Anchoring attention

Anchoring attention is fixing to the present moment an attention that has scattered or drifted to the past or the future. This is done by tying attention to a sensation, an object, or the breath; the anchor draws a person back to that moment. This skill helps a person collect themselves, especially in moments of anxiety or hyperarousal. Anchoring attention moors the mind to the safe ground of the present. Returning to the present moment is often a doorway to calming.