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Create Powerful Anchors using NLP

Chris Harrison - June 2007
©2007 PlanetNLP Ltd

Being able to anchor powerful states is one of the most useful NLP techniques you can learn.

Imagine being able to turn up for a job interview, or for a presentation, knowing that you will be able to give your best possible performance every time.

So what are NLP anchors?

NLP anchoring is based on the concept of getting into the most powerful, most appropriate state for a particular task or event, and then being able to access that state exactly when you need it.

An anchor is any stimulus that evokes a specific state in someone.

For instance, many people have specific songs that affect them every time they hear them - usually due to something that happened when they heard that song.

Smells and Tastes are particularly powerful anchors.

How ever old you are, you probably have smells or tastes that evoke the feeling and memory of something from your childhood.

How do I use NLP Anchoring?

In NLP, most people use one specific sense, usually touch, for most of their anchors, simply because it's the easiest way to re-access them.

The easiest way to learn how to use Anchors is to run through an example.

Firstly, if you haven't read the NLP primers, then you will need to run through them so that you can create the strongest possible state.

One of the most important aspects of setting up an anchor is that you create the strongest state possible.

We don't want to create wishy-washy states and anchor them!

In this example we'll run through creating a confidence anchor.

The first thing you need to do is to think of a time when you were at your most confident.

If for any reason you cannot think of a time when you were confident, then imagine what it would look like if you were confident.

Now once you have that idea, and are aware of the image, sounds and feelings, the aim is to make this state as powerful as possible.

The easiest way to do this is to use the list of submodalities you made during the Submodality Primer.

Firstly find the visual submodalities that made a feeling stronger for you and apply them to the image of you being confident.

And remember to use the auditory submodalities too. If volume makes a feeling stronger, then turn it up!

Once you have a strong feeling then you should notice how the feeling moves through your body, and make the feeling build stronger and stronger as it moves.

So as you concentrate on the feeling, as you continue to change the submodalities, take one of your hands and lightly pinch your thumbnail, and continue to pinch the nail while you keep the feeling building stronger and stronger.

Keep doing this until you can't stand the confident feeling anymore.

Take a break for a minute or so, and break your state (just think of something else).

How do I test an NLP Anchor?

Now its time to test your anchor.

Take your hand and pinch your thumbnail again. What happens?

If you don't re-access the confident state, then start the process again, and keep working at it.

When the anchor is successfully created, you'll know about it!

Conclusion

This is a very basic form of anchoring, and can be used for any state.

How about creating five different states on the fingers of one hand, and then firing them one after the other?

How about creating a super-state based on Confidence, Playfulness, Eloquence, Relaxation, and Motivation?

What would that feel like?

These anchors can be created anywhere on your body.

You do not need to pinch either - Pressing a knuckle or earlobe works equally well.

The only things to bear in mind when choosing a location for an anchor is that it is accessible (and appropriate!) when you're planning to fire it, that the location is specific (pressing your upper thigh is not specific), and that the more nerves in the area you use for the anchor, the more successful it is likely to be.

Like all NLP techniques, the more you practice with this technique the better results you will get.

Good Luck.