No. 8: Anchoring
Performance & The Subconscious Mind- Part 8 Anchoring
Posted on February 5, 2011 by Richard Matteson
Hi,
Tony Robbins
Clearing Negative Beliefs and Experiences
Clearing Technique #6: NLP Anchors & Accessing Subconscious States
Here’s a technique I’ve used in past performances, especially when I used to play classical guitar solo concerts in the 1990s. It’s called anchoring and I got the information from several sources. One was Tony Robbins book, Unlimited Power. Some of the quotes by Robbins come from an article by Ron Rhodes in SCP Journal, volume 22:02-03, Summer/Fall 1998.
Anchoring is a NLP technique.
Here’s how Robbins defines NLP in his book: “The name comes from “neuro,” referring to the brain, and “linguistic,” referring to language. Programming is the installation of a plan or procedure. NLP is the study of how language, both verbal and nonverbal, affects our nervous system. Our ability to do anything in life is based upon our ability to direct our own nervous system. Those who are able to produce some outstanding result do so by producing specific communications to and through the nervous system.”
Anchoring Explained
In his article “Anchoring” NLP expert Robert Dilts says, “anchoring refers to the process of associating an internal response with some external or internal trigger so that the response may be quickly, and sometimes covertly, reaccessed. Anchoring is a process that on the surface is similar to the “conditioning” technique used by Pavlov to create a link between the hearing of a bell and salivation in dogs. By associating the sound of a bell with the act of giving food to his dogs, Pavlov found he could eventually just ring the bell and the dogs would start salivating, even though no food was given. In the behaviorist’s stimulus-response conditioning formula, however, the stimulus is always an environmental cue and the response is always a specific behavioral action. The association is considered reflexive and not a matter of choice.”
Dilts says that anchors are used to:
1) focus awareness
2) reaccess cognitive knowledge and internal states
3) connect experiences together in order to:
enrich meaning
consolidate knowledge
transfer learnings and experiences to other contexts
Anchoring a Confident State
One of the most important traits of a successful performer is confidence. According to Aaron Shearer confidence is acquired simply by past performance successes. By accessing a “state of mind” from past success the performer expects to give a great performance.
One way to access the confident “state” is by anchoring. According to Tony Robbins, “A state is the sum total of all neurological processes within an individual at any one moment in time. The state one is in will filter or affect the final result of our interpretation of any experience we have at that moment.”
“There are empowering states, such as confidence, love, inner strength, joy, and ecstasy–and there are paralyzing states, such as confusion, depression, fear, anxiety, sadness, and frustration.”
“Each of these states involve a physiological element–such as a rise in adrenaline if you are in a state of fear, or a slowed heart rate if you are in a state of confidence. If at the moment you are in an empowering state, you will interpret experiences you encounter with an attitude, “I can handle this.” If at the moment you are in a paralyzing state, you will interpret experiences with an attitude, “This is too much for me.”
Certainly a performer who can access a confident state at will has a better chance of performing to his or her ability.
Changing To Empowering States
Robbins thus asks: “What if you could snap your fingers and go into the most dynamic, resourceful state at will–a state in which you’re excited, you’re sure of success, your body is crackling with energy, your mind is alive?” NLP, Robbins says, can enable one to do just that!
Robbins says that “the difference between those who fail to achieve their goals in life and those who succeed is the difference between those who cannot put themselves in a supportive state and those who can consistently put themselves in a state that supports them in their achievements.”
“If you really want to be successful,” Robbins says, “you need to learn how to direct and manage your states at will.” You must learn to internally “represent things to yourself in a way that puts you in such a resourceful state that you’re empowered to take the types and qualities of actions that create your desired outcomes.”
Robbins assures us that “just as a movie director can change the effect his movie has on an audience, you can change the effect any experience in life has upon yourself.”
The point, according to NLP, is that you can use the power of the brain to change your internal state at will, and by changing your state, you change your reactions to external events (like performing).
Robbins notes that “all anchoring is a created association of thoughts, ideas, feelings, or states with a specific stimulus.”
With anchoring “you can create a consistent triggering mechanism that will automatically cause you to create the state you desire in any situation without ever having to think about it. When you anchor something effectively enough, it will be there whenever you want it.”
If you’re performing, by using anchoring you can bring about an inner state of confidence and calm based on an event in the past that was permeated with positive emotions (like a standing ovation you received). And as a result of this empowered state, your performance will be handled from a position of boldness and power rather than fear and timidity.
Establishing and Setting An Anchor
Here’s how you establish and set an anchor:
1) Get a clear idea of the state you want to be in. You may want to be confident and calm. You may want to be emotionally in tune with the music and animated.
2) Remember how you felt during a past successful performance. Make sure it’s an event that was important to you and is one you can accurately remember. Focus on the details- how the audience reacted, what you said, what you played, the ovation you received, what people said to you.
3) Relive it in your mind. Picture it as if it was a movie. You’re accessing the subconscious mind which has recorded the event in detail.
4) When the memory is vivid, set the anchor. It’s probably better to use a kinesthetic (physical) anchor. You can touch your right shoulder, tap your left collar bone. I squeezed my right hand and thought or whispered “Yes!”
It needs to be something you don’t usually do.
5) Repetition is key. You need to repeat the process until you are unconsciously competent and the anchor is a habit.
Anchoring is another NLP tool that you can use to reach a confident and empowering state. It helps you perform with confidence.
Anchors away! More to come,
Richard