Anchoring

There’s a self-hypnosis technique in NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) called anchoring. It allows you to access a positive state from a past experience and apply it to a new or upcoming situation where you may feel less confident.

That is, imagine a moment when you felt totally secure or empowered. By mentally revisiting that moment—its sights, sounds, even the feeling in your body—you can anchor that state and then apply it to a future event you’re nervous about. You’re essentially teaching your brain to borrow strength from itself.

The beauty of anchoring is that it’s built on sensory recall. The more vividly you remember the moment—the feel of the air, the sounds, the light, even the scent—the more powerful the effect.

That’s what struck me one afternoon while working on the ship. I had been craving a quiet corner to reflect, and finally found one. I settled into it with intention—noticing the warmth of the sun, the rhythm of the waves, the scent of salt in the air. In that moment, I wasn’t just existing. I was imprinting.

After a number of years on this earth, it’s dawned on me that many of life’s best moments slip past us unregistered. We appreciate them more fully in hindsight. And what if we could shift that appreciation to now? It requires some effort, a retreat inward, active meditation and recognition of all sensory information.

I began experimenting—bringing full awareness to my senses, anchoring myself in the moment as it was happening. The experience became more vivid, more valuable, more mine. And in doing so, I built up a mental library of moments to revisit when I need grounding, clarity, or confidence.

This image reminds me of that practice—each thick rope a tether to strength, to memory, to presence. Whether you’re anchoring a feeling or anchoring yourself in the moment, it’s all about tuning in and holding on.