Self-Help: Anchoring

This is not a new technique. Meditation enthusiasts have been using the "anchoring technique" for decades. Anchoring is indeed a form of meditation that can help calm and soothe yourself during peaks of high anxiety, panic and depression. Anchoring seems very simple, it looks as though with everything else.... the major key to success is... practice. (did I mention anxiety and procrastination go hand in hand?)

How to Anchor:

1. Pick out your "Anchor", this can be a peaceful, happy memory of a place in time where you felt the most joy and happiness in your life (the birth of a child etc..) if you do not have a memory in your mind that you attach strong feelings of peace and happiness to, then make one! Many people, including myself like to use water in an anchoring or meditation exercise. Then use your 5 senses: what does it look like, feel like, smell like, taste like, shapes, colors, sounds and even the people.
2. Now that you have your Anchor (your internal reaction), you need to come up with an external reaction to pair with your Anchor. For example squeeze your fist while you Anchor into this moment. It can be anything you choose, tapping your wrist or wiggle your toes! This is to link both together so your mind can recall this situation in times of need.
3. Practice. Practice and perfect your anchor to be exactly what you need it to be, make make a few tweaks here and there.
4. Use it when the time comes.
5. Keep using it, and combine it with belly breathing and maybe even a mantra "peace", "relax", "believe" are all suitable mantras to use in a peaceful anchoring.
   

Let's try this out, and see what happens. It can only help! Let me know it this helps you. For more information on Anchoring this article is full of great information.