18/04/2023
Imagine what it would be like if you could, in a moment, go from feeling anxious, to feeling decisive and absolutely capable right in the middle of a stressful interview when all eyes are on you, or dealing with an individual you struggle to get along with.
“Anchoring” is one of the fundamental tools of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) which can be powerful in helping you to have more confidence, and enthusiasm and be more relaxed when meeting people.
It’s a simple way to allow you to change an unwanted feeling to a resourceful feeling in a matter of moments. When you create a Neuro Linguistic Programming anchor you set up a stimulus-response pattern so that you can feel the way you want to, when you need to.
In NLP, “anchoring” refers to the process of associating an internal response with some external or internal trigger so that the response may be quickly, and sometimes covertly, re-accessed.
Below is some detail as to the mechanics of the technique but don't panic, the technique is simple to learn and use!
Anchoring is a process that’s similar to the “conditioning” technique used by Pavlov In the behaviourist’s stimulus-response conditioning formula, however, the stimulus is always an environmental cue and the response is always a specific behavioural action (bell = salivation). The association is considered reflexive and not a matter of choice.
In NLP this type of associative conditioning has been expanded to include links between other aspects of experience than purely environment cues and behavioural responses. A remembered photo or image may become an anchor for a particular internal feeling, for instance. A voice tone may become an anchor for a state of excitement or confidence.
A person may consciously choose to establish and re-trigger these associations for themselves. Rather than being a mindless knee-jerk reflex, an anchor becomes a tool for self-empowerment.
Anchoring can be a very useful tool for helping to establish and reactivate the mental processes associated with creativity, learning, concentration and other important resources.
Why call it ‘anchoring’?
The anchor of a ship or boat is attached by the members of the ship’s crew to some stable point in order to hold the ship in a certain area and keep it from floating away. The implication of this is that the cue which serves as a psychological “anchor” is not so much a mechanical stimulus which “causes” a response as it is a reference point that helps to stabilize a particular state.
To extend the analogy fully, a ship could be considered the focus of our consciousness on the ocean of experience. Anchors serve as reference points which help us to find a particular location on this experiential sea and to hold our attention there and keep it from drifting.
To find out more, click the link below which will allow you to access the full article:
https://lionesspower.co.uk/anchoring-technique-for-confidence/
Jayne Warwicker - jayne@lionesspower.co.uk