In coaching, symbolic anchors are often used as a tool for clients to use during moments of weakness or struggle. Popularly used in NLP, they are specific movements like squeezing your fist or touching a ring on your finger. These “anchors” are created with positive, confident and powerful feelings so that every time you refer back to that anchor, you feel those feelings. Anchors are techniques used to bring about feelings of confidence, power and positivity. Anchors should always resonate with the client or they aren’t as affective.
However, this version of anchoring is too limited for me. I like to expand on the use of anchors to include any object, act, word, or saying. I feel that anything used repetitively that is powerful enough to bring about an internal shift, could be considered an anchor.
Just this week I came down with a physically debilitating issue. As a dancer, I was so frustrated and distraught, feeling powerless and very humbled. I also felt very sorry for myself. Let’s just say I was not in a good spot, (I am human too.) So of course, I called my mom. She was so gracious, compassionate and empathetic in her listening and support. I am very grateful having such a great mother that could just be there for me. During our chat, she said to me, “just focus on getting better.” It was such a small statement, but it gave me hope and a little light in the distance to focus on, instead of my current sorry state. Every time I found myself feeling down in the dumps and dwelling on my condition, I remembered, “Just focus on getting better.” It provided me a sense of power in a very powerless situation. That one statement, “Just focus on getting better” became my anchor.
“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.” Hebrews 6:19
