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: Head to and use promo code GRATITUDE to get UP TO $300 off today! Thank you so much for listening to The Gratitude Podcast! Please rate and review us everywhere you listen to podcasts, including Spotify & Apple Podcasts. 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 Experience more abundance on georgianbenta.com/abundance Advertising Inquiries: Privacy & Opt-Out:

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Embrace Every Compliment: Turning Appreciation into Personal Growth - Laura Baxter (ep. 976) is an episode from The Gratitude Podcast by Georgian Benta.

This episode is 43:43 long.

This episode was published on Feb 16, 2026.

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