I have to admit, when I first started reading Excuses Begone!, I was getting irritated that Wayne had a quote on every page. I thought to myself, " If I wanted to read someone else's ideas, I would buy their book." I started wondering why Wayne was using other people's ideas as a crutch to support his own thoughts and suggestions to assist people to take a risk and do what they've always wanted to do with their lives.
When I open a Wayne Dyer book, I want HIS thoughts and ideas. I love his stories and personal examples of how people have used the principles and practices in his book
to change their lives for the better. Wayne Dyer's strength is his storytelling which gives his audience permission to turn a corner and envision the potential their life holds.
At this point in his career, he doesn't need to support his position with other authors. He has arrived. He is a great thinker, teacher and communicator. If Rumi, Lao Tzu or Thoreau were alive today, would they quote Wayne Dyer? They might refer to him on occasion but they would allow their own thoughts and ideas to stand on their own.
The good news is that as the book progresses, I get more of Wayne Dyer but not always less of other people which is my chief issue with this book. I loved the story about his daughter Serena wanting to present a potential cooking show to the networks and not knowing how to get it accomplished. Wayne tells her to, " Contemplate yourself surrounded by the circumstances you want to create." As a result, Wayne tells us about the synchronistic events that occurred which demonstrate the Power of Contemplation to his daughter and to us--the reader. Wayne says that, " When you engage in the act of active contemplation, you set in motion a powerful force--you allow yourself to be lived by the great mind or Tao." The concept is something we've heard Wayne talk about before but the story is new and refreshing.
One of Wayne 's suggestions-- to eliminate excuses and change the way you look at your life and "Live in a Helpful, Supportive Universe." He tells the reader that, " I implore you to see the universe as a warm and supportive one before you begin to apply the Excuses Begone paradigm, because you'll look for evidence to support this view. When you believe that the universe is friendly, you see friendly people. You look for circumstances to work in your favor. You expect good fortune flowing into your life. In other words, you aren't looking for excuses!" I thought that was a fantastic suggestion and have actually seen changes in my own life when I changed my view of " other people and my potential for good things to happen in my life." Given the nightly news lately, it's a something we all desperately need to start practicing.
I also loved his suggestion to " Use the Power of Affirmations" to help change subconscious programming. He says that, " You can readjust your willingness meter to avow that you're open to seeing an alternative vision by affirming: I am worthy of attracting unlimited abundance and prosperity into my life, regardless of what life experiences have gone before me. I only reinforce and contemplate image that are in harmony with this vision." Wayne effectively uses affirmations throughout the book to direct the reader to a shift in thought patterns. The use of affirmations is not a new idea, but is nicely reinforced in this book.
I recommend watching Wayne Dyer's PBS Special Excuses Begone then use the book to move you through a series of questions and suggestions to flesh out your next adventure or get your motivated to get back on your life's path. If you can be patient and work your way through the minefield of quotes and some stories we've heard many times before, I think you can find gems of original Wayne Dyer thinking here and some good solid direction and inspiration to get you moving in the right direction.
Copyright Robin Rousseau. All rights reserved. Robin Rousseau reviews books and writes about spiritual metaphysical topics on her website www.explorebeyondtheusual.com Robin Rousseau also submits her writing to scribd.com
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