NLP Anchoring And How We Use It Everyday

If you’re familiar with NLP you will have most certainly heard of the technique called anchoring. The principal is really very simple where by 2 things are linked or anchored together and if used correctly can create a desired outcome or effect.

Most people have hundreds of different anchors that they never really pay much attention to. The example I’ll use here cam about after something my girlfriend said to me a few mornings ago.

I was getting ready for a day out together with her and we had planned to go for a walk around the lake. The house was tidy and we were just about to leave. I then sprayed some aftershave (as i do in most cases). As soon as i came out of the bathroom her little face lit up, her eyes rolled and then closed for a moment and she said. “That reminds me of when you leave in the morning and come and give me a kiss”. That aftershave, the work aftershave instantly transported her back to a time and place and with it brought an abundance of feelings and emotions.

So whats happened? A recognizable smell created and was anchored to a feeling.

How can this be used? If at any point in time i would like her to feel that way again, lovey, close and comfortable i simply need to spray that aftershave.

This was an anchor that got simply created but that can also be created with a purpose in mind. Lets have a play. For this particular scenario we will use partners as the “culprit” and our aim will be to create a feeling of real love and closeness.

The first part of this is to get them back to a state of “love and closeness” This can be done with a favorite song, leaving some pictures out that you know will trigger “Anchor” those feelings. Once you know that those feelings have been created you now need to create another anchor for them. Lets make it something simple but a little strange like a kiss on the wrist! Choose which wrist it is and stick with it.

Now for the clever bit, create those feelings and kiss the wrist a few times over a few minutes and viola. You will create and anchor.

At any given moment you will be able to kiss their wrist and “fire” those feelings off.