kids grow in poise and self-esteem…or, let’s say, the inner strength for us to be ourselves.
As a war veteran myself, and a “fan” of both men, I think their true message goes deeper still. We’re ALL heroes in our own lives, and amazing courage dwells deep within us all.
Hi everyone,
Thank you for sharing your Captain Kangaroo story, which brought to mind one of my stories. I was just a kid in elementary school in a small rural village. One day the girls only were shown a film with detailed information about their unique reproductive system. Of course the boys were curious and my brothers asked questions. I was always open and honest and was happy to share these interesting facts. My parents were of the old school and when they found out they verbally bashed me. I felt judged, condemned, criticised, and shamed. I felt confused and dirty. Ever since I’ve questioned my judgement. I tapped on it and released those emotions, feeling light and free. I’m learning to trust what I feel, and apply what I know. Thank you for your generous contribution to planetary healing. – Love, Anne
Oh man, you hit a sore spot… I experienced a kangaroo moment in childhood every time when I forgot the family taboo and freely expressed my authentic emotions, especially the positive ones. I was immediately labelled ‘crazy’ or something like that, I felt ashamed of myself, and no wonder people still consider me emotionally rigid. As I didn’t understand what I was doing wrong (didn’t hurt anyone by showing joy or love), I built up stories that it’s not safe to be ‘too happy’ because a disapointment is just around a corner.
I got from 10 to maybe 5 on this one after many rounds of tapping (at least my tears stopped running), so it’s a start. Now I have to work on forgiveness, which is hard not knowing why my father was so critical of spontaneity and so restrained himself.
I have used tapping for many years for different issues and have found it very useful, but I am really excited about this way of handling the issues which gives the whole focus on what is at hand the feeling of the emotions behind and the full focus on the issue at the same time, instead of the split between the conscious effort of stating the spoken word and the buried emotional subconscious molecule of emotion that is the cause. This is such a break through thank you for sharing.
Nick,
Wow!!! The images went from my feelings of my worries of being picked last for games in school when you got to pick teams; to being awarded the “Quietest Student” award in elementary school and was going to say something when people started chanting “speech, speech, speech…” and my teacher squashed me before I ever began by saying, “Silent speech,” maybe more to the other teachers that to me; to always wanting to “stand out,” but was made fun of or ridiculed for attempting to do so; to the reason why I developed Multiple Sclerosis. “Wait, what?” I said to myself. I had the overwhelming feeling that I developed M.S. so I would stick out and people would pay attention to me. I definately need to explore and tap on that some more. I don’t know how to thank you for spreading the word about Tapping, but thank you. It has, is, and will be making huge changes in my life. Thank you again.
Nick, thank you for this story. For sure we all have a Captain Kangaroo story. This is so important for our clients to understand. Deflation can come from so many sources…it is self validation that is then necessary. Thanks Nick and thanks for the Summit!
Wow, that was amazing. I sang a song when I was 10 and heard two mums say that song didn’t suit that little girl did it?. Well, they might not have even been talking about me! The things we do to ourselves!
Hey Nick
Hey Nick!
You are definitely a one off.
Sincerely,
Steve Donis
Hey Nick!
You are definitely a one off. [This is a very good thing.].
Just keep on ‘truckin.
I don’t know how you do it.
Steve Donis
When I was 10yrs and a new kid in a new school in the playground I was fooling around replaying an event I had thought funny with a group of kids around and a teacher was watching down from a doorway and called out my name and said “I think you are just a show off”. From that day it wasn’t safe to be noticed. BUT when I TAPPED thru the points, I also realised I had taken on the belief that to be critical and judgemental was powerful! EEK. Nick, you have done it again, sharing your Capt. Kangaroo, experience has helped me identify the cause and clear away unpleasant critical and judgemental behaviour, which I tapped on after running my movie. Here’s to you Nick, for sharing and caring.
Hey Nick, Thank you for your stories,I admire you for the way you have bounced back and are so wonderful in the way you and all your colleges are helping others.
One of your respondants mentioned a Tapping party, could you include how to start one up ?
Thank you
Lyn
Captain Kangaroo and Mr. Rodgers were combat veterans in the Pacific Theatre. This would be a good place to do some research on theses heroes.
Karen
Thanks for sharing that information about you, I was popular in school. When I joined the work force I came across 2 woman leaders that were negative and bullies. They used words such as loser and incompetent. Now being an A student with a grade point score of 4.0 and listening to this biofeedback of daily critism is not me at all. I began to relize it was’nt me it was them and their problem. They constantly did this to break me down and make themselves look better, more important. The men who came into my life were different they did not do this mostly. some yes I believe did try to get even. So not one to back down from these abusive woman I told them face to face and then in their postion of power they fired me. Now I have support from people who will not do anything but help and make the situation a win win one. These people are the inspiration to the caring nuturing development that makes everyone feel they belong or are normal but different. Thanks alot, in today’s society we need more coaches. Betty.
I’m an everlasting Captain Kangaroo. I often find that people react well to this type of encouragement. But I never get “results” with my mom. As we say in Mexico (and this is rather disgusting) she has a way of ruining your milk with a mucus. Anyway, that’s her problem! However, I think I have to tap for the most important situations she ruined for me!!
Thanks a lot!!
Thanks Nick. A very useful tip/suggestion.
Very simply inspite of a large family I was perhaps alone/lonely. Moved cuntries and therefore schools(good schools) and wished to feel I belonged or slotted somewhere.
I was not timid but quiet and survived and came through difficult situations!
This was a good part of my childhood.
Kevin,
I love what you are doing…I think I see a very good heart in you. As I read about your Captain Kangaroo experience I was immediately taken back to the time of my childhood. My father was a perfectionist. He wanted me to perfect, and even though I was(didn’t know this til adulthood)very intelligent and insightful he said and did things that hurt me, my sister & my mother. After several instances where I spoke(timidly)about something I thought was important my father quickly dismissed it with & without comment. In short my life has been horrible with regard to self esteem(sorry this is getting too lengthy)…I’m 69yrs old and still dealing with ‘who am I really…who is the real me’.
So thank you Nick for all you do. I have begun to tap and try to work through the emotional miasma that was my childhood. I am studying and reading all I can about EFT in hopes that I will help myself and many others who I know are also in pain and missing out on so much joy.
Now if only I knew how to make a living helping others through Tapping:)
Thank You,
~ron knight
Good timing on the Captain Kangaroo story Nick. I recently tapped on a similar childhood incident. I was nine years old at a swimming pool party, wearing a skin tight bathing suit. One of the other boys said, “Hey Robert, what’s that in your britches?” (While pointing at the front of my suit). Plus he said it in front of several girls to make the matter worse. Ugh… Amazing, I still remember that split-second episode some fifty years later. And now I’m tapping and blogging on it…. LOL. Keep up the great work!
Kindergarden was my “awakening” (my mother’s term). I was all of 4 years old and had to leave for school before Captain came on at 8am. I was legally blind, then, and kids teased, pushed, hit, etc. I came home 1 day my first week sobbing hard and ask my mother why the kids weren’t nice? Did they all have mean mommy’s/daddy’s? Didn’t they know, like Captain says If you want people to be nice to you, you be nice to them first? She then told me “Captain Kangaroo is Just pretend. Nobody acts like that in real life, only on tv.” But mommy you told me the golden rule and Captain does too, don’t they know it? She came back with: “That’s all fine when your a baby, but your a big girl, now” My fav was Mr Green Jeans. Blessings to all !!!
my captain kangaroostory, I could never be myself,not even now.I am 69 and will never be able to be myself Mychildhood was bad.My marriges was bad.So what can i do.
Thanks for that story! I am amazed at the various events that came up from the past that have all of the negative charges around them. This one really still gets to me. I was 13 years old and practicing for cheerleading tryouts. My best friend and I took this very seriously and thought we had a good chance of making it on the squad. The morning of the tryouts I was very nervous but excited. As I was walking out the door, my dad said to me, ” Good luck, you probably wont make it but have fun”. That really deflated me. This made me feel like it didnt really matter what I wanted to do, I probably wouldnt succeed. I am going to tap right now!