The second reason you need to understand anchoring is because you must understand how anchoring can limit you, how lousy anchors can prevent you from going out there and taking action.

This way you can collapse these limiting anchors and create a new anchor instead. So let us learn how to create an anchor or how anchors are created. There are four steps to creating any anchor.

The first step is to get in an intense fully associated state.

The second step at the peak of the state you must apply the anchor. Again the anchor could be a visual anchor, it could be an auditory anchor, a kinesthetic anchor, or even all three combined.

The third step is that you must repeat this process three to five times again and again. The fourth state is to test the anchor to make sure it works. Now, think about it.

Did you go through these four steps when you were anchored to the Titanic theme? Yes, you did. See, when you watched the movie, the pictures you saw and the sounds you heard, put you in an intense state of romance, for example.

Then at the peak of the movie, at those moments of climax, they kept playing the same song again and again. So, they applied the anchor at the peak of the state. And they did this throughout the whole movie. They did it consistently until the anchor was installed.

And at another time when you were in a neutral state, maybe after the movie, you may have heard the same song again from the radio and started to feel the same powerful feelings. So, the test actually works. So, you actually went through the four steps of anchoring.

But besides knowing the steps to anchoring, you must also know the keys to effective anchoring. Many people attempt to follow the four steps but still unsuccessful in creating a powerful anchor.

The reason is they did not pay attention to the four crucial keys in ensuring the anchor is effective. So what are the four keys? The first key to anchoring is what we call intensity. It is very important that you are in a very intense state or for example, motivation, confidence or power. Being in a slightly motivated state will not work. It has to be intense.

The second key is timing. The anchor must be applied at the peak of the intense state. And you should hold on to the anchor for a few seconds before letting go off the anchor. So, timing is really important. The third key is uniqueness. The anchor you choose must be unique.

Remember, it could be a visual anchor, auditory anchor, or a kinesthetic anchor. It can also, again be a combination of all three. For example, your anchor could be seeing a particular picture in your mind, saying something to yourself and snapping your fingers.

But, if you want to use all three together, they must be applied simultaneously. The fourth and last key is replication. You must apply the anchor a few times exactly the same way.

For example, your kinesthetic anchor was touching a part of your shoulder, you must touch the exact same part at the same exact pressure again and again. If you anchor was an auditory anchor, saying to yourself, for example, "Yes, I can do it!" you must say the same phrase in the same tone, in the same volume and in exactly the same way.

So, it is important for you to choose an anchor that is not too complicated but a simple one you can replicate.