Waves carry energy, force and momentum. Therefore, colliding wave trains have the physical capacity to interact and to form and maintain standing waves. Standing waves form in liquids, gases, electrical circuits, and electromagnetic (EM) waves. Because wave behavior exists, irrespective of media type, we have investigated the possibility that waves in various media do interact and do so through a common physical mechanism. We propose that standing waves are composed of alternating segments of reflection zones where potential energy resides with little lateral energy flow and of kinetic-energy zones where lateral energy flow is maximal. Interference patterns form when waves collide. During the collision, two force vectors resolve. One, the longitudinal vector, forms along the direction of the bisect of the convergence angle. In that direction, it is the vector sum of the two, converging wave trains. The second, vector, is derived from colliding wave forces acting transverse (orthogonal) to the longitudinal vector. These transverse acting forces will produce the standing wave component. Action of the standing wave components separates the longitudinal, moving waves transversely into parallel zones where energy is primarily potential in one zone and kinetic in the next. For example, in the interference pattern formed by converging trains of light waves, potential energy resides in the longitudinal, dark zones (null zones), kinetic energy in the parallel, bright zones. From experiments using two converging laser beams, we have produced evidence that the colliding forces in their standing waves can redirect and concentrate their light energy without using lenses.