Dr. Wayne Dyer

Dr. Wayne Dyer, the renowned motivational guru and author of dozens of self-help books, has died at age 75, his family announced over social media Sunday.

DrWayneDyer.com

"Wayne has left his body, passing away through the night. He always said he couldn't wait for this next adventure to begin and had no fear of dying. Our hearts are broken, but we smile to think of how much our scurvy elephant will enjoy the other side. ... We Love You Forever Dad/Wayne," his family posted in a message on Dyer's Facebook page.

Suffice it to say, most "seekers" have profoundly appreciated his teachings and his essence. 

For those familiar with the Christian Bible, the Sermon on the Mount speaks to our experience of loss. Matthew 5:4, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” But how will you be comforted? 

A person wrote online asking advice on how to deal with grief, and someone responded with wisdom worth sharing. Please read the entire article, and take to heart the essence: 

• Grief comes in waves, at first very high and very frequent
• Sometimes the best you can do is just float
• Find a memory or photograph or someone else who is floating to hang onto
• Stay alive; eventually you can breathe and function between the waves

None of us escapes physical death. We face this truth each time someone we know and love transitions back into spirit. We can be especially shocked when an icon we value greatly is no longer in our world with skin on. After the news of Dr. Dyer's transition went out on our "Fellowship" list, several people responded. These two messages speak volumes:

He will now be working from the other side.

 

So glad this was shared. What a beautiful spirit to have walked this earth. I am sure the stars will shine brighter tonight....and I know he definitely brought light to my world.

 

Yes, Wayne Dyer brought light into our world. Although he lived in an orphanage, he did not let his past limit his future. He proved you can rise above the mundane conditions of life, spread your wings, and fly. Soaring above limiting emotions and looking at a panoramic view of life, he invited others to enjoy a transcendent existence as well. 

Dr. Wayne Dyer has taken off his earth suit and is now in our midst as unlimited energy and light and love. "You are what you choose to be today, not what you have chosen to be before." We will remember....

Perspective of the Million Dollar Mind

 

Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it.

~ Carlos Santayana

Last Sunday a friend emailed some information from an international financial analyst pointing to a severe correction in the stock market coming very soon. Everything in me wanted to call our investment manager Monday morning and tell him to get us out of the market for a while. In 2007, sharing my concerns with our previous investment manager about a similar warning resulted in my having been made to feel that my worries were unfounded. Feeling insecure, I did nothing back then, and we lost money we had worked hard to save for our retirement. 

Monday morning I did nothing about the nudges I felt to make that call. In short, I ignored the gnawing feeling, then watched the market lose about ten percent in two days. 

My post is not about finances, but it is about changes in perspective.

Notice what you see in this amazing pencil prayer by my dear artist friend Carol L. Myers.

As I ponder what I see, I remind myself it is not helpful to beat myself up about the stocks.

I recall the message I received from spirit following the 2008 losses. "Debra, you know your security is not dependent upon the stock market." 

This greater consciousness is consistent with Steve Siebold's "Million Dollar Mind" process, in which he contrasts "World Class" perspective with "Middle Class" thinking:

1.     The Middle Class competes…The World Class creates 2.     The Middle Class avoids risk…The World Class manages risk 3.     The Middle Class lives in delusion…The World Class lives in objective reality 4.     The Middle Class loves to be comfortable…The World Class is comfortable being uncomfortable 5.     The Middle Class has a lottery mentality…The World Class has an abundance mentality 6.     The Middle Class hungers for security…The World Class doesn't believe security exists 7.     The Middle Class sacrifices growth for safety…The World Class sacrifices safety for growth 8.     The Middle Class operates from fear and scarcity…The World Class operates from love and abundance 9.     The Middle Class sees themselves as victims…The World Class sees themselves as responsible 10. The Middle Class slows down…The World Class calms down

Mark Twain may have said it best, “October: This is one of the peculiarly dangerous months to speculate in stocks. The others are July, January, September, April, November, May, March, June, December, August and February.”

I don't know for sure what the future of the stock market holds. No one does. However, we do know for sure we can choose to cultivate World Class behaviors. We can nurture an abundance mentality, managing risk, and living in reality. We can operate from love and abundance, calm down, and see ourselves as responsible. We can even be comfortable being uncomfortable. 

This certainly beats hungering for security and living in fear and scarcity. 

Look again at the same pencil prayer, this time from the horizontal view. Notice the peaceful images that emerge automatically with just a slight change in perspective. 

 It has been my habit to let Carol's work share my desk with me until it seems the many messages tucked within have been received. This one is about ready to move to my altar.

Foster Community and a Love of Books

Oh, to live the delusion that things are always black and white…. What a luxury that might be, but situations are complex. For example, the idea of a community putting out a Little Free Library seemed perfectly simple until I joined the ranks of other authors who are now taking advantage of digital delivery through e-publishing where the following paragraph was required to be included on the first page of my book:

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only.

This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people.

If you would like to share this book with another person,

please purchase an additional copy for each recipient.

If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it,

or it was not purchased for your use only,

then please purchase your own copy.

Thank you for respecting the hard work of this and all authors.

The facilitators of the writers workshop I have been attending this summer also stress the importance of our commitment to purchase our favorite books in support of the authors. We work for years creating a book, and our time, energy, and dedication need to be honored by a purchase. That makes perfect sense, doesn't it….

I respect Todd Bol and Rick Brooks who created the first Little Free Library in Hudson, Wisconsin. They are said to have done that "to foster community and a love of books"—both values I deeply share!

According to the website, more than 25,000 Little Free Libraries now dot driveways and front yards in all 50 states. My home state of Michigan has about 268, and Little Free Libraries are found now in 70 countries. 

Just from the authors' point of view, I think you will get behind the idea of buying a book rather than borrowing it (especially with the ease of digital delivery). The larger issue, however, is the importance of your seeing the bigger picture in every situation. 

Perhaps the best advice might be found in Stephen Covey's best-selling book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, specifically Habit #4, Think Win-Win. Covey explains that there are six paradigms of human interaction:

1. Win-Win: Both people win. Agreements or solutions are mutually beneficial and satisfying to both parties.

2. Win-Lose: “If I win, you lose.” Win-Lose people are prone to use position, power, credentials, and personality to get their way.

3. Lose-Win: “I lose, you win.” Lose-Win people are quick to please and appease, and seek strength from popularity or acceptance.

4. Lose-Lose: Both people lose. When two Win-Lose people get together—that is, when two determined, stubborn, ego-invested individuals interact—the result will be Lose-Lose.

5. Win: People with the Win mentality don’t necessarily want someone else to lose—that’s irrelevant. What matters is that they get what they want.

6. Win-Win or No Deal: If you can’t reach an agreement that is mutually beneficial, there is no deal.

This post had been almost finished when I had to shut down the computer and drive downtown to make an appointment. The # 9 Tenderness card (Angelic Messenger Cards by Dr. Meredith Lady Young-Sowers) my client drew speaks directly to this important new way we are relating in the world. 

Refuse to accept that one person is right and the other wrong. 

Speak your truth while at the same time accepting that others will see their truth more easily than yours. 

Believe in yourself enough to ask others to hear what you need to say. 

Setting up a shared personal language for relationships allows you and others to express your feelings and your beliefs while at the same time making room for others to also be as right and sure of their opinions as you are. 

Whether you buy or borrow, spend or lend, you will probably agree the things that foster community and a love of books are wonderful! Read on....

 

Raising Consciousness

When Joel and I met a woman who has trained in NLP (and DHE) for many years with Richard Bandler we spent some time sharing our history.  She asked what our plans are for teaching in the future. I summed up where I am with things by saying I do not have an interest in building a better widget, but I am very interested in raising consciousness. The very next morning, this quotation came from Gratefulness.org. It fits my thoughts exactly!

Do not be small minded. 
Do not pray for gourds and pumpkins from God,
when you should be asking for pure love 
and pure knowledge 
to dawn within every heart. 

~ Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa

 

Gourds and pumpkins are OK, but they are not the ultimate.

Every day individuals on our planet are living lives looking at the bigger picture. I was blessed to see Myra Roberts' amazing portrait of Malala. ArtPoems pairs visual artists with poets, and the synergy results in inspiring pieces that are sure to be remembered. 

Visit ArtPoems 2014 to see the portrait of Malala, and let your heart release any small mindedness as you enjoy the companion writing by Lorraine Walker Williams.

  

Make sure you are a blessing in your own life, in the lives of others, and in the life of the planet. Yes, our planet is a living organization, and it, too, benefits from your kindness, compassion, and consideration. As pure love and pure knowledge dawns within every heart, plenty of gourds and pumpkins will exist, but the world will also be filled with so much more.