Brain Switch: How to erase anxiety and boost success

Brain Switch: How to erase anxiety
and boost success
Genie Z. Laborde
Right Brain Switch (Big Toe) Technique
Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) is the most elegant way to switch on the capabilities of the Right Brain. Why is it important to tap into the Right Brain? Because the Right Brain has all the "goodies"—peace, joy, creativity, bliss, self-healing, and much more.
Right Brain Left Brain
The Left Brain is full of fear and anxiety. There is no fear in the Right Brain. When you make the switch to the Right Brain, anxiety disappears. The more often the Right Brain is activated, the less fear there will be each time you switch back to the Left Brain.
You must be aware you are anxious before you can do anything about it. The Right Brain Switch (Big Toe) technique brings your attention into the present moment. It increases awareness of what is going on inside your body right now. Here’s how it’s done:
  • Imagine a time when you were feeling anxious and fearful. Really feel the experience—feel how your body was tense, neck stiff, and shoulders hunched.
  • Next, switch your attention to your big toe and sense what is going on there. Then switch your attention to your other big toe. Then move to your heel, the other heel, soul of foot, other foot, the ankle, other ankle, and so on throughout your body, including your calves, knees, thighs, torso, stomach, chest, arms, and fingers. Then turn your attention to your neck and then your head. Check out your whole body.
  • Take deep breaths as you do this process.
  • As you become aware of your entire body, feel all the fear drain out.
  • In the beginning, take up to 90 seconds to do this process. With practice, you can enter this present moment state in a few seconds.
Peak Performance State
You can achieve a peak performance state at any time. When giving a presentation, meeting your future in-laws, or engaging in some activity that causes anxiety, use these simple steps:
  • Use the Big Toe technique to access the Right Brain and gain present moment awareness.
  • Then focus on a memory of a moment in your past when you achieved success, a specific incident in time where you felt powerful. This Left Brain action helps to balance your brain. Your eyes may be open or closed. Then let go of the memory for a moment.
  • Imagine a circle on the floor in front of you. Give the circle a color.
  • Next, bring your memory of success into the moment as you step into the circle. As you do, intensify the memory with images, sounds, and feelings (see/hear/feel). Let them sweep through your entire body, putting yourself into an optimum state. Take 10 seconds, a minute, or however long is needed.
  • Step out of the circle. Take another deep breath. Think of a word or phrase associated with your successful memory. This is your trigger.
  • Step back into the circle, saying the trigger to amplify your memory (see/hear/feel). This is your state of excellence anytime it’s needed.
  • Step out of the imaginary circle (if you like, fold the circle and place it in your pocket).
You are now ready to take action in your peak performance state. Using your trigger word or phrase, you can enter this state at any time.
Importance of Breath
Anxiety curtails proper breathing, and the brain does not work well without oxygen. The first thing to do when becoming aware you are anxious is to take a deep breath.
Breathing allows you to intensify the feelings within, which will help you get past anxiety.
Switching Marquees Technique
The Switching Marquees technique, also called Anchoring, can be used to interrupt a pattern in the brain that is causing you a problem. This pattern of negative thoughts could be associated with a difficult personal relationship, a challenging work situation, or something as serious as suicide.
This technique works best when enlisting the help of a trusted friend.
Example: Spending time with your mother-in-law causes you anxiety and stress, and you want to change that.
  • Allow all your feelings to come up as you think of your mother-in-law. As you do, have your friend touch the back of the wrist of one hand, creating a "button."
  • Next, think of three different things that please you, such as your spouse, strawberries, and baseball. As you experience the feelings of each, have your friend touch a different place (button) on your opposite hand or arm.
  • Now have your friend again touch (one at a time) both the negative button and each of the three positive buttons to ensure they are connected to the memories in your brain. If these buttons do not evoke the correct association, set them up once more. If the positive buttons do not cause good feelings, select other things you appreciate.
  • Next, close your eyes. As you think of your mother-in-law, have your friend touch all four buttons at one time. Experience your new positive feelings.
Goals and Outcomes
Outcomes are goals, but they are much more specific. When setting goals, be sure your desired outcome is established in sensory-based terms and satisfies a deep need. Imagine what you will see, hear, and feel when you attain it.
If the feeling is one you like, than that is your outcome. Is it worth going for, spending the time and trouble to get? This outcome will guide your action steps.
The dictionary defines obsession as:the state of being beset or actuated by the devil or an evil spirit; also, compulsive preoccupation with a fixed idea or unwanted feeling or emotion, often with symptoms of anxiety.
To fix obsessions:
  1. Set an outcome
  2. Awareness
  3. Right Brain access
  4. 90 seconds or less
  5. Take a new action
Repeat as often as necessary.
Example: Quitting smoking cigarettes.
  1. Set an outcome. Decide to quit smoking for you, not to please another.
  2. Become aware of the trigger that sets off your smoking; for instance, every time you get into your car.
  3. Immediately go into your Right Brain using the Big Toe technique. This interrupts the pattern of the obsessive behavior.
  4. Stay in the Right Brain for 90 seconds, making sure all the anxiety drains out. (Often the obsession is in response to a fear. Most people light up when feeling anxious or in a tense situation.)
  5. Then immediately take a new action. This works best if it is something you enjoy—turn on your favorite song in the car, take a walk, or call a friend.
Repeat the steps as often as necessary until the obsession is stopped for good.
The ABCs of NLP
A is for Awareness, the key to your wellness.
B is for your Magic Brain, treasures opened, no pain.
C is for See, Hear, Feel. Your senses trigger brain cells.
D is for Danger, Left Brain felt. Right Brain shift, fear will melt.
E is for Energy Blocks, such as Anxiety Locks.
F is for Frozen Fear. Marquee Switching will clear.
G is for Glory Be. For Change Work, it’s NLP.
H is for Mental Health, once available, tops wealth.
I am the one who chooses to be a winner or a loser.
J is for Joining synapses sublime; these carry emotions, so you’ll be just fine.
K stands for Kiss goodbye to those feelings that make us cry.
L is for Love, synaptically wove, inside your own Right Brain.
M is for Masterfully here, right above your right ear.
N of course is for Now, the time that evokes the Wow.
O is for "Often" the Right Brain tap to send.
P is for Peak Performance; an ego-affirming stance.
Q is for your life’s Quest, whose pull you cannot resist.
R is for the stout Resistance from friends; you’ll find even more from kins.
S is for Success: to Change, you say "Yes!"
T is for the Time it takes for skills to integrate.
U is for Universality. These work. Do you agree?
V is for Victory. Obsessions are the pits.
W is for Whatever happens. You know enough to mend.
X out the anxiety habits, yet at the same time, keep all your wits.
Y You with NLP can face the world with glee.
Z is for you to rhyme as you NLP through time.
Dr. Genie Z. Laborde
Ph.D., Master NLP Trainer, Author
Genie Laborde, of Palo Alto, California, is an internationally known author, seminar leader, video producer, CEO, artist, and mother of six. She holds a Ph.D. in Gestalt Psychology and Education from the University of California and is the founder of International Dialog Education Associates.
Genie believes 85 percent of NLP is based in Gestalt therapy, so her move into NLP was naturally easy. Her discovery of the computational abilities of the Right Brain led her down new paths. She combines NLP with her other disciplines in her seminars.
Genie and her 179 certified trainers have taught NLP skills to over 50,000 people in 16 countries around the world. Her client list of more than 100 corporations and institutions is exceedingly impressive and includes IBM, Chase Bank, SBC, Dell, Continental Airlines, AT&T, Vanderbilt University, Wells Fargo Bank, Sprint, Dow Jones, Stanford University, and the United Nations.
Genie is the author of Influencing with Integrity, Fine Tune Your Brain, and 12 other books.
You can find out more about her work at
Learning Strategies Corporation
2000 Plymouth Road
Minnetonka, Minnesota 55305-2335 USA
Fax 1-952-475-2373
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