Dr. Dyer: I think parents who are truly aware of themselves, their thoughts and behaviors and the impression these make upon a child, really want some- thing deeper than the material measures of a successful life portrayed in the me- dia. Over the years of being a parent, and having had the opportunity to ask parents this question, the answers gravi- tated around a central theme that I be- lieve is as relevant today as was when I first wrote the book. Parents want their children to value themselves, to be self- reliant and independent; to take risks; to be free from stress and anxiety; to live peaceful lives; to celebrate present mo- ments; to value wellness and creativity; and to feel a sense of purpose.


Karen: Is it realistic?


Dr. Dyer: [Parenting is] the toughest job. The fact is most parents don’t know how to balance what we truly want for our children and the realities we face each day because we have not learned that simple secret ourselves. With kids, you must live by example. If you yourself have not learned how to cultivate inner happiness that can carry you through adversity, you can’t teach that to your children. We want our children to grow into content, high functioning, no-limit adults who can handle life’s challenges without getting so overwhelmed by out- side forces or their own emotions that they feel defeated. If this is what you re- ally want for your children then there’s no excuse why it can’t be realistic.


Karen: Let’s talk about “no-limits” be- cause people are likely to misunder- stand this concept when related to child rearing.


Dr. Dyer: A no-limit person—child or adult—has no internally imposed limita- tions and they refuse to allow outsiders to place any limits on them. It’s the same as saying self-actualized, conscious or inner-directed. This is a person who has high levels of self-respect regardless of the situation; they are doers not com- plainers; they are motivated by higher qualities; they are compassionate and concerned for others; they give to life rather than just seeking out what they can take from life. You can spot a no- limit person easily: They experience joy and inner peace even while everyone


around them is going mad. They are the calm within the storm.


Karen: What prompted the children’s book series?


Dr. Dyer: One of the things I most en- joyed as a parent was reading to my kids at bedtime. Sometimes, after we finished reading we would embellish the story with our own ideas. When I started writ- ing books, I had my children in mind. I wanted them to have, in one place, some of the most important practices they could choose to adopt for a fulfilled life. The essential message—to help peo- ple overcome self-imposed limitations and realize their own magnificence—is a message for everyone, from infancy to old age. I want children to know just how unique and powerful they are, and that everything they need to create hap- py, successful lives is within them.


Karen: What are some of the lessons taught in these books?


Dr. Dyer: Incredible You! uses vivid il- lustration and rhyming verse to teach ten ways to let your greatness shine through. Some of the lessons are sharing the good in you and seeing the good in others; thinking good thoughts; taking care of your mind and body. Unstoppable Me! teaches no-limit thinking using an ex- ample and illustration of how a child might apply the lesson in her life. Both of these books have questions at the end for a parent and child to talk through to- gether.


Karen: It’s Not What You’ve Got! takes on the biggies: money and abundance. How do you portray these concepts so that children understand and embrace them?


Dr. Dyer: I teach lessons that, given the economic downturn we’ve faced in re- cent times, a lot of adults didn’t learn. It is crucial for children to learn that money does not create happiness and to live within their means. I also teach that every kind of job is important just as the people who perform them are important. I wrote with Kristina Tracy to create rhyming verse brought to life through illustrations [by Stacy Heller Budnick] that resonate with kids at their


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level. This, combined with the conversa- tions parents and kids have as they read the book helps them understand, for ex- ample, abundance is something more than just money.


Karen: The latest book, No Excuses!, is one I’m using in my home, now. My daughter is four and she already has all kinds of excuses for why she can’t do something. It’s even raised memories from my childhood, being told, “You’re full of excuses.” I try to catch myself and find an appropriate way to respond to the less reasonable excuses she has when I ask her to try a new activity or put away toys.


Dr. Dyer: It’s great that you cultivate that awareness with your daughter because you can change the way you respond to her and change the lesson. In turn, she will learn what I hope this book teaches many children: how to spot how often they use excuses and how excuses can stop them from doing things they really want to do. This book, which adapts con- cepts from the book Excuses Begone!, tells a story of a boy with a seemingly impossible dream who almost lets ex- cuses get in his way. There are questions to explore with your child to promote insight and understanding.


Karen: What is the best parenting ad- vice you’ve ever received?


Dr. Dyer: Teach Only Love. It’s also the best advice I could give.


Dr. Wayne Dyer is the author of four children’s books, the most recent titled, No Excuses (Hay House). His voice can be heard in the new PIXAR film, DAY & NIGHT, releasing June 18 with Toy Story 3. www.drwaynedyer.com.


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