Embrace Every Compliment: Turning Appreciation into Personal Growth - Laura Baxter (ep. 976)

Welcome to another episode where we dive deep into the habits, stories, and mindsets that keep successful people thriving.

In today’s episode we sit down with Laura Baxter, an award‑winning opera singer turned performance coach, speaker, and author living in Germany. Laura shares the pivotal moment that reshaped her whole approach to gratitude: singing at a noble‑family wedding in a medieval chapel and realizing that being “grateful in the moment” is far more powerful than simply feeling grateful.

From the highs of touring the U.S. with a national opera company to the challenges of restarting her career from scratch in Germany—auditions, a new family, and the sting of stage fright—Laura explains how a simple prayer before each performance kept her grounded. She reveals the tools that keep her centered, from the mantra “I choose love” taught by her mentor Nan Burt, to a compliment journal that transformed the way she receives praise.

Resources:

Laura's website: https://www.voice4leadership.de/us/

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Timestamps:

03:37 – Why gratitude is the top emotion of successful leaders

04:46 – Laura shares a pivotal gratitude moment in her life

05:25 – Career shift: from a busy U.S. opera schedule to restarting in Germany

06:52 – Wedding performance invitation and the noble‑family setting

07:38 – Realization: be grateful in the moment; promise to pray before each singing gig

08:29 – Recent concerts: reviving Copland’s “In the Beginning” and feeling gratitude

09:13 – Details of the challenging a‑cappella piece and its difficulty

09:45 – Finding the right choir (Volcante) despite doubts

10:21 – Reflection on privilege and gratitude for rare performance opportunities

10:39 – Gratitude applies to all professions, not just singers

11:29 – Universal gratitude: from factories to farms, recognizing the gift of work

12:31 – Influence of Emmett Fox’s positive‑thinking “seven‑day diet” on Laura’s mindset

13:51 – Struggles to stay grateful during hard times; importance of pausing

14:47 – Contextual gratitude amid global issues (refugees, daily life)

15:15 – Encouragement to cultivate a habit of gratitude despite imperfections

16:18 – Trigger: noticing complaints → instantly shift to gratitude

16:42 – Habitual practice to overcome moments when gratitude feels hard

17:09 – Question about a time Laura wasn’t truly grateful

17:49 – Answer: being caught in the “rat race” and missing present‑moment gratitude

18:30 – Stress of constant responsibilities and self‑doubt in a performance career

19:01 – Description of the ultra‑difficult Copland piece and its history

19:28 – Stage fright confession and its impact

20:11 – Introduction to mentor Nan Burt (92‑year‑old “rocking chair” wisdom)

20:38 – Nan’s gifts: books, “Love is Letting Go of Fear,” and the “I choose love” mantra

22:34 – Mantra “I choose love” explained and its power

23:03 – Using the mantra during the concert; inner transformation on stage

24:07 – Realization of love’s role in performance confidence

24:25 – Prompt: recall a moment lacking gratitude

24:47 – Advice to younger self: live fully in the present, enjoy each minute

25:42 – “Youth is wasted on the young” – savor the moment now

26:03 – Call to be present, aware, and grateful in every instant

26:42 – Book focus: Dealing with Divas – helping readers stay calm, centered, focused

27:31 – Coaching executives on voice, body language, and inner presence

28:06 – “Divas” as difficult personalities that disrupt our center

28:47 – Four powerful states: forgiveness, love, play, gratitude

29:27 – Personal anecdote: moving from scattered to centered power

30:28 – People Laura is grateful for: Nan Burt, parents, collaborators, listeners

31:19 – Quote: gratitude creates joy, not the reverse

31:55 – Gratitude fuels success; without it success feels hollow

32:44 – Contrast: highly successful yet unhappy people lack gratitude

33:17 – Practical gratitude tools: stop complaining, imagine life without the annoyance

34:05 – Journaling habit: daily reflections and a “compliment journal”

35:08 – How recording every compliment reshaped Laura’s mindset

36:37 – Importance of truly receiving compliments as gifts

37:18 – Rewiring focus from negativity to positive acknowledgment

38:08 – Book launch details: Kindle version free 8‑22 May 2024

38:33 – Offer explanation: free download, then paid physical/Kindle release

39:16 – Redefining “diva”: relative to personal perception, not just dominant traits

40:16 – Book structure: first half = inner strength; second half = understanding others & building bridges

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