Tag: goal setting

I’m going to share a hot off the press story with you here. Then we can look at how to apply the principles in it to your life.

Ready?

I just finished recording my sixth singer-songwriter album. It’s called The Great Something.

I dedicated my new singer-songwriter album to the great Melissa Etheridge

While the previous five albums all reveal a musician growing in confidence and ability, each one better than the last, this latest one broke all boundaries.

The songs are better than ever.

The singing is hands down the best ever.

The music is stellar, going from swing to ballad to rock to (as my drummer put it) “improvised symphony of genius.”

Why is this album so much better than all the others?

What happened?

I used everything I teach about self-help, goal-setting, and manifestation to create this album; from setting a clear intention to gathering my band of legends, to taking action on the ideas and opportunities that arose as I moved toward the recording date.

Singing my heart out

While all these elements are part of what make The Law of Attraction work in your favor, clearly the biggest turning point for me was attracting my private two-hour songwriting lesson with rock icon Melissa Etheridge.

I’ve already written four blog posts about my time with her. (See PS below for links to those “Attracting Melissa Etheridge” articles.) I won’t repeat myself (much) here, but I openly declare that my time with Melissa deeply influenced this entire album.

In fact, I’ve dedicated it to her.

Let me explain:

First, I used some of her music dynamics to create new songs.

The song “Melissa Said” is, as my producer called it, “The greatest thank you card of all time.” It’s an original song I wrote for Melissa, using some of the arrangements she shared with me about making music. My band got goose bumps listening to my homage to Melissa. It is stellar. It is three minutes of gratitude. (Wait till Melissa hears it!)

My band of legends: me, producer Daniel Barrett, Glenn Fukunaga, drummer Joe Vitale

Second, the title track song was directly influenced by my time with Melissa.

While Melissa was too wise to tell me what to do, her feedback helped me learn lessons for myself. It was the Socratic method. Socrates didn’t give you the answer. He helped you think of it on your own. Being with Melissa helped me realize the title track song (and the album) needed to be called The Great Something, my phrase for God or the Divine. (It was originally going to be called The Miracle.) That insight redirected the entire album.

Third, and more importantly, Melissa urged me to write from the first person.

“The Great Something,” the title track song, is raw. It’s from my view of life, my hard times, and my discovery of The Great Something. The band was blown away with the power and depth of it. It is riveting. It is revealing. That is a direct result of taking to heart what Melissa told me about writing in the first person.

Fourth, when I was with Melissa, I shared the opening lines of a song that had come to me in my sleep.

Melissa liked what she heard. Because of that, I felt encouraged to complete the song. I did. It is the most hauntingly beautiful thing I’ve ever penned. It’s called “Hey You,” and it’s designed to heal any hurting heart. Guitar Monk Mathew Dixon added his sweet guitar on it and it is deliciously healing.

Guitar Monk Mathew Dixon

Fifth, Melissa taught me to feel my message when I sang.

As a result, my singing on a singer-songwriter ballad I wrote was, as my producer called it, “Sinatra-est.” It was probably the highest compliment he could give me. My voice compared even remotely to Frank Sinatra’s was enough to make me speechless. I just followed what Melissa taught me and felt the song as I sang it.

With Melissa Etheridge (!)

Obviously, I absorbed Melissa’s wisdom and vibe and infused it into this new album.

But we aren’t done with the album yet.

I’m hoping to have Grammy nominated saxophone great Mindi Abair add her happy sax to my “Glad Game” swing song.

I’m hoping Grammy nominated singer Ruthie Foster will add her soaring vocals to the spiritual I wrote called “Look for the Light.”

And I’m hoping Melissa Etheridge will add voice or guitar to any track.

I have big dreams for this new album. As Daniel Barrett, producer (and coauthor of the book, The Remembering Process) told me, “You can’t think average thoughts and expect extraordinary results.”

So, I’m thinking BIG.

This post isn’t about getting you to buy my new album. It isn’t completed yet, let alone ready for sale.

Instead, I’m sharing all of this with you to demonstrate how the Law of Attraction, magic, and miracles work.

Here’s a quick recap:

1. I set an intention to create a new album that surpassed all my others.
2. I visualized and felt the end-result, already done and a mega success.
3. I cleared any limiting beliefs along the way, freeing me to be my best.
4. I took action by writing songs, gathering my band, booking the studio.
5. I seized opportunities, such as grabbing my music lesson with Melissa.
6. I let go and went with the flow, while keeping my intention in mind.

I’m sure you can do this, too.

You have a dream, don’t you?

You could set an intention for it, gather allies, and start to move toward it, right?

Are there any real excuses or limitations for doing what you really want to do, if you really want to do it?

Isn’t today a good day to begin?

The Great Something says YES!

Ao Akua,

Joe

PS – Here are the links to my four blog posts about my songwriting lesson with rock icon Melissa Etheridge:

https://www.mrfire.com/law-of-attraction/attracting-melissa-etheridge-part-4/

https://www.mrfire.com/law-of-attraction/attracting-melissa-etheridge-part-3/

https://www.mrfire.com/law-of-attraction/attracting-melissa-etheridge-part-2/

https://www.mrfire.com/law-of-attraction/attracting-melissa-etheridge/

Note: In case you are curious, samples of my five singer-songwriter albums are here: http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/JoeVitale1

A secret message for you

Happy New Year!

Today is January 1, 2017.

Whether you used the Law of Attraction — or some goal-setting or self-help method — to make your 2016 great, you got through it.

Congratulations!

We both made it here so we should stand up and do a happy dance.

I’ll pause while you do it…

And now to the million-dollar questions –

What are you going to do differently in 2017 to make it outstanding?

How will you make 2017 breathtaking and full of success?

What do you want to have, do, or be in this New Year?

Whatever you did in 2016 brought you to this moment.

Are you happy with your results?

Did you achieve all you wanted?

Probably not.

And that’s okay.

After all, as Robert Browning asked, “Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, or what’s a heaven for?”

If you want to achieve noteworthy success in 2017, I have three suggestions:

I’m wearing a message for you

1. State your intentions. Whether your intentions come from your human mind or the Divine mind, you need to start with a target. This will activate your RAS (reticular activating system), alert your connection to the “Great Something,” and rally your inner troops to march in one direction. In short, what do you want in 2017? Make a list. If you can’t think of much, or anything, make it up. Be silly. Be stupid. Be stupendous. Tip: Read my newest book The Miracle and/or The Attractor Factor.

2. Get clear of counter-intentions. This is the little secret nobody talks about. I’ve created a library of books, audios, courses, and a coaching program to address this issue. In short, your intentions will bring up your negative thoughts about your intentions. I call those your counter-intentions. The faster you delete them, the faster you attract what you want. There are lots of ways to handle this issue. The most powerful is with coaching. Tip: Get into Miracles Coaching.

3. Take inspired actions. You don’t need to have a year-long strategy or a step by step action plan. Nothing wrong with them and go ahead and make them if you feel so inspired. But all you need to know is the first step to take. When you take that baby step, the next step will become apparent. Tip: Take a baby step right now.

Achieving a fantastic 2017 is like planning a cross-country road trip:

1. You decide where you want to go. You make a list of people and places you want to stop and visit. Your decision creates your intention.
2. You take note of things that might stop your travels, from weather conditions to fuel stops. Whatever might slow you down or halt your ride is taken into consideration and handled. You clear the “road blocks” to your success.
3. You take the first steps to make the trip. That might mean fueling or charging up your vehicle. Or packing a lunch. You begin now.

Making the New Year spectacular is like planning a meal with friends:

1. You decide to host a dinner. Decision creates sparks of emotions and nudges you to action.
2. You plan who will attend and what you will cook. If you find out you are out of certain veggies, you create a workaround. You handle the issues and adjust as you move forward.
3. You take action by going to the grocery store to get your supplies, inviting your guests, and prepping the kitchen.

Now apply this simple formula to 2017:

1. What do you want? Make a decision. Write it down.
2. What beliefs might slow you down? Write them down. Delete them.
3. What can you do right now to begin? Make a list. Do it.

Here’s wishing you a glorious and unforgettably wonderful New Year!

Expect Miracles!

Ao Akua

Joe

PS – Check out Miracles Coaching at http://www.miraclescoachingproof.com

My latest book is a bestseller!