The Power of Intention - Q&A

In his latest special for public television, Dr. Wayne Dyer: The Power of Intention, best-selling author and speaker Dr. Wayne Dyer offers a new definition of the concept of intention and explains how every individual can connect to his or her own infinite potential. With unique interpretations of the scientific and metaphysical philosophies of history's greatest thinkers, Dr. Dyer has inspired countless people to enjoy richer, more spiritual lives. In the following interview, he talks about the program and the book, and his own life's path.

Q:  You describe "the power of intention" as the driving force in the universe. What drove you to write this book and tape this special for public TV?

A:  I was, quite simply, inspired. I think that there's a difference between motivation and inspiration. Motivation is when you get an idea yourself and then you put motion to it, motive to it... and you feel like a driving force to go out and accomplish something. And people have told me my entire lifetime that I am highly motivated. In fact, some people call me "the father of motivation," which is strange. I have eight children and I don't need another one called motivation!

Inspiration is the opposite of motivation. It's what happens when an idea gets a hold of you from someplace that you can't even identify and you feel almost compelled to let that idea carry you. That's what happened with this book and this show, and I'm in awe of how it came about. Intention is thought of in this program and in this book as a field of energy that we connect to, which will carry us, rather than something that we will do. I was the observer to watching the book write itself, and to watching all the forces that came together to bring this PBS program together - the right people showed up, the right funding showed up, the right place to do it showed up, the right venue, the right way of getting the audience there. Everything just flowed. That's what happens when you get inspired.

Q:  How has the "power of intention" worked in your own life?

A:  It has brought the right people into my life; it has allowed me to recover from a heart attack; it has allowed me to keep myself in shape; it has allowed me to have divine relationships; and it allowed my relationships with my children to improve dramatically. And everything about it has been in a very positive and loving vein.

Q:  What's the single most important thing a person can do every day to invoke their power of intention?

A:  They have to repeat the five key words: I want to feel good; or I intend to feel good. Remember that feeling good is the same things as saying I want to feel spirit, or I want to be in harmony with source - and this is a source of well being; it is a source of abundance; it is a source of healing; it is a source of kindness; it is a source of love.

You can call my cell phone and you will hear the message, "This is Wayne Dyer that you've reached and I want to feel good. If your message is intended to do anything other than that then you've reached the wrong number and I suggest you call Dr. Phil." It's a funny sort of message, but I really want to feel good and I remind myself of that all the time. It can take away a stomach ache, it can take away fear, it can take away depression and it can take away scarcity, and it can take away lousy relationships. It can take anything away anything �?So, anytime during the day when you feel out of sorts, when things aren't going the way you want them to go �?when you are a little depressed, when you feel perhaps anxious or when you're afraid, you can repeat to yourself, "I want to feel good; I want to feel good." What it does is allow you to reconnect... to be in harmony with your source.

Q:  This program is so uplifting - and it has more humor and laughter than your previous specials - are you "letting your hair down" so to speak?

A:  I'm able to laugh at everything, even losing my hair. Humor has always been a very important part of my life - and I've always been able to see the sunny side of life and in different things. I think it's a part of feeling good. If you want to feel good, you want to laugh. Remember, you can't be depressed and laugh at the same time. It's impossible. The more laughter we can have in our lives, the richer and less stressed and happier we will be.

Q:  You've committed so much time to public television and its viewers - why do you feel so strongly about public broadcasting?

A:  I think there's no better place on the TV dial than public television. The television sets that everybody has in their homes are really just energy systems. And when we allow into our homes low energy, negative energy, violent energy, we exacerbate that in our lives, and in the lives in the people in our community, and in our country and in our world and in our universe. But... negative [programming] isn't something that you see on public television. On public TV you see something that is enriching and uplifting and I believe that we can use this medium and these frequencies that public television has been granted to help raise the energy and consequently make very dramatic positive shifts in our lives.

Q:  What programs do you watch on TV?

A:  Well, I love sports, and I watch sports, but I particularly love pledge time - that's my favorite time on public television. You get to see all of the wonderful concerts and all of the great educational shows and the travel shows and so forth. I have eight children and they have been raised on Barney and Sesame Street. Public TV has been a staple in their lives. I just the other night watched an entire three-hour show on Abraham Lincoln that was just absolutely fascinating - a six-part series on slavery in America. It was very compelling television. Anytime that there's a special on of any kind, especially on these kinds of ideas that can transform our country, I'm watching them. I also watch Jim Lehrer every night. It's the only news I watch. It's the only news program that offers an intelligent and balanced point of view.

Q:  You will be visiting 14 PBS stations this March�?and they love having you. How many stations have you visited since you started doing these visits six years ago?

A:  When March is concluded I believe it will be 133 station visits in support of public television in the last five years.

Q:  That's a very, very large commitment of time, and travel and hotel rooms in support of public television. What have you learned about public television and its viewers through these visits?

A:  I've learned that America is a place that is willing to support programs that support higher consciousness and spirituality and that raise our energy levels. America is a country that is filled with people who want to grow, who want to become more enlightened, who want to improve the quality of their lives and who want to feel closer to their source - closer to God, or Buddha, or Mohammed, to whomever or whatever you feel is your source - without making it into a religious thing. The evidence of their support is in the very large percentage of people who watch and send in their dollars in support of the programs I present on public television.

Q:  You've taken a unique path through your career, and you've shared many personal stories and experiences in your books, lectures and shows. What work or achievement stands out?

A:  You know, I believe that this show on the power of intention and the creation of this book are really the crowning achievements of my life. I'm 63 years old and I've written 25 books and traveled all over the world and spoken to hundreds of thousands if not millions of people. I don't think there's anything I'm more proud of or that I think is going to make more of an impact than this book or this program. I believe it will be a real vehicle for transformation in our world and in our times. I couldn't be prouder of it.

Q:  What is the most important lesson you learned along the path you've taken that you might not have learned if you'd taken another?

A:  The lesson that stands out for me is that true nobility is not about being better than anyone else -- it's about being better than you used to be. One thing I know about myself in all aspects of life is that I'm better than I used to be in every regard... as a writer, speaker, husband, father, lecturer, and as a man. When I look back at some of the things I said and did 25 years ago, I wonder who that person was. I've been traversing a path of growth for as long as I can remember and I believe I will do that until my last breath.

Q:  What's on the horizon for Wayne Dyer?

A:  I have no idea. I go where I'm sent. I say what I'm told to say. I listen to that inner voice and wherever it takes me is where I'll go.

Q:  And if I can borrow my last question from James Lipton and Bernard Pivot, what would you like to hear your co-creator say to you when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

A:  Go back and do it again.

Q:  There is much in "The Power of Intention" about healing and forgiveness and empowerment. What message would you give to the people of New York, and really any one who is personally impacted by violence in America, the war and other tragedies of today?

A:  The answers are all the same regardless of whether you live in New York, Afghanistan, Iraq or Columbia or anywhere in the world today. The basis of the answer is in the little man we named the City of San Francisco after. Francesco [Saint Francis of Assisi], who lived back in the 13th Century, said where there is hatred you have to send love; where there is doubt you have to send faith; where there is injury you have to send pardon... The answer to the problems we face personally and as a society is in being able to bring a higher, more loving, more spiritual energy to whatever it is we confront. When we do, slowly, inch-by-inch, we will become a better society, a better people, and a better world. And I think that is happening.