bythemethod.com blog

Isn’t it frustrating when you are good at something when it doesn’t matter and yet rubbish when it does? Take public speaking, for instance, for most people. When you practice on your own in front of the mirror it sounds great but as soon as you get on the platform you go to pieces, your knees start to knock and you mumble your speech as quickly as possible.

Is there nothing that can change this? Yes, there is. Read on to find out more …

Change your state at will

What we need to be able to do is to change the state of our mind whenever we want to. If we are feeling depressed we need to change to happy; or if we are feeling scared we need to feel confident; etc.

There is a simple technique that requires a little practice known as anchoring.

First you need to be quite and at peace

Take some time to do this, don’t try and do it in a hurry. This process takes a little practice and the more you practice the better you will be at it.

So find a quiet place to be and settle your mind.

Next choose you anchor

You now need to pick your anchor. An anchor is a simple physical action you will take (this can include saying a phrase to yourself if you wish but must have the physical action) when you want to change your state to the ideal state for the situation you are in. You need one action for one state.

This might be something like clenching a fist or rubbing hands together or scratching your arm in a particular way.

Then remember a time when you felt like you want to feel

Let’s say that you want to feel confident. Then you need to remember a time when you felt confident. If you can’t think of a time then make one up.

Now try as best you can to relive that situation in your imagination. Remember where you were. What was the weather like? Who was there? What were you doing? What smells can you remember?

Get the image as clear in your mind as you can and then really feel the confidence.

Now perform the anchor

As soon as you feel really confident (or whatever other state you are trying to anchor) perform your anchor.

Stop everything and then repeat

Once you have performed the anchor stop everything and as soon as you are back to your normal state start the process again.

Remember the time, build the memory until you feel it very intensively and then at that moment perform the anchor.

Keep repeating it over and over again.

After about ten times of doing this test the anchor.

Perform the anchor and pay attention to how you feel. You should start to feel that desired state. If you don’t feel that desired state then go through the process again.

You will find that the more you do it the stronger your feelings will become when you perform the anchor.

This is a powerful technique and well worth the practice.