In this post, I remember Wayne Dyer, one of my greatest teachers. (Edition 1:7)

Many years ago, a work colleague was driving me crazy. He was so focused on minutiae we spent many hours talking about things that really made no difference and did not help us in any way to get things done and achieve our goals. I am typically calm and collected, especially in professional settings, but he managed to question enough small details and waste enough time that I finally blew my stack. Even though I was justified in responding, I let my emotions take control and I did not communicate my message properly. He did not bother me after that day, but I still felt badly about allowing my temper to take control.

I shared the incident with my father-in-law, and he said he had something he believed would help. He went to his car and returned with a six-cassette tape program by Dr. Wayne Dyer, How to be a No-Limit Person. That’s how long ago it was…we were still listening to cassette tapes. I listened repeatedly to Dr. Dyer, loved his messages and delivery, and soon moved on to his other programs. I heeded his advice and consistently read and reread his books and listen multiple times to his programs to this day. I have learned so much from this man and consider him one of my greatest teachers in life, first about self-reliance and self-actualization, and then about spirituality, enlightenment, and manifestation.

Sadly, Wayne passed away on August 30, 2015. That was a difficult year for me. Not only did one of my great mentors die, but my brother, Carl, was then terminally ill with ALS and passed away in December, three and a half months later. Tough times, for sure, yet Dr. Dyer’s calm voice continued to encourage me. We are nearing the nine year anniversary of the loss of these two great men who were near and dear to me. I met Wayne a few times and corresponded with him. And of course, I grew up idolizing my older brother who was so instrumental and important to me from my childhood to today.

In recognition of the great effect they had and continue to have on me, I am thinking about one of Wayne Dyer’s most famous quotes: “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” That’s what happened in my ongoing interactions with my old colleague. He tamed down a bit after my verbal attack, but couldn’t help himself and still nagged from time to time about things that in the great scheme of things did not really matter. For my part, I changed the way I looked at him and his actions. Rather than get upset or mad, I smiled and told myself this irritation, too, will pass, and it did. I gave him less airtime and let the minutiae go in one ear and out of the other. And guess what? We focused on larger agenda items and he and I were both better because of it.

So, I lift my thanks to both Wayne and Carl for coming to my rescue many times. And I thank Bill for introducing me to Wayne Dyer way back when. It has made a tremendous difference.

REMEMBER…

◊ Wayne Dyer taught me so many different things, notably that even though I cannot control what is happening around me, I can certainly control what is happening inside me. He was an advocate for seeing the Divine in everything and sharing that miracles not only happen; they occur every day when we are ready and alert to them. 

◊ Spend some time on www.drwaynedyer.com and you will find lessons that apply to you, too.

◊ Visit www.davidajolley.com for additional blog posts and other interesting content.