Wayne Dyer biography and quotes

Article by: Ben Janse

Last update: August 23, 2023

Wayne Dyer (Wayne Walter Dyer, May 10, 1940 – August 25, 2015) was an American author and motivational speaker. He is best known for his self-help books on personal development and spirituality. In his books he combined theories and elements from psychology, philosophy and spirituality to inspire his audience. Dr. Wayne Dyer is the author of numerous bestsellers, including ‘Your Erroneous Zones’, ‘Pulling Your Own Strings’, and ‘Change Your Thoughts – Change Your Life’.

The biography of Wayne Dyer

Wayne Dyer was born in Detroit, Michigan, the youngest of three sons of Melvin Lyle and Hazel Irene Dyer. Wayne had two brothers, David and Dennis. Father Melvin left the family early in his life, when Wayne was three years old. Mother Hazel then raised the children alone.

Wayne’s childhood was difficult. The family was in financial trouble and Wayne and his brothers had to work hard to support the family. He had several jobs, including delivering the newspaper and working at the local supermarket. He also spent several years in orphanages and foster homes.

Despite the challenges, Wayne was a strong and curious child. He was ambitious and showed great interest in reading and learning.

As a teenager, Wayne stood out in class. He was sporty and played football and participated in an athletics team.

After graduating from high school, Wayne attended Wayne State University. Here he earned a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in counseling. Ultimately, Wayne earned a Ed.D. in educational counseling from the same university.

Throughout his academic career, Wayne became interested in spirituality and personal development. He studied the works of spiritual leaders such as Swami Muktananda and Jiddu Krishnamurti. His interest in these fields would later become the center of his life’s work as a writer and speaker.

Professional Career

After earning his Ed.D. in educational counseling, Wayne began his professional teaching career at St. John’s University in New York. He found his passion in guiding and motivating his students and was appreciated for his inspiring approach.

In the 1970s, Wayne shifted his focus to writing and spreading his own ideas about motivation, personal development, and self-improvement. His first book was titled ‘Your Erroneous Zone’ and was published in 1976.

It became an instant hit. The book explored the idea of self-responsibility and encouraged readers to let go of negative beliefs and thoughts. His writing career had begun.

During the following decades, Wayne Dyer published several books on personal development and spirituality. These books are mentioned in the introductory text and listed below. The books are all aimed at urging readers to embrace their potential and make positive changes in their lives.

In addition to writing books, Wayne gave lectures and workshops worldwide. In it he mainly shared his ideas and philosophies on the aforementioned topics. He gained a reputation as a good and inspiring public speaker and was recognized as a leading figure in the field of self-development.

He was regularly seen on television and was a welcome guest on talk shows and interviews. He used the media as best he could to get his message across to an ever-growing audience. Wayne was praised for his ability to make complex spiritual topics accessible to the general public. His work has had a profound impact on the lives of people around the world who have been inspired by his message.

Personal life of Wayne Dyer

Wayne Dyer married 3 times in his life. His first wife was Judy Kuriansky. With her he had 1 daughter, Tracy. His second wife was Susan Casselman. Wayne had no children with her.

Wayne’s third wife was Marcelene Dyer. Together they had 6 children: Shane, Skye, Sommer, Serena, Sands and Saje. Marcelene and Wayne separated in 2001. After their separation, the couple got back together. They remained married until his death. Wayne Dyer passed away on August 29, 2015 in Maui, Hawaii. He turned 75 years old.

Famous quotes

“Abundance is not something we acquire. It is something we tune into.”
“Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it’s always your choice.”
“Change the way you look at things, and the things you look at change.”
“Conflict cannot survive without your participation.”
“Doing what you love is the cornerstone of having abundance in your life.”
“Don’t die with your music still inside you.”
“How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours.”
“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”
“If you’re always in a hurry, always trying to get ahead of the other guy, or someone else’s performance is what motivates you, then that person is in control of you.”
“Loving people live in a loving world. Hostile people live in a hostile world. Same world.”
“Miracles come in moments. Be ready and willing.”
“Passion is a feeling that tells you: This is the right thing to do. Nothing can stand in my way.”
“The greatest gift that you were ever given was the gift of your imagination.”
“The highest achievement of the ego is its belief in its own existence.”
“The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don’t know anything about.”
“The highest form of love is to be the protector of another person’s solitude.”
“The more you practice being grateful for the things you have, the more things you will have to be grateful for.”
“The more you see yourself as what you’d like to become, and act as if what you want is already there, the more you’ll activate those dormant forces that will collaborate to transform your dream into your reality.”
“The only limits you have are the limits you believe.”
“The only thing you can control is your own mind.”
“The state of your life is nothing more than a reflection of your state of mind.”
“True nobility isn’t about being better than anyone else; it’s about being better than you used to be.”
“What comes out of you when you are squeezed is what is inside of you.”
“What we think determines what happens to us, so if we want to change our lives, we need to stretch our minds.”
“When the choice is to be right or to be kind, always make the choice that brings peace.”
“When you dance, your purpose is not to get to a certain place on the floor. It’s to enjoy each step along the way.”
“When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself.”
“When you’re at peace with yourself and love yourself, it is virtually impossible to do things to yourself that are destructive.”
“With everything that has happened to you, you can either feel sorry for yourself or treat what has happened as a gift. Everything is either an opportunity to grow or an obstacle to keep you from growing. You get to choose.”
“You are a human being, not a human doing. Don’t equate your self-worth with how well you do things in life. You aren’t what you do.”
“You are never given a dream without also being given the power to make it true.”
“You are not a human being in search of a spiritual experience. You are a spiritual being immersed in a human experience.”
“You are not stuck where you are unless you decide to be.”
“You can never get enough of what you don’t really want.”
“You cannot be lonely if you like the person you’re alone with.”
“You don’t need to be better than anyone else, you just need to be better than you used to be.”
“You have everything you need for complete peace and total happiness right now.”
“You have within you right now, everything you need to deal with whatever the world can throw at you.”
“Your children will see what you’re all about by what you live rather than what you say.”
“Your imagination is your preview of life’s coming attractions.”

Books and Publications by Wayne Dyer et al.

2019. The Power of Manifesting: How to Use the Laws of the Universe to Get What You Want. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House.
2018. Being in Balance: 9 Principles for Creating Habits to Match Your Desires. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House.
2017. No Excuses!: How to Get Out of Your Own Way. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House.
2016. Staying on the Path. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House.
2015. The Power of Intention: Learning to Co-create Your World Your Way. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House.
2014. Memories of Heaven: Children’s Astounding Recollections of the Time Before They Came to Earth. New York: Hay House.
2013. I Can See Clearly Now. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House.
2010. Wishes Fulfilled: Mastering the Art of Manifesting. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House.
2009. The Shift: Taking Your Life from Ambition to Meaning. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House.
2008. Excuses Begone!: How to Change Lifelong, Self-Defeating Thinking Habits. New York: Hay House.
2007. Living the Wisdom of the Tao: The Complete Tao Te Ching and Affirmations. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House.
2006. Getting in the Gap: Making Conscious Contact with God Through Meditation. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House.
2005. Change Your Thoughts—Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao. New York: Hay House.
2004. Inspiration: Your Ultimate Calling. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House.
2003. The Power of Intention: Learning to Co-create Your World Your Way. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House.
2002. There’s a Spiritual Solution to Every Problem. New York: HarperCollins.
2001. Wisdom of the Ages: A Modern Master Brings Eternal Truths into Everyday Life. New York: HarperCollins.
2000. Improving Your Life: Volume 2 (Audio CD). Newport Beach, CA: ProQuest.
1999. Improving Your Life: Volume 1 (Audio CD). Newport Beach, CA: ProQuest.
1998. Wisdom of the Ages: A Modern Master Brings Eternal Truths into Everyday Life. New York: HarperCollins.
1997. 10 Secrets for Success and Inner Peace. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House.
1996. Manifest Your Destiny: The Nine Spiritual Principles for Getting Everything You Want. New York: HarperCollins.
1995. Wishes Fulfilled: Mastering the Art of Manifesting. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House.
1994. The Shift: Taking Your Life from Ambition to Meaning. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House.
1993. Excuses Begone!: How to Change Lifelong, Self-Defeating Thinking Habits. New York: Hay House.
1992. Change Your Thoughts—Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao. New York: Hay House.
1991. Inspiration: Your Ultimate Calling. New York: Hay House.
1990. The Power of Intention: Learning to Co-create Your World Your Way. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House.
1988. Wisdom of the Ages: A Modern Master Brings Eternal Truths into Everyday Life. New York: HarperCollins.
1987. There’s a Spiritual Solution to Every Problem. New York: HarperCollins.
1986. 10 Secrets for Success and Inner Peace. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House.
1985. Your Sacred Self: Making the Decision to Be Free. New York: HarperCollins.
1984. Manifest Your Destiny: The Nine Spiritual Principles for Getting Everything You Want. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House.
1983. The Power of Intention: Learning to Co-create Your World Your Way. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House.
1982. Wisdom of the Ages: 60 Days to Enlightenment. New York: HarperCollins.
1981. Real Magic: Creating Miracles in Everyday Life. New York: HarperCollins.
1980. Reflections in the Light: Daily Thoughts and Affirmations. New York: Harper & Row.
1979. You’ll See It When You Believe It. New York: Harper & Row.
1978. Gifts from Eykis. New York: William Morrow and Company.
1977. Pulling Your Own Strings. New York: Avon Books.
1976. Your Erroneous Zones. New York: Funk & Wagnalls.

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Original publication date: 06/25/2023 | Last update: 06/25/2023

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Article by:

Ben Janse

Ben Janse is a young professional working at ToolsHero as Content Manager. He is also an International Business student at Rotterdam Business School where he focusses on analyzing and developing management models. Thanks to his theoretical and practical knowledge, he knows how to distinguish main- and side issues and to make the essence of each article clearly visible.