The Power of Intention Book Summary - The Power of Intention Book explained in key points
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The Power of Intention summary

Wayne W. Dyer

Learning to Co-create Your World Your Way

4.3 (452 ratings)
20 mins

Brief summary

The Power of Intention by Wayne W. Dyer is a spiritual self-help book about aligning our thoughts and actions with the universe to manifest our desires and live a fulfilling life. It emphasizes the power of positive thinking and visualization in achieving our goals.

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    The Power of Intention
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    Intention can be harnessed by human beings and other life forces.

    How would you define intention? Conventional wisdom tells us that intention is a strong determination, or will, to achieve a particular result. But forget conventional wisdom – because intention is much more than that. And that’s what makes it so powerful. 

    In fact, intention doesn’t emanate from within you, and it is not under your control. Instead, intention is a powerful force within the universe. It’s a potent energy field that surrounds you and is inside you, and that can neither be created nor destroyed. 

    The key message here is: Intention can be harnessed by human beings and other life forces. 

    You need only to look at the story of your own creation to know that intention is a powerful force that dwells within you. 

    Consider the moment of your conception, when a sperm met an egg. Right from that moment, intention inhabited your embryo. Already you were predestined to have certain facial features and a certain body shape; perhaps you were intended to one day grow old and develop wrinkles. That is the unstoppable power of intention.

    And, just like you, every other living being on Earth contains the power of intention – from the mighty lion to the humble acorn. 

    If you split open the acorn, you won’t be able to see an oak tree nestling inside it. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t there. That little acorn has every intention of growing into a big, tall tree. 

    Intention shapes us humans, too, and guides us toward our true potential – but only if we are willing to let it. Because humans have free will, we can choose whether or not to follow the path of intention in a way that the acorn can’t. All too often we choose not to, and we become confused about our true intention. 

    The problem lies in a uniquely human trait: the ego. 

    Your ego equips you with certain faulty beliefs. It makes you think that you are what you have achieved – that your achievements define you. Your ego convinces you that you are equal only to the sum of your possessions, or that you are only as good as other people think you are. When you listen to your ego, you stop listening to intention. Get rid of your ego, and let intention drive you toward your true purpose. 

    In this way, you, too, can be like the little acorn and confidently grow into the robust, unshakable being you were always meant to be. 

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    What is The Power of Intention about?

    What’s it about?

    The Power of Intention (2004) explores the connection between human beings and the creative potential of God and the universe. This feel-good guide to spirituality examines the true meaning of intention and explains how we can all live more purposeful lives. 

    Best quote from The Power of Intention

    If we focus on whats ugly, we attract more ugliness into our thoughts, and then into our emotions, and ultimately into our lives.

    —Wayne W. Dyer
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    Who should read The Power of Intention?

    Who’s it for?

    • Those looking for greater meaning in life
    • Spiritual souls seeking fresh wisdom
    • Fans of New Age philosophy

    About the Author

    About the author

    Dr. Wayne W. Dyer was an American author with a focus on self-help and spirituality. Dyer’s first book, Your Erroneous Zones (1976), became one of the best-selling books of all time; it has sold more than 100 million copies.

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