I'll be sure to try this technique... tomorrow. ;)
Isn't this pretty much NLP?
I would like to know if this actually works at anything more than a placebo level.
Well, since it's an entirely mental process, I don't see how it could. Unless you mean actually altering your emotions on a chemical level, which the placebo effect actually does too.
I was imprecise (maybe incorrect) in my wonderings. What I meant to say was, "Given the array of mental exercises that might or might not cause you to change your behavior, is this one more effective than no additional effort at a statistically significantly level."