The Gratitude Effect

by Cari Cole

Having an attitude of gratitude creates ripples of positive vibrations in your life and not only changes you, but changes the air around you. Every time I do this, I notice there is an effect that gratitude has — it boomerangs right back to you. I call it the Gratitude Effect. I wonder why I don’t do it more. So I started to – do it — more, that is.

Louise Hay (creator of Hay House, positive affirmations and positive thinking for our generation) says to start off your day with Gratitude. She says that when you first open your eyes, have gratitude for your bed (be sure to have a comfy bed so you’re not fibbing!) If you don’t have a comfortable bed, then say “I look forward to getting a more comfortable bed very soon”… And then at the first look at the mirror (as you brush your teeth), instead of analyzing your face, Louise says to look deep into your eyes and tell yourself how fabulous you are and that you love you – very, very, very much (and mean it.) It may sound cheesy but after you do it for a week or so, it’s surprising — you actually start to feel better ;). Louise says that’s because you are sending a message deep into your subconscious brain, which then believes it.

Here’s why a positive mindset is so important for your career in music — because deeper unconscious feelings can actually screw things up for you. One of my students was friends with a very famous artist/singer. She didn’t realize it on the surface, but underneath she was envious of her friend. And, even though she was excited for her, every time she was around her, it reminded her that she wasn’t where she wanted to be. More and more, my student felt less and less around her friend, so much so that eventually she stopped wanting to be around her friend at all – it just stopped being fun. Unfortunately, it was all a scenario in her head. Now, I’m sure she didn’t realize what happened, at least not consciously. And that is how most of us operate. Don’t let it be you!

My student didn’t realize that she could have used the experience in a positive way for herself. If she had just used the energy of gratitude, she could have turned it around – and here’s how. When you are around someone who has what you want, or is where you want to be – practice the attitude of gratitude by saying to yourself “I am so proud of my friend, and I look so forward to one day being where she is!” Or “It’s so cool that my friends are successful because it lifts me up too!” That way, instead of entertaining so many negative thoughts which only make you uncomfortable and miserable, you can turn it into a positive.

The Gratitude Effect is a morning and evening practice that takes 5 minutes a day.

I do 2 minutes in the morning and 3 minutes at night (set a stopwatch on your iPhone or Blackberry).

First thing in the morning – go to the mirror, and say out loud. looking deep into your own eyes: “[YOUR NAME], I love you very, very much. You are a fantastic [woman, man, girl, boy] and I am so very proud of you.” (I KNOW, it sounds corny – but say it with conviction!!)

Evening – Last thing before you fall asleep, set the timer for 3 minutes, close your eyes and imagine exactly what you wish to happen as if it were happening. See it as if you were watching a dream. Feel all of your senses, and feel the excitement, joy, and happiness that come from the experience, i.e., you are playing an outdoor festival in front of thousands of adoring fans. The breeze is blowing your hair, you reach out to touch the hands of your fans, and they are singing the words of your songs back to you… feel the excitement of the performance: your band sounds awesome…

And a different night, mix it up with using a word that exemplifies what you want, i.e.; say the word SUCCESS over and over again as you imagine your music being successful in the world. If you want WEALTH, then repeat that word over and over again. If you want FAME, then repeat fame.. if you want an awesome voice, etc… These are specific ways of sending the message to your subconscious of what you desire. And then while you sleep, your subconscious brain (that never sleeps) will go to work on making this happen.

Do this for one month every morning and evening. Then work up to 3 months straight through for those massive big life changing results!

Let me know the results you get from practicing The Gratitude Effect!

Happy Manifesting & Happy Holidays everyone!

©2011 Cari Cole, Vocal Mag, Inc. All Rights Reserved.