Definition
Anchoring is a Neuro Linguistic Programming technique that has the potential to improve your mood, confidence and stress-management.
How to Do It
An example of anchoring would be tapping yourself on the back of your hand whenever you feel relaxed. Once you have done this for a few days, tap your hand when you feel stressed to evoke the relaxation that has become associated with the hand tapping.
You can do this with any desired mood and any type of touch on any part of the body.
Benefits
Time Commitment
2-3 minutes +
Why it works
Anchoring builds an association between a physical action/sensation and a desired mental state. After this association has been built, the physical action can act as a trigger to produce the desired mental state. In a more general context, this is known as conditioning. The most famous example of conditioning is when Pavlov trained dogs to salivate when they heard a bell by creating an association between food and the ringing of a bell.
Side Effects
There are many claims about NLP techniques that are not based on scientific study. Additionally, there may be bias in reporting results of NLP studies due to commercial interests [5].
Gurus/Celebrities/Doing it
Oprah Winfrey
Pharrell Williams
Tony Robbins
Category Health/Productivity/Focus:
- Mood
- Focus
Notes
- It is possible to use sound, rather than touch, in anchoring. This approach is more impractical, however, if you want to use the technique often.
- NLP can be administered by a trained practitioner if you think you this would work better for you.
Related Products
Complement this habit with one of the TouchPoint wearable devices. A great alternative when it comes to achieving a state of calm and relaxation. Visit the webpage to find the right device for you.
Supporting Studies and Articles
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