Keys to anchoring (2)
The keys to anchoring are a Quality Control mechanism that assists us in ensuring that the anchors we set are as effective and powerful as possible.
The first two keys to anchoring are Intensity and Timing. Let's get a hold now of the remaining three keys.
U - Uniqueness
The stimulus for an anchor must for unique for the anchor to work effectively. Non-unique stimuli i.e. shaking hands with a person or nodding the head, or other behaviours that we engage in as a matter of course and often without specific intention, are not good stimuli for anchoring as they result in the anchor being fired randomly. Anchors which are fired randomly become diluted over time and thus less effective.
A unique stimulus can be used with precision i.e. to trigger the associated emotional state when, and only when, we intentionally choose to fire that anchor. This controlled, intentional use serves in turn to reinforce the anchor.
R - Replication
The meaning of replication here actually relates to our ability to replicate the chosen stimulus with precision. When you choose the stimulus you're going to use to fire your anchor, make sure it's something that you can do in exactly the same way every time you use it. For example, if your chosen stimuls is to be touch (kinesthetic), you must be able to touch in precisely the same location, at the same speed, frequency, duration and pressure every time.
N - Number of times
In simple terms, the more times you set an anchor the more powerful and automatic it will become. Setting an anchor multiple times is known in NLP as stacking the anchor.
Always stack your anchor when you first set it to make it as powerful and effective as possible, adding multiple positive resource states if you wish.
Once you have your anchor set up just how you want it you can keep it that way by repeating the anchoring process every once in a while to refresh and re-stack those positive resource states, in much the same way that regular servicing keeps your car running at it's optimum performance.