Published in 2004 by Hay House, The Power of Intention offers a compelling case for how aligning with a higher sense of purpose can profoundly impact your personal and professional life. This book speaks clearly to those who feel they’ve ticked all the boxes: career, education, family, yet still feel a subtle disconnection or lack of fulfilment.
Wayne Dyer, often regarded as the “father of motivation,” brings a spiritual yet grounded voice to personal development. Rather than pushing hustle or performance, Dyer introduces intention as a force in the universe we can access, not something we create. His work shifts the conversation from self-improvement to self-alignment.
Author Background
Dr. Wayne W. Dyer held a doctorate in counselling psychology and taught at St. John’s University before becoming a full-time author and speaker. He rose to prominence with Your Erroneous Zones (1976), which remains one of the best-selling books of all time in the self-help category. Over the decades, Dyer authored over 40 books, many of which blend Eastern philosophy, modern psychology, and personal spirituality. His deep personal exploration and public transparency shaped The Power of Intention into more than just theory, it’s a lived philosophy.
Summary of The Power of Intention
The book is divided into sections that build a structured journey into understanding and using intention:
- The concept of intention as a universal field of energy
- Seven faces of intention: creativity, kindness, love, beauty, expansion, abundance, and receptivity
- Obstacles to intention, including ego, fear, and disconnection
- Practical guidance to stay aligned with intention throughout life
- Living an inspired life through service, authenticity, and trust in the universal flow
Each chapter introduces principles that challenge linear thinking, encouraging the reader to shift from doing to being.
Key Concepts and Strategies
At the heart of Dyer’s work is this idea: Intention is not something we do, it’s something we connect to. This means we’re not forcing success, confidence, or joy into existence; we’re allowing them to emerge by aligning with this higher field of energy.
He breaks this down into actionable shifts:
- Let go of ego-driven goals and align with a sense of service or contribution.
- Replace fear with trust in a benevolent universe.
- Practice visualisation, meditation, and affirmations not as magic tricks but as means of returning to this aligned state.
This message resonates deeply with women in high responsibility roles who are tired of controlling every outcome and are open to a more sustainable, inner-led path to fulfilment.
Practical Applications
Dyer doesn’t leave the reader with abstract ideas. For example:
- When you’re feeling disengaged at work, he invites you to ask, “How can I serve here?” rather than “How can I win here?”
- If you’re struggling with confidence, he emphasises that kindness toward others taps into the same field of intention that fuels your own courage.
- In moments of stress, instead of spiralling into overanalysis, he encourages a “return to source” through breath, stillness, and self-compassion.
For someone juggling executive demands and family responsibilities, these aren’t just nice ideas, they’re mental resets that can be implemented in real time.
Powerful Quotes from The Power of Intention
“You do not attract what you want. You attract what you are.”
“Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change.”
“Intentions compressed into words enfold magical power.”
“Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it’s always your choice.”
Personal Insights from Dr. Dyer
Dyer candidly shares his experience with leukemia, relationships, and spiritual awakenings. His storytelling doesn’t position him as a guru, but as a fellow traveller. For readers who feel pressure to always ‘have it together,’ his vulnerability offers permission to be both powerful and unfinished.
One moment that stands out is his reflection on being abandoned by his father. Rather than clinging to resentment, he eventually visits his father’s grave, not to blame, but to forgive. That level of release models emotional intelligence and depth many professional women crave but rarely have space to explore.
Conclusion
The Power of Intention brings together wisdom, spirituality, and psychology in a way that’s digestible and highly applicable. It’s not a tactical manual for career advancement, but it does something more profound: it reconnects readers with who they are beneath the labels.
For women who are brilliant at strategy but disconnected from their own joy, Dyer’s message offers a roadmap back to inner alignment. With its mix of science, soul, and storytelling, the book invites readers to redefine what success means, from the inside out.