"Anchoring" Is The New Wellness Buzzword

Anchoring is a powerful technique that connects you to a positive memory by doing a physical action – giving you the ultimate ‘feel-good-factor’. This popular technique can change your state of mind from negative to positive in an instant by bringing the energy of a happy memory into the present.

When we exercise such as doing an aerobics class or going to the gym this releases ‘the happy hormones’ called endorphins to lift your mood, boost your energy and relieve stress, and anchoring has a similar effect – by exercising your mind to focus on what makes you feel good, and giving you a wonderful ‘positive mind boost’.

As you focus on bringing your positive memory into the present moment, your body releases the so-called ‘love’ hormone Oxytocin which also helps reduces stress and anxiety. By exercising your mind with a positive memory, it can have a huge impact on your mental health.

It’s simple, effective and can help you to change your state from being stressed or anxious to feeling more grounded, balanced, happy, confident, calm, relaxed and so much more as the positive memory you tap into is now at the forefront of your subconscious mind. The more you practise anchoring the more you can switch on this amazing positive trigger in an instant, which is why it is serving so many in the wellness world.

If you want to try anchoring, here’s how:

1. Think of a time you felt happy, confident, or relaxed. Visualise your surroundings and people you were with. Maybe you were at a party with friends laughing and having fun or relaxing on the beach sipping a cocktail.

2. Now squeeze your thumb and forefinger together on one hand.

3. Feel these good feelings.

4. Make them bigger, brighter, and bolder.

5. See yourself having fun. Imagine stepping into the moment.

6. Turn up the volume! Double this feeling, then triple it!

7. Make it even bigger and brighter!

8. Enjoy being in this happy moment.

9. Hear yourself laugh, see yourself chatting to your friends, or smell beautiful flowers as you feel in a peaceful and relaxed state.

10. Stay in this happy state for thirty seconds or more and repeat whenever you want to return your positive memory.

11. Keep practising!

Anchoring is a positive concept that has taken the health and wellness industry by storm with more people benefitting from this simple technique than ever before. If you’re feeling challenged by something, perhaps there’s music you can anchor that will inspire you too. Maybe you recognise a smell of a favourite food your grandmother made you or a perfume or aftershave that reminds you of someone special in your past. By anchoring this, it can bring this memory into the present.

There are different gestures we can do to anchor a moment such as yoga poses or sitting in meditation with your palms faced upwards resting on your thighs with your thumb and forefingers touching. There are also various positions and hand gestures in martial arts that show a state of awareness. These can be used to anchor the moment you’re in and take you into a positive mental state.

The brilliant athlete Usain Bolt became the first man in history to win the 100-metre and 200-metre races in record times. He was known as the fastest man in the world after winning three gold medals at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. His signature ‘lightning bolt’ arm gesture became his anchor that he used before races to remind himself of his speed and success. Every time he won; he did the same hand gesture as his victory anchor too!

Memories of having fun times, feeling confident or calm and relaxed are embedded in your subconscious mind. When going through challenging times you can bring positive memories to the surface by anchoring that special moment to give you encouragement.

You can also have different anchors to call on at any time from relaxing ones to memories that are full of energy and action! It’s your choice to choose what’s best for you in the moment.

Keep practising and let your anchors help you discover a better state of mind – and pave the way for exciting times ahead.

words by Nicci Roscoe, Author of Manifest Your Everything and Holistic Health and Wellbeing Practitioner.