Once Ā upon a time we had a bullmastiff named Hercules (pour some kibble out for our fallen homie).
He possessed many interesting quirks one of which fascinated me more than the others.
Before he’d sit on the couch (I’m those people. Not only do I allow dogs on furniture–I encourage it.) Hercules would gather the fleece blankets with his paws and āplumpā them.
Heād scrape and heād collect and heād move the blankets around appearing, in essence, to attempt to create a perfect spot in which to plop.
The problem, however, was once he started Hercules couldnāt stop.
We bipeds would joke heād getĀ stuck in a loop and the only way to end the āplumpingā was to quite literally (and gently) knock him over.
Said toppling was no small feat when āplumping canineā was 140+ poundsā-but thatās what the situation demanded.
Recently Iād found myself in a Herc-worthy loop of sorts.
Stress, fear, scarcity mindset, uncertaintyāall of it.
And it wasnāt so much I’d no one to knock me down, I needed more than that.
I knew intuitivelyĀ my situation required something to weigh me down.
Literally? Metaphorically? I wasn’t certain.
no couch? no plump.
On the surface I ROCKED IT.
I’d created a space where I felt steady.
I succeeded in feeling tethered in the mornings becauseā>lark.
Midday, however, while I worked/pitched for more work Iād spiral.
Iād metaphorically plump. I needed an anchor.
And it began and ended with my work-space.
The concept of anchor comes from Neuro-Linguistic Programming.
As defined by NLP, anchors exist as links to emotions. They serve to spark us into desired states of being/frames of mind.
My work-space felt wobbly.
The table at which I sat 3 times a day for meals and all the rest of the day for work was literally shaky.
This unsteadiness seeped into my subconscious.
I craved solid, steady, and something immovable without help.
I knew how I perceived my environment would be how I created my reality.
this anchor isn’t portable.
In the past my anchors have been tiny. Necklaces, stones, items easily carried throughout my day.
My new anchor is everything I never knew I always wanted.
It was meticulously created (by Blake & by me as I sold enough first-life stuffs to procure)Ā with its intended purpose in mind.
ā¢ I sit eyes closed at the start of my day and breathe deeply.
ā¢ I visualize when I felt tethered, capable and strong.
ā¢ I touch transferring mental images/internal feelings to tangible anchor of the wood.
I employ all senses to create connection between the anchor feeling I seek and the solid furniture in my home.
And it’s worked.
Now when winds/currents in my world Ā threaten to cause me to become stuck in a loop: I stop, sit, breathe, touch and I’m grounded again.
And you?
- Have you ever felt the need for anchors in your life?
Bea says
May 18, 2018 at 4:25 amI have an anchor I got from weight watchers a long time ago. I still bring it with me everywhere I go.
Pamela Hernandez says
May 18, 2018 at 6:24 amYes! The past two years have required anchors AND life jackets. Thank goodness for good friends and quiet gyms.
Annmarie says
May 18, 2018 at 6:49 amI absolutely could use some anchors right now. I need to start implementing this same process.
KELLEY Rose says
May 18, 2018 at 7:16 amThis. What an incredible post. And Herc. š
Michael Striga says
May 18, 2018 at 8:18 amBeing a single father of three.. I MUST take that time each morning to get focused. Having an anchor is vital, and Herc is a darling!
Donna says
May 18, 2018 at 9:41 amMy anchor varies is really a collection of things I keep on my desk: a photo of my parents, smiling in matching shirts I bought them, a white medicine bear Zuni fetish, and other personal items. But your table reminds me of Stephen King talking about his desk in On Writing. I’ve blogged about that and reflected on that so much, especially after making this move last July and having to leave my childhood-through-adulthood desk behind. I use a folding table now and I thought I’d just make do until I found something more worthy. But I learned that it’s not the desk (or dining table, or folding table) that matters. It’s the person sitting at it who creates the magic. What I thought I needed to anchor me was inside me all along.
Wendy says
May 18, 2018 at 12:04 pmMore now than ever. Launching 2 young adults is not for the unhinged.
Kathy @ SMART Living 365.com says
May 18, 2018 at 12:22 pmHi Carla! Great example of how important anchors are in our lives. I so agree that, ”
I knew how I perceived my environment would be how I created my reality.” So glad that your practice has anchored you in every way you want and need. Thank you for sharing your tools. ~Kathy
messymimi says
May 18, 2018 at 3:28 pmWhen i need to anchor, i pray. Sometimes with a prayer book, sometimes not.
cheryl says
May 21, 2018 at 6:27 amEarly morning runs in the dark when going through dark times years ago. I still do it even though my times are now filled with light.
Allie says
May 21, 2018 at 12:22 pmYES! I need all the anchors especially right before a really big race. I need all the support and stabilization so I can focus. I’m happy to have my anchors in place now but that’s not always the case. #maytherealwaysbeanchors