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The Science of Being Well
Wallace D. Wattles
About the Author
Wallace D. Wattles (1860–1911) is best remembered as a trailblazing voice in the New Thought movement and the author of several influential books on personal growth. Though he lived modestly, Wattles left behind a transformative treasure through his works on the power of thought and spiritual alignment. His teachings continue to inspire generations of success-minded readers.
About the Book
"The Science of Being Well" is a compact, principle-based guide that teaches you how to claim better health through thought discipline and spiritual understanding. It builds on the idea that well-being is not accidental, but the natural result of aligning your thoughts, diet, habits, and faith with the universal laws of health.
Summary
In "The Science of Being Well", Wattles turns his attention from wealth to health, applying the same metaphysical principles to achieving physical vitality. Core insights include:
- Health Is a Result of Right Thinking: Wattles asserts that illness begins in the mind before it manifests in the body. Therefore, you must think and believe in health, and reject fear and disease-consciousness.
- Faith Overrides Fear and Diagnosis: The book teaches that belief in disease (or fear of it) gives it power. Instead, unwavering faith in your divine right to be well activates the body's natural restorative forces.
- Right Living Supports Right Thinking: Basic, common-sense habits, such as proper breathing, eating, and sleeping, are foundational. However, the mental attitude behind these habits matters more than the specifics.
- Health Is the Normal State of Life: Perfect health is the natural condition of every human being. Disease is not inevitable or "sent by God," but the result of mental misalignment or ignorance of spiritual law.
- The Mind Directs the Body's Function: The body responds obediently to the mind's dominant ideas. By holding thoughts of vitality, harmony, and strength, you guide every cell toward normal, healthy functioning.
- Reject the Collective Belief in Disease: Withdraw from the "mental contagion" of fear, medical pessimism, and public obsession with illness. Dwelling on others' sickness invites it into your own consciousness.
- Gratitude Strengthens the Connection to Health: Consistent gratitude for life and for the functioning of the body keeps you aligned with the divine source of health. Gratitude amplifies vitality and wards off discouragement or fear.
- Faith Must Be Combined with Action: Thought is primary. However, practical cooperation with health principles (i.e., clean air, nutritious food, rest, and exercise) demonstrates faith in divine order. Neglecting the body contradicts your affirmations of wellness.
- Live Fully in the Present: Health is experienced in the now. Worrying about future illness or regretting past habits fragments energy. Living joyfully and consciously in the present sustains vitality.
- Healing Is a Spiritual Process, Not a Mystery: According to Wattles, healing is the natural restoration that follows when your thoughts align with divine intelligence. The process isn't miraculous; it's simply the body obeying spiritual law once the mind stops interfering.
Frequently Asked Questions
"The Science of Being Well" provides a spiritual and psychological roadmap to radiant health by focusing the mind on wellness instead of illness. According to Wattles, you are meant to be well. By thinking and acting in harmony with that truth, you can restore or protect your health.
This work is usually 80 to 100 pages long. While relatively short, it invites deep contemplation and application.
The book was originally published in 1910, the same year as "The Science of Getting Rich." It expresses the values and mindset of the early New Thought movement.
The work is available in various print formats, audiobooks, digital editions, and collections with Wattles's other writings. Some modern versions include introductions or commentary for today's readers.
You can read this growth mindset book in the member area of the Secrets of Success online book club. It's ideal for readers who want to merge spiritual principles with practical wellness habits.
Read "The Science of Being Well" and discover more timeless classics on health, mindset, and personal transformation in the online Secrets of Success Library. Join today to access exclusive resources for living with purpose.
"The Mental Equivalent" by Emmet Fox: Offers powerful techniques for aligning your mental blueprint with the life and health outcomes you desire.
"Power Through Constructive Thinking" by Emmet Fox: A deep dive into spiritual psychology and the healing power of mental focus and divine truth.
"Self-Mastery Through Conscious Autosuggestion" by Émile Coué: Introduces profound yet straightforward techniques for using the subconscious mind to create healing and transformation.
"The Power of Concentration" by William Walker Atkinson: Helps you sharpen your mental control, which Wattles emphasizes as key to holding a vision of health.
"Thought Vibration: The Law of Attraction in the Thought World" by William Walker Atkinson: Reinforces the idea that your dominant thoughts create your bodily conditions, making it a perfect companion to Wattles's health philosophy.
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