How to Anchor yourself

The word anchor has two definitions - it can describe a large metal hook securing a boat to the bottom of the ocean, or a reliable and principal support - a mainstay. 

It is very important to know your anchors, to have clarity about what stabilises and secures you, about what offers you reliable support. It’s easy to think this is about external factors, looking to your family, friends and colleagues or to material things, and indeed all of these are doubtless important.

However, our most crucial anchors are the internal ones. They are the things we can turn to in ourselves that offer us stability, that keep us from turbulent movement, that hold us firm in the storm.

Anchors can be regular practices like exercise or meditation, and they can be internal representations like a recollection of a place or time when we felt really calm and stable that we can call on.  Having a range of ways of stabilising yourself is crucial, with only one or two we can be somewhat brittle, while a range offer flexibility.

We are all different, but here are some of the more common anchors I hear, I offer them to stimulate you to identify those that are most impactful for you:

· breathing exercises like box breathing (with the in breath and out breath the same length and punctuated by holding the breath both in, and out, for the same length also), and slow breathing with the out breath lasting longer than the in breath

· Stretching, shaking and brushing practices to clear the body of tension and stuck emotions or thoughts

· Visualisations of safe places, and/or of times when a person felt a particular way e.g. confident

· Mindfulness and meditation practices that calm the nervous system and mind

· Slow movement practices like yoga and T’ai Chi that offer mindfulness and energy clearing benefits 

· Preparing and eating nourishing and nutritious food, demonstrating a caring for yourself.

These are just six practices to anchor yourself in self-supporting energy. I’d love to hear what else works for you, it’s always good to be able to pass on wisdom from the community.  

How do you anchor yourself?

#selfcare #personaldevelopment