I would like to share a technique with you that I learned during my NLP training. It is called anchoring and can help you getting out of an unresourceful state in no time. Anchoring does take some practice. To set an anchor you first have to choose a body part that you can touch in public without drawing attention to yourself, i.e. holding one of your fingers.

Next you go back in your memory to find an event that was most uplifting, something that opens your heart and puts a big smile on your face. You start holding your anchor, the one you choose, while you look for that event. Once you have it, you hold your anchor really firm, squeeze it. You can do it with open or closed eyes, that doesn’t matter. Important is that you are in the feeling while you hold your anchor. Take some deep breath and let it go.

You can use one of your fingers for anchoring.

What kind of event should I use?


One you were extremely grateful, happy, confident, you felt most appreciated, or rich or abundant without any evidence in your bank account.

Start with one anchor and situation that is most dear to you and practice. Over time incorporate more anchor as you find necessary. I.e.

  • For fear find an anchor when you felt grateful
  • If you are angry find an event where you felt loved
  • For financial worries find an event where you felt rich or abundant even it didn’t show on your bank account
  • For ill health remember a time where you were healthy and vital or focus on a body part that is healthy.

I think you get the picture. Have fun with it. What I recommend is that you practice it and set a timer on your phone to activate your anchor every few hours and over a period of time until you feel it served its purpose and is installed in you, so you have it at your fingertips when you need it. Makes sense?

How else I can use anchoring ?

You can also apply it with your children or students. How? You let your child talk about something that cheered it up, where you can see and feel how happy she is, then you touch her, maybe on the shoulder, or arm, or hand. When you feel her not so happy, touch the same location. This may need to take more repeats but worth doing.