Dr. Wayne Dyer is a legend in the field of psychology, personal development, and self help. His caring, gentle style of reminding us of the incredible power we have within to manifest our dreams has been felt by millions around the world. Although Dyer passed in August, his message of compassion, love, and courage will continue to live on in the hearts of his students. Here are 10 powerful life lessons we can learn from Wayne Dyer.
You define your path
“How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours.” – Wayne Dyer
You will never be able to control someone else’s actions, but you can always control your own. You are not here to respond and react, you are here to manifest your best, moment by moment. Get comfortable always taking the high road, life is better there.
The world is a mirror
“Loving people live in a loving world. Hostile people live in a hostile world. Same world.” – Wayne Dyer
Of course, there is plenty of negativity in the world, but it’s our job not to get consumed by it. Wherever there is war there is fighting, but there are also people risking their lives to take care of one another. Contrary to the news reports, there are amazing, compassionate, and miraculous things going on all over the world, every single day. Be the love you want to see in the world.
Focus on what’s inside
“When you squeeze an orange, orange juice comes out – because that’s what’s inside. When you are squeezed, what comes out is what is inside.” – Wayne Dyer
Never get bored of the inside work. Life is won from within. It’s easy to be positive when everything is great at work, with your family, and you just got paid. But what do you show when stress, frustration, and disappointment are running wild in your life? Continue to practice compassion, love, and patience — so, when the times get tough, that’s what you exude.
Surround yourself with great people
“Friends are God’s way of apologizing for your family.” – Wayne Dyer
We can’t always choose our family, but we can always choose our friends. Make the commitment to surround yourself with people who bring out your best, encourage you, make you laugh, have your back, and who you can trust. We are the sum total of the people we spend our time with, so make sure you are around only quality people.
Enjoy your own company
“You cannot be lonely if you like the person you’re alone with.” – Wayne Dyer
You don’t have to be an introvert to enjoy your own company. Psychologists have found that having regular alone time is actually incredibly healthy for you. When you’re alone, you get to think deeply about your life and tap into your true voice. You can’t fall in love with who you are if you don’t know who that person is.
Enjoy your journey
“When you dance, your purpose is not to get to a certain place on the floor. It’s to enjoy each step along the way.” – Wayne Dyer
We are all working towards something and it’s critical to enjoy that process. It’s very easy to get focused on the result and lose focus on the journey. It’s the skills you have learned, the relationships you have made, and the experiences you have gained that makes the journey worth it. Don’t rush it.
Compassion always wins
“When the choice is to be right or to be kind, always make the choice that brings peace.” – Wayne Dyer
Whether it’s in a relationship, business deal, or working with others in general, making it work is always more important than being right. Of course you want to express yourself and be true to who you are, but many times we interpret being “right” with “winning” an argument. The “right” answer always brings peace, even when it’s difficult.
Control your perspective
“Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change.” – Wayne Dyer
Our perspective directly impacts our attitude. If we find the positives in any given circumstance, we feel good. If we focus on the negatives, we can feel anxious and overwhelmed. If there is a certain task that we must do every day, and we hate it, we will experience pain every day. If we are able to see that task differently, find some new meaning and value in it, then it changes. Our perspective isn’t fixed and we can change it at any time.
Remember that you’re not alone
“If you knew who walked beside you at all times, on the path that you have chosen, you could never experience fear or doubt again.” – Wayne Dyer
Have you ever taken a moment to think about all the great people who have come before you? Whatever it is you are going through or working towards, someone has paved the way — research and study them. You are not alone on any journey. And, when you feel like you are, that’s a sign to connect with the people fighting the same fight as you.
Expect great things
“I am realistic – I expect miracles.” – Wayne Dyer
Expect great things from yourself and from life. Rumi once said to “live life like it is rigged in your favor.” But of course, life will not always seem that way. In order for great things to happen, we can’t just think about it, we must do, and then do more. Great things come from great work. See yourself as capable of doing great things, even if they are small to start.
Featured photo credit: awak.org via mediad.publicbroadcasting.net
