Here's an example of how I used this technique one day and how I had to tweak it a little bit to get the most out of it.

Like a lot of musicians and performers, I sometimes used to get anxious about a gig (I used to always get anxious about a gig). In this particular incident I was driving to a school performance during rush hour. I was running a little bit late.

I don't know about you, but I hate being late. It makes me anxious.

I have a really good imagination.

I started imagining a huge back up as I approached Hartford CT. I clearly saw an 18 wheeler flipped on it's side and bananas splattered all over the highway...then I imagined getting to the gig late and the people that booked me to perform being really nasty and refusing to pay me...then I thought about the fact that my car had close to 200,000 miles on it and hadn't broken down in 6 months...I thought I heard a funny vibration in the engine...

I suddenly felt totally anxious...tight in my gut, shoulders clenched, palms sweating, angry...duh! I was making myself seriously freak out...

So I consciously floated out above my time line and imagined breezing through Hartford, and arriving at the school on time. My anxiety dropped from a 10 to an 8. But it was still there.

So I realized I had to go out farther. I went out to the end of the performance and I imagined it being the best performance I've ever given. I saw the school kids loving my DrumSongStory.com show, mesmerized and joyful. I imagined a teacher coming up to me and telling me it was the best assembly they'd ever had...Anxiety dropped to a 6 or a 7. But it was still there.

Hmm...

I realized I had to go even further out. I imagined arriving home safe and sound that night after a totally successful day. I saw myself getting into my Dr. Suess pajamas and getting in to bed.

Poof! Anxiety gone. From a 10 down to a 0. This was done by the way while driving a car. It all happened in my mind. Eyes wide open.

Now let's look back and see what actually happened:

1. Drove through Hartford CT at the peak of rush hour without a problem.

2. Arrived at the school on time even though we got lost a little bit.

3. The performance went exceptionally well. So well that a teacher came up to me at the end and said this: "I have been a teacher for over 30 years. This is my last year. In fact this is my last assembly. I have to tell you Mark, it was the best assembly I have ever experienced."

Please understand I'm not telling you this to boost my ego. The point I'm trying to make here is that we actually do create our reality with our thoughts.

If I had persisted in running all the anxious thoughts I'm sure I would have attracted a lot of negative outcomes. I would have probably been annoyed at some kid who wasn't listening to my performance or my negative attitude would have attracted the energy of some negative teacher.

All of this is a subject for another time and place, the point is, this simple technique really, really works.

Incidentally the very next day, I decided to take my car in to the dealer to get it checked out. It actually broke down within one block of my home. Instead of freaking out, I simply went out 15 minutes after the successful repair of my car. And it turned out it was just a couple of hoses that needed to be replaced.

So there you have it. In a few short articles I've given you one of my favorite, fastest, best techniques. I use it. My clients use it.

Give it a try. If you have any questions feel free to contact me and I will do my best to answer them.