The Power of Intention by Wayne Dyer is a culmination of years of research on the ability of the mind to determine our reality. It serves as a comprehensive spiritual guide to help reevaluate your current reality and offers some great tools to manifest your desires.

According to Dyer, one major roadblock to activating the energy of intention is the ego. In the book, he highlights what he calls the six beliefs of ego.

Belief #1       

I am what I have. My possessions define me.

In this age of digital media, we're blasted 24/7 with strategic messaging that reinforces the belief that we are what we own.

Targeted advertising alerts us to problems we didn't even realize we had and lures us into buying the "solution." Our social media feeds are flooded with images of amazing vacations, epic birthdays, romantic date nights, fun social gatherings, flawless faces, and sculpted bodies. Everything looks deceptively perfect and entices us to buy more of what we don't need.

Sure, we want to live the glamorous life portrayed by friends and influencers on social media, but do we ever question if it's what we need or want? With an insatiable desire for more, we can't seem to find fulfillment in what we have, and, as a society, we're the least happy we've ever been.

Dave Ramsay, author, financial advisor, and media personality, says, "We buy things we don't need, with money we don't have, to impress people we don't like."

Truth: What you own does not define your worth.

Belief #2       

I am what I do. My achievements define me.

Have you ever been to a party or a networking event, and someone asks what you do for a living, and you feel that pressure to define your profession or job in a way that affirms you are worthy of respect - or that you at least belong? Maybe you feel tempted to exaggerate your achievements or position. You might feel uncomfortable revealing what you do for a living because it opens you up to judgment and makes you feel inferior.

Years ago, I painted houses to pay the bills while attending university. Back then, I would never admit I painted houses in social settings. It was far less humiliating to say I was a university student. 

Our society places enormous value on achievements, so the pressure is real. But, the more we bow to that pressure, the more intense it becomes.

Truth: Your occupation and achievements do not define your worth.

Belief #3       

I am what others think of me. My reputation defines me.

What do your family, church, or community think about you? How about your colleagues and friends? If other people don't see or acknowledge who you are as a person or overlook your skills and talents, does it mean you don't have value?

You'll never be enough when you allow other people to determine your worth. Remember, opinions and judgments are formed by dysfunction - skewed perceptions, personal experiences, and emotional triggers. That means other people's opinions are simply not your problem.

Truth: The opinions of others do not define your worth.

Belief #4      

I am separate from everyone. My body defines me as alone.

Over the last decade, an epidemic of loneliness has plagued the western world. Contrary to popular opinion, it's not just a by-product of the pandemic. It seems ironic that we are more connected (by technology) than ever, yet a whopping 48% of North Americans suffer from loneliness!

The technology connecting us to loved ones far away also distracts us from those physically close. We avoid interactions with strangers or even the people we love and, instead, turn to our devices. Sometimes, it's just easier to watch cat videos. #catsoftiktok😼🐈‍⬛

Because of how we communicate with each other today, we're quickly losing the connection and community that have sustained our species for millennia. My students argue that, with evolving technology, our communication will be more efficient and effective. But if 48% of us feel lonely, technology is most certainly failing us.

Truth: You are worthy of community and connection.

Belief #5       

I am separate from all that is missing in my life. My life space is disconnected from my desires.

Do you feel happy, or does it feel like something's missing?

Maybe you don't make enough money or enjoy the work you do. You might be dissatisfied with your relationship or dream about living somewhere else.

Even though my life has always been full of great people and good things, I once believed the life I wanted was just out of reach. At the end of every day, I'd think, "Today would have been perfect if only…." I felt increasingly discontent the more I focussed on what was missing.

Aware that I was sabotaging my happiness with this mindset, I decided to shift my awareness by incorporating a daily gratitude practice. Every night before I went to sleep, I listed everything that was precious to me about the day.

A few years later, I was in the middle of a painful divorce, estranged from my kids, and living alone in a tent on the outskirts of Montreal. I was attending an Al-Anon meeting less than a week before the Thanksgiving holiday, and the moderator suggested we bring a list of things we were grateful for the following week. Amazingly, my list was as long as my arm! A consistent gratitude practice helped me highlight my life's blessings, even if my circumstances are not ideal.

My advice? Don't focus on what's missing from your relationship, lifestyle, job, or bank account! Instead, be appreciative of what's already yours. The missing pieces will fall into place when the time is right.

Truth: You are worthy of contentment and joy.

Belief #6       

I am separate from God. My life depends on God's assessment of my worthiness.

Do you believe you alone can create and sustain your life? If so, what happens when you're no longer in control?

  You or someone you love gets sick.

  You lose the only career you've ever known.

  You long for children but are unable to have them.

  Your marriage ends despite your best efforts to save it.

   You lose all of your investments when the market crashes.

Where do you turn when the most competent person in your orbit (you) is out of answers?

Truth: You are worthy of acceptance and support from something bigger than you.

Kick Limiting Beliefs to the Curb!

The six beliefs of the ego will try to dominate your thoughts and convince you that you need them to survive. When you allow the ego to take over, there is immense pressure to meet or exceed every expectation, which is how the ego dominates.

⚠️ WARNING: Limiting beliefs will intensify when you try to replace them, and you'll find it harder than ever to break free. But that is the perfect time to push forward! 

Yes, you'll feel vulnerable and uncomfortable, and that's precisely where you need to be.

3 Crucial Steps to Put You Back in the Driver's Seat

When your thoughts are limiting or self-defeating, recognize them as ego and immediately do the following:

1. Surrender: The situation is happening for you to help you grow. You don't need to change it or make it into something it's not. Let go of the outcome.
2. Discern: Accept what you can't control and acknowledge what you can.
3. Act: Choose a different reaction or response in the moment. Stay present. Think about what you can do right now.

Learning to recognize egoic beliefs with present-moment awareness is a process that helps us create a life of purpose and is the essence of our human experience on earth.