6 Principles for Living an Inspiring Life
“We are not our bodies, our possessions, or
our careers. Who we are is Divine Love, and that is infinite.”
Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
Everybody has their opinions about how we should live our lives. And for
me, it’s becoming hard to know who or what to listen to. So, I found it
a tremendous relief when I came across this succinct list of 6
principles by which to live a spiritual life, because it comes from a
renowned expert, who lived a rich and rewarding life, and who inspired
many wonderful people.
Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
Dr. Dyer was the foremost exponent of the life-giving philosophy that
has inspired millions to live spiritually motivated lives. He authored
over 40 books, and propelled the 2014 movie The Shift – which testifies
to the awesome power of positive thinking – to stunning popularity.
A PhD in educational counseling, Dyer
worked as associate professor at St John’s University in New York. Later
in life, Dyer shifted gears, turning his expertise in practical
psychology to the spirituality of the human experience. And the
distilled fruit of his labors is summed up invaluably in Dyer's 6
Principles, which provide a rich and firm foundation for spiritual
nourishment.
1st Principle: “Be Independent of the Good Opinions of Others” Rather than accept what others determine
for you, telling you or advising you how best you can fulfill your
potential, you should make your decision based on your ‘own inner
calling.’ Often people have strong opinions about where you should live,
with whom you should associate, what you should do, and so on. However,
no one else but you really knows what your purpose or calling in this
life is.
2nd Principle: “Be Willing to Accept the Disapproval of Others”
If you act contrary to what your peers and
others wish, you may experience their disapproval, scorn or rejection.
Yet to be true to the first principle you must be willing to accept
their harsh over-reactions: meaning, you should not see their protests
as evidence you should disobey your own calling. Eventually, they will
respect your single-mindedness, and many will look to you for their
inspiration. This shows how important you can be, a beacon for the
world.
3rd Principle: “Don’t Die Wondering”
Don’t squander your life opportunity,
leaving your inner calling unheard and your true potential unexpressed.
Never be afraid to take the plunge, even if there is a chance you might
‘fail’. Failure won't matter if we think of life as a kind of game, a
joyous sport where we each rack up our fair share of wins and losses.
4th Principle: “Stay Detached from Outcomes
We are led to believe that we ought to set
achievable goals for ourselves and meet them. However, Dyer quotes Sage
Maharshi, saying: “There is no goal to be reached. There is nothing to
be attained. You are the self. You exist always.” So, be like a dancer,
for whom the purpose of dancing is not reaching the end of the dance,
but experiencing every step of the way. If you are outcome-focused, you
will be forever ‘out of spirit’. Contrarily, if you live in the
permanent ‘now’, you will be forever ‘in spirit’.
5th Principle: “Know That We Need Nothing/No Things to Be Inspired”
We can become so occupied with our
possessions – and our neighbors’ possessions – that we forget that the
‘objective universe is not made up of things’. Rather there are waves of
motion that stimulate ‘things’, making them appear real and essential. A
spiritual person sees beyond the impressions, living 'from the mind',
free of bodily restrictions. Oriented in this way, know that God is
present throughout the universe. Take it as your inspiration, that to
commune with God, you already have everything you need.
6th Principle: “Remember That Our Desires Won’t Arrive by Our Schedule”
Don’t be disappointed if something you
wanted fails to arrive. There may be obstacles in our path, but we have
attracted them to us, as part of our life purpose. Let overcoming them
become your desire, taking each moment as it comes. This advice speaks
to our delicate egos, which often have no truck with sudden shocks and
unexpected forks in the road. Let yourself be more like God - who
showers His rain on the just and unjust - and look upon calamity as you
look upon ‘success’.
In summary:
To live a spiritual life, listen to your inner calling,
ignoring others' misplaced advice. Be unmoved by their disapproval, they
will respect you. If you ignore this path you will have crippling
regrets. Don't worry about achieving goals, simply enjoy the journey.
Neither take heed of the illusory things of the world. Instead, retain
control of your mind and be at one with the universe. Finally, don't be
chained to your expectations. If things don’t fall out as you hoped, let
them be.