You'll See It When You Believe It

You'll See It When You Believe It Plot Summary

Introduction

I remember the day my perspective on life changed forever. Standing in a bookstore, exhausted from chasing success and validation, I randomly picked up a book that promised transformation. As I read, something profound shifted within me - the realization that I had been living my life based on what I could see rather than what I could believe. For years, I had waited for evidence before belief, for proof before commitment, for certainty before action. That day, I learned the powerful truth that the process works in reverse: we must first believe, then we will see. This principle of believing before seeing lies at the heart of personal transformation. Wayne Dyer explores this concept through captivating personal stories and universal principles that have helped millions reconsider their approach to life. From his own remarkable journey of forgiveness at his father's grave to his insights on the power of thought, oneness, abundance, detachment, synchronicity, and forgiveness, Dyer offers a roadmap for anyone seeking to move beyond their current limitations. His message is clear: transformation isn't about changing external circumstances but shifting our internal perspective. As we learn to trust in the unseen, to harness the power of thought, and to live from a place of abundance rather than scarcity, we begin to experience life in a profoundly different way - not as passive observers but as active co-creators of our reality.

Chapter 1: The Power of Thought: Rewriting Our Life Stories

As a young boy, Wayne Dyer would sit alone watching The Tonight Show, starring Steve Allen. While other children his age were asleep, he would visualize himself being a guest on the show. In his mind, he would practice conversations with Steve Allen, editing his responses and working on routines. These mental rehearsals were so vivid that he would tell his brothers and friends what he planned to say when he appeared on the show. They humored him, considering him just a kid with a wild imagination. Years later, after leaving the security of his university position to pursue his writing career, Dyer's book "Your Erroneous Zones" became a bestseller. One day, he received a call from The Tonight Show. Howard Papush, a staff member, had been given a copy of Dyer's book at a party and read it on his flight back to Los Angeles. Within days, Dyer was invited for a pre-interview. Shortly after, he made his first appearance on the show. Through a remarkable series of events, including a preempted broadcast and follow-up invitations, Dyer ended up making three Tonight Show appearances in an eleven-day period. Standing in the hallway before his first appearance, Dyer noticed someone using the telephone next to him. It was Steve Allen, the very man he had imagined talking to countless times as a young boy. The visualization had come full circle in a way he could never have planned. As Henry David Thoreau wrote, "If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours." What makes this story remarkable is not just the fulfillment of a childhood dream but the understanding that our thoughts shape our reality. Dyer discovered that the world responds not to what we can see but to what we can believe. Our thoughts are not merely passive responses to the world around us; they are creative forces that shape our experiences. When we shift our inner images, our outer world begins to align with those new patterns. This is the fundamental principle of personal transformation - recognizing that we can rewrite our life stories not by changing external circumstances first, but by changing the internal narratives that create those circumstances.

Chapter 2: Oneness: Discovering Our Connection to Everything

While running through his neighborhood one day, Dyer noticed another runner about thirty yards ahead of him. He asked himself, "How can I possibly be connected to that being, whom I've never seen before and don't know from Adam and yet who seems to be doing the same thing I am doing?" Then he remembered a different perspective. He thought about his feet moving one in front of the other, and all of the microscopic life-forms that exist within his body - organisms that will never see one another yet are inextricably connected and essential to make up his being. He decided to project himself back far enough mentally, and realized that thirty yards in physical distance was absolutely nothing in an endless universe measured in light-years. The other runner was no farther away from him than the microbe in his eye was from the one in his pancreas. For the first time in his life, Dyer saw himself as genuinely connected to someone who previously seemed separated from him. It became crystal-clear that regardless of where any of us is on this globe, given that the world is round, it is impossible to choose sides. We are literally all part of this being that we showed up in. This realization coincided with Dyer receiving a letter from Mariam Abdollahi in Iran. An English-speaking person there had translated several of Dyer's books into Farsi and distributed them widely. Mariam, the translator's niece, wrote to tell him that his books had made a remarkable impact on her. She began writing regularly, sending gifts for his children - tapestries that hung in their home, books about peace and love. She showed him another aspect of the people caught in a cycle of international conflict. One Friday afternoon, Dyer received a long-distance telephone call from Tehran, and there was Mariam, weeping in joy over the audio and video tapes he had sent her. The oneness of it all hit him dramatically. As he listened to this woman from a country often portrayed as an enemy to his own, he realized how impossible it is to choose sides on a circle. Her letter described how she celebrated receiving his package, inviting friends and family to share in her joy. She wrote of their listening to his tapes together late into the night, finding in his words a connection that transcended national boundaries and political conflicts. This experience teaches us that our perceived separateness is an illusion - a misperception that causes tremendous suffering in our world. When we view ourselves as disconnected fragments rather than expressions of one unified whole, we create artificial divisions that lead to conflict and isolation. The truth is that we are all cells in the body of humanity, each playing our unique role while remaining fundamentally connected to the whole. Recognizing this oneness doesn't diminish our individuality; rather, it enhances it by placing it within the context of a greater meaning. As we awaken to this interconnectedness, we naturally move toward more compassionate, cooperative, and harmonious ways of living.

Chapter 3: Abundance: Breaking Free from Scarcity Thinking

Bobbe Branch, a dear friend of Dyer's from Wenatchee, Washington, was a talented singer and songwriter who dreamed of producing an album of her songs. Despite her exceptional talent, she was convinced she lacked the financial resources to make this happen. In virtually all areas of her life, she had mastered principles of abundance, yet when it came to her career, she continually focused on what was missing. She operated from a scarcity mentality when it came to money and performing in front of an audience. Dyer invited Bobbe to sing at some of his speaking engagements. Despite her fears, she performed beautifully to standing ovations and began focusing on what she could do rather than what she felt was impossible. The more she thought about singing in front of an audience, the more that expanded in her life, and after a year she was accepting singing engagements. Then came the big challenge: viewing herself from a prosperity perspective. She inquired about the cost to produce an album with one of the finest arrangers in the Northwest. The total was more money than she had ever accumulated in her life. Dyer encouraged her to focus on prosperity and never allow a "lack" thought into her consciousness. One evening, she called him excitedly, saying, "I've been thinking about nothing else but having that money at my disposal. I never let in a scarcity thought." She had conceived the idea of asking fifteen people to invest one thousand dollars each in her music. To her astonishment, her first potential investor immediately agreed. Within three days, she had created investment portfolios and signed up all the necessary investors. Within two months, she produced her album, "Happiness Is the Way." She has since repaid almost all investors and gone into a second printing of the album. This story illuminates how our focus determines our reality. Abundance isn't something we acquire; it's something we tune into by shifting our consciousness. When we operate from scarcity, constantly dwelling on what we lack, we create more of that experience. The universe responds not to our desires but to our deepest beliefs and expectations. Bobbe's transformation came when she stopped seeing herself as someone who couldn't afford to produce an album and began seeing herself as someone worthy of support and success. This wasn't merely positive thinking—it was a fundamental realignment of her identity and self-concept. The lesson here transcends material wealth. True abundance is a state of being that recognizes we are already complete, already whole. It's not about getting more but appreciating and maximizing what we already have. When we approach life from this perspective, we naturally attract more opportunities, resources, and support. The paradox is that the less desperately we need something, the more freely it tends to flow into our lives.

Chapter 4: Detachment: Finding Freedom in Letting Go

For years, Dyer's friend Joanna had been working as a flight attendant for a major airline. Despite having built sixteen years of seniority, she was deeply dissatisfied with her job. Whenever they talked, she expressed her love of books and ideas, and her attraction to the publishing field. However, she wouldn't consider changing careers because of the perceived low pay in publishing and the necessity of moving to New York. She continued flying because the benefits were good, the hours manageable, and she couldn't imagine giving up her seniority toward a retirement that was twenty years away. Recognizing her exceptional skills, Dyer began hiring Joanna to do some work for him. She started by typing manuscripts for magazine articles and doing editing work. Eventually, she became his personal editor, working on his books, editing, rewriting, line editing, typing, researching, and becoming indispensable to his writing process. Yet she continued flying, and her dissatisfaction intensified. She injured herself seriously on three different occasions, all requiring time off from flying. Illness became a feature of her life. She tried relocating overseas, but continued to have personal and physical difficulties. Then the breakthrough happened. During a phone conversation about details of a manuscript, Joanna had an epiphany. She realized that she was experiencing what Dyer had described years earlier as "doing what you love." She had gradually identified her exhilarated feeling when working on his books, which contrasted sharply with her feelings about being a flight attendant. That morning, while immersed in thoughts, books, and his words, she saw the mailman deliver her third large check from Dyer for doing what she loved. It was as if money was literally flying in her window, just as Dyer had once described. She exclaimed to him, "I feel such an inner sense of joy at honoring and encouraging this part of me, rather than listening exclusively to the part of myself that logically dictated all the advantages of working for the airline." She finally understood that there was no question about going back to work as a flight attendant. The money simply confirmed the rightness of doing what she enjoyed. This story reveals the liberation that comes with detachment - not from caring, but from our rigid attachments to security, status, and the expectations of others. Joanna's transformation wasn't simply about changing jobs; it was about releasing her grip on the identity and security she had constructed around her airline career. True detachment isn't indifference; it's the willingness to follow our authentic path without being controlled by fear or external validation. When we're detached in this way, we can make choices based on what truly fulfills us rather than what seems safe or sensible. The paradox of detachment is that when we stop clinging so desperately to outcomes, we often receive more than we ever imagined possible. By letting go of her attachment to the security of her airline job, Joanna created space for a more authentic and fulfilling path to emerge. This principle applies to all areas of life - relationships, possessions, goals, and identities. When we hold them lightly rather than grasping tightly, we experience the freedom that comes with knowing our worth isn't dependent on external circumstances.

Chapter 5: Synchronicity: Recognizing Life's Perfect Pattern

While giving a speech in Sacramento, California, Dyer found himself in an unexpected situation. A father in the audience was holding his baby, who started crying. The father became nervous and upset about disturbing others and started walking out, still trying to hear Dyer's presentation. Dyer suggested that the father relax about his discomfort and communicate that serenity to his infant. The father smiled from the audience, relieved that Dyer wasn't going to judge him for having his baby there, and he noticeably relaxed. The baby stopped fussing and for the next three hours never made a peep. There was an invisible connection between the father's thoughts and the baby's behavior—a connection which defies simple explanation. On another occasion, Dyer was driving home when suddenly the skies opened with torrential rain. He could barely see through his windshield. As he drove, he noticed a woman standing next to her stalled car, hitchhiking in the drenching rain. Following a strong impulse, he stopped to give her a ride. As they introduced themselves, the woman, Shirley, exclaimed in stunned surprise that two friends had told her she should contact Dyer about some personal matters in her life. In fact, she had been told that very day that she would meet him soon. Dyer dropped her off at her apartment, gave her a copy of one of his books, and encouraged her to contact his wife about some childbearing concerns she had mentioned. Several weeks later, Shirley came to their home with a videotape that would become the impetus for Dyer's exploration into metaphysical principles. After several long talks with Dyer's wife about visualization for childbirth, Shirley eventually married, her husband had a vasectomy reversed, and she became a mother—outcomes that had seemed highly improbable given her age and circumstances. These stories illuminate the principle of synchronicity—the meaningful coincidences that seem to orchestrate our lives in ways we could never consciously plan. Carl Jung described synchronicity as "the simultaneous occurrence of two meaningfully but not causally connected events." What appears random to the casual observer often reveals itself as part of an elegant pattern when viewed through the lens of consciousness. These synchronistic events aren't merely coincidences; they're glimpses into the interconnected fabric of reality. The recognition of synchronicity in our lives requires a fundamental shift in perception. Rather than seeing ourselves as isolated entities in a random universe, we begin to recognize that we're participants in an intelligent, responsive field of possibility. This doesn't mean surrendering our free will; rather, it means acknowledging that our choices interact with a universe that's alive with meaning and purpose. When we attune ourselves to this synchronistic flow, we become more receptive to guidance, opportunities, and connections that perfectly align with our authentic path—even when they arrive in unexpected packages.

Chapter 6: Forgiveness: The Ultimate Path to Liberation

In 1974, Wayne Dyer embarked on a journey that would profoundly change his life. He drove to Biloxi, Mississippi, to visit the grave of his father—a man he had never met, who had abandoned his family when Dyer was just two years old. For decades, Dyer had carried anger, hatred, and resentment toward this man. He had spent years fantasizing about confronting his father, demanding answers, and expressing his pain. Now, standing before the simple grave marker reading "MELVIN LYLE DYER," he was finally face-to-face with the source of his lifelong anguish. For two and a half hours, Dyer spoke aloud at the gravesite, crying out his pain and demanding answers from the silent earth. As time passed, something unexpected happened. A profound sense of calm overtook him, and he felt as if his father was somehow present. The one-way conversation shifted. "I somehow feel as if I were sent here today and that you had something to do with it," Dyer said. "I want you to know that as of this moment, right now, all of that is gone. I forgive you." He continued, "I send you love.... I send you love.... Honestly, I send you love." In that pure, honest moment, Dyer experienced genuine forgiveness. He felt a peace and cleansing that was entirely new. Though unaware of it at the time, that simple act of forgiveness was the beginning of an entirely new level of experiencing life. When he returned to New York, miracles began to appear everywhere. He wrote "Your Erroneous Zones" with ease. An agent appeared in his life through a series of "strange" circumstances at exactly the right moment. A publisher called to publish his book. Every step along the way of his book's journey was another miracle waiting to happen. The exactly "right" person would be there when needed. The perfect contact would materialize out of the strangest coincidences. Years later, Dyer faced another test of forgiveness when he was sued. After spending thousands of dollars and almost two years in legal battles, he realized he had slipped back into old vengeful ways. The anger consumed him, affecting his health and well-being. Then one evening, after speaking about forgiving his father, a beautiful light exploded inside him. He realized forgiveness was the key again. That night, he had his first restful sleep in a long time. The next morning, he sent flowers and books to the people suing him and notified his attorney to stop responding to anything concerning the case. Three days later, he received notice that they were dropping the case and apologizing for any problems caused. These experiences reveal the transformative power of forgiveness. True forgiveness isn't about condoning harmful actions or pretending we weren't hurt. It's about recognizing that holding onto resentment only imprisons ourselves, while the person we resent often continues their life unaffected by our inner turmoil. Forgiveness is an act of self-liberation that releases us from the past and opens us to new possibilities. The deepest lesson of forgiveness is that it ultimately dissolves the very need to forgive. When we take full responsibility for our reactions and recognize that everyone acts according to their level of awareness, judgment falls away naturally. We see that there is nothing to forgive because we understand the perfect unfolding of life, where each person and circumstance serves as a teacher on our path to awakening. In this state of awareness, we respond with compassion rather than condemnation, with understanding rather than judgment, with love rather than fear.

Chapter 7: Practical Transformation: Daily Applications

During a particularly intense marathon in Greece, Dyer found himself in serious trouble. The race took place on a scorching day with temperatures soaring to 88 degrees and beyond. The terrain was a gradual uphill run for almost seventeen of the twenty-six miles. After fifteen miles, he knew he was in serious trouble. Runners were dropping out, victims of heat exhaustion being placed in Red Cross ambulances. Dyer himself stopped, overcome by nausea and vomiting. By the twenty-one-mile mark, he was at a point of physical exhaustion he had never experienced before. As he lay on the street outside Athens, with people urging him to get into an ambulance, he had a moment of clarity. Instead of giving up, he asked himself what blessing or opportunity was present in this moment of suffering. Could he somehow reach down inside himself and find the will to continue for five more miles? Something miraculous happened - he felt his physical condition literally change. He went from weakness to strength in a moment, discovering an inner courage he didn't know he possessed. Despite additional challenges - traffic fumes, cars changing lanes in front of runners - Dyer finished the race, placing in the top third overall. On another occasion, Dyer and his wife were considering purchasing a new home under construction. They liked everything about it and planned to sign a contract. Then both had an intuitive feeling that there were difficulties ahead if they made such a commitment. Having learned to trust these inner signals, they decided, simply on the basis of intuition, not to enter into an agreement with the builder. At previous times, they had made decisions that turned out to be costly. Now they were able to trust their inner signals and avoid unpleasant outcomes. Dyer describes three stages of enlightenment that reflect this practical transformation. In Stage One, we notice with the benefit of hindsight that every obstacle contains an opportunity. We look back at past difficulties and recognize their value. In Stage Two, we catch ourselves as obstacles appear, noticing the blessing as it's happening rather than years later. In Stage Three, the highest level, we develop the ability to sense potential obstacles before they manifest and make choices that prevent unnecessary suffering altogether. These practical applications of transformation principles demonstrate how spiritual awareness translates into everyday living. Transformation isn't some lofty, abstract concept divorced from daily experience; it's a practical shift in perception that changes how we respond to life's challenges. Whether facing physical limitations in a marathon, making important decisions about a home purchase, or navigating relationships, the transformed mind approaches each situation with a different quality of awareness. Instead of reacting automatically from conditioned patterns, we respond thoughtfully from our deeper wisdom. The practical dimension of transformation shows up in seemingly mundane moments - when we choose compassion over criticism, when we trust our intuition despite logical arguments to the contrary, when we find meaning in suffering rather than merely enduring it. These small daily choices, consistently made, gradually reshape our experience of reality. The transformed life isn't built through dramatic spiritual experiences alone but through the patient application of higher awareness to ordinary circumstances. As we practice these principles in all our affairs, the extraordinary gradually becomes our ordinary way of being.

Summary

Wayne Dyer's profound message transcends mere self-help philosophy - it invites us to fundamentally reimagine our relationship with reality itself. Through his transformative principle that "you'll see it when you believe it," Dyer reverses our conventional understanding of how change occurs. Rather than waiting for external evidence before changing our beliefs, he demonstrates that our beliefs actually shape what we're capable of perceiving and experiencing. This principle operates across all dimensions of life - from our personal relationships to our professional achievements, from our physical health to our spiritual awareness. The stories Dyer shares throughout his work - from his mystical experience at his father's grave to the marathon runner discovering untapped strength - all point to a single transformative truth: we are not passive observers of reality but active co-creators of our experience. When we shift our inner world - our thoughts, beliefs, and perceptions - our outer world naturally aligns with this new pattern. This doesn't mean denying difficulties or escaping into fantasy; rather, it means recognizing our power to interpret and respond to life's challenges from a place of wisdom, compassion, and possibility. The ultimate invitation in Dyer's work is to recognize that the extraordinary life we seek isn't waiting for us in some distant future; it's available now, through the courageous act of believing in possibilities before they've manifested, loving before conditions seem perfect, and living from abundance even amid apparent limitation. In doing so, we don't just transform our individual lives - we contribute to the transformation of our collective experience as human beings.

About Author

Loading...

Wayne W. Dyer

Read more

Related Books by Wayne W. Dyer

Loading...

The Power of Intention

Wayne W. Dyer

Learning to Co-create Your World Your Way

★★★★☆4.2

Loading...

The Power of Awakening

Wayne W. Dyer

Mindfulness Practices and Spiritual Tools to Transform Your Life

★★★★½4.7

Loading...

Change Your Thoughts – Change Your Life

Wayne W. Dyer

Living the Wisdom of the Tao

★★★★☆4.2