The passing of Mr Motivation
I was sad to hear last week of the passing of Wayne Dyer. As a Hay House author I had met him and heard him speak several times and was always struck by his humble yet inspirational persona. He has regularly been listed as one of the 10 most spiritually influential people in the world and last year Mind Body Spirit magazine ranked him at number eight.
Wayne was a best-selling author of over 40 books including his first book Your Erroneous Zones, which is believed to be one of the best-selling books of all time, (an estimated 35 million copies sold around the world).
His philosophy mixed new thought self-actualisation theory with non-denominational spirituality. He was anti ‘religious institution’ but after hearing him speak I absolutely knew that despite his teachings being eschewed by some Christians he did indeed hold Jesus as an icon.
Hay House said of Wayne: “He offered a way of being that was at the heart of change, a way of experiencing the world so that your focus is internal — on the I AM — and connected to the Source energy of creation. When we move from ‘what’s in it for me’ to genuinely putting our energy and attention into visualising ourselves in a capacity of serving, the doors to fulfilment open for us, when we extend ourselves in a spirit of giving, helping, or loving, we are acting as God acts.”
People giving tribute to him included Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGenres. Fellow motivational speaker Tony Robbins also wrote on Twitter: “Wayne Dyer has passed away today. For those of us who loved him it’s sad, but he knew death was a transition. We send love for his next adventure.” Many tributes mentioned that Wayne had no fear of dying and I must confess I envy him that.
Many fans called him Mr Motivation: one thing Wayne was brilliant at was helping people to overcome feelings of guilt and inadequacy and get started on what they wanted to do, where they wanted their light to shine in the world.
One of the phrases made famous by Wayne was: “Don’t die with the music still in you.” He certainly didn’t and his huge catalogue of work remains to inspire us. It’s a great reminder to us all if there’s something you have always wanted to do, be it, write a book, start a charity, climb a mountain, if not now… when?