Using Psychological Anchors for Success

Psychological anchors are associations that link one experience with another. They are often discussed in hypnosis and related techniques, where a particular gesture, sound, image, or phrase may become connected with a certain emotional state.

But anchors are not limited to hypnosis. You may have a song that always makes you sad, or the smell of a perfume that suddenly brings back memories of someone you loved years ago. Some people feel anxious every time the phone rings because, at some point in their life, an unexpected phone call brought bad news.

Anchors can be positive too. Certain smells, sounds, places, clothes, or styles may bring back pleasant memories and put you in a better mood. Some clothes may make you feel stronger, sportier, more confident, or more attractive, and this can affect how you behave. You may actually start moving differently, working out more, or acting with more confidence, which can make you truly more attractive.

While some anchors may bring up feelings you would rather avoid, you can also use positive associations to support your performance. One simple way to do this is to choose a small gesture or phrase that you can use when you want to get into the right mindset.

It does not have to be directly related to whatever you are doing. The whole point of an anchor is that it links two experiences that may otherwise seem unrelated. A small gesture will do, and it does not have to be obvious to anyone else.

Whenever you perform especially well, make that gesture or repeat that phrase. Do it each time you are genuinely happy with your performance. Little by little, you may begin to associate that gesture or phrase with a sense of success, focus, or confidence.

Later, you can use the same gesture before an important task to help yourself return to that more confident state. It may not work automatically, of course, but it can become a useful cue that reminds your mind and body how it feels when you are focused and performing well.

Mirroring Body Language