Live Better with "New Thought"
Ella Wheeler Wilcox's "The Heart of New Thought"
“Each one of us is a little world, whirling alone on an individual orbit, but the divine power is within us, to grow into symmetry, beauty, and perfection if we only realize it.”
Ella Wheeler Wilcox was a poet and New Thought teacher, who published books, poetry, and pamphlets during the American Gilded Age.
She was severely affected when she lost her husband and tried for years to communicate with his spirit. “The death of Mr. Wilcox overwhelmed her, until satisfied that she had received messages from him. Then she resumed literary work...”
New Thought
The New Thought movement was one of the many 19th and 20th-century mystical traditions that rejected both Christian dogma and scientific materialism, and found inspiration instead from ancient esoteric wisdom, occult and Pagan practices, and Eastern philosophy and religion.
New Thought focused on the power of thinking. It would be strikingly familiar to modern readers of The Secret, or believers in the law of attraction and/or positive thinking. There’s even a brand new iteration spreading on Tik Tok.
It’s often criticized. Criticism seems to come down to two things mainly: the “prosperity gospel” stuff, that you can use these beliefs to become wealthy, and the idea that if you’re struggling, you can just “think yourself better” and your suffering is a result of improper thought and thus your fault. These are valid criticisms, but they are also not representative of all or every New Thought system.
The Heart of New Thought
Ella Wheeler Wilcox compiled her New Thought wisdom into a book called The Heart of New Thought. I’ve collected some of my favorite parts here.
On starting your morning right
Morning affirmations help frame the rest of your day.
“The first moment on waking, no matter what your mood, say to yourself: "I will get all the comfort and pleasure possible out of this day, and I will do something to add to the measure of the world's happiness or well-being ... Once you say these things over to yourself in a calm, earnest way, you will begin to feel more cheerful. The worries and troubles of the coming day will seem less colossal.”
On deep breathing
She anticipates the modern practice of breathing exercises and meditation.
“Little children go to Sunday-School all their young lives, and grow up to be devout church members, and never hear one word about the importance of deep breathing.
Thousands of years ago, men who gave their entire lives to the study of these things learned the great importance of deep breathing as an aid to religious meditation.
By this practice, systematically observed, the body is calmed, the mind is brought into subjection, and the spirit rises into control.
At least ten minutes morning and night should be given to the breathing exercises.”
On attitude
Sometimes all it takes is a mind shift.
“A child should be taught from its earliest life to find entertainment in every kind of condition or weather. If it hears its elders cursing and bemoaning a rainy day the child's plastic mind is quick to receive the impression that a rainy day is a disaster.
How much better to expatiate in its presence on the blessing of rain, and to teach it the enjoyment of all nature's varying moods, which other young animals feel.”
On health
A simple diet is healthy and affordable.
“Think of the waste of money which goes into indigestible food! It is appalling when you consider it. Heaven speed the time when men and women find out how little money it requires to sustain the body in good health
Once find the delight of a simple diet, the benefit to body and mind and purse, and life will assume new interest, and toil will be robbed of its drudgery.”
On irritability
A Stoic-like approach to being aware of our irritability triggers and to pause before reacting.
“It is a habit, like the drug or alcohol habit—this irritability.
All you need do is to stop it. Keep your voice from rising, and speak slowly and calmly when you feel yourself giving way to it. Realize how ridiculous and disagreeable you will be if you continue, what an unlovely and hideous old age you are preparing for yourself.
Think of the value of each day of life, how much it means and what possibilities of happiness and usefulness it contains if well spent.”
On love thoughts
This takes a loftier tone.
“Believe your tender, loving thoughts and wishes for good to all humanity have power to help the struggling souls of earth to rise to higher and better conditions. No matter how limited your sphere of action may seem to you and how small your town appears on the map, if you develop your mental and spiritual forces through love thoughts you can be a power to move the world along. Rise up and realize your strength.”
On living fully
This little bit is a pleasing summation of some of her advice.
“Do not tell me you are too old.
Age is all imagination. Ignore years and they will ignore you.
Eat moderately, and bathe freely in water as cold as nature's rainfall. Exercise thoroughly and regularly.
Be alive, from crown to toe. Breathe deeply, filling every cell of the lungs for at least five minutes, morning and night, and when you draw in long, full breaths, believe you are inhaling health, wisdom and success.”
You can read it all here. Yes, it’s easy to pick out objectionable parts of her book that don’t resonate today, but there is plenty of good, common sense advice in here, I think and worth a look.
- Joe
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