Does the idea of praying yourself well seem impossible? Myrtle Fillmore, cofounder of Unity, knew she could heal herself—and she did. Her intense healing experience has been an inspiration to people around the world and is the cornerstone of how Unity began more than 100 years ago.

Myrtle was sickly as a child and a young adult suffering from tuberculosis. After attending a New Thought lecture in 1886, Myrtle came away with one statement that changed her life: I am a child of God, and therefore I do not inherit sickness.

The Story of Unity by James Dillet Freeman states, “In one hour Myrtle Fillmore's whole outlook toward herself and her life had been changed. Like a revelation … this simple and divine idea that she was a beloved child of God, that God's will for her could only be perfect life and wholeness, filled her mind and possessed her being. The old belief that she was an invalid, that she had been born to be an invalid, was as waters that have passed away.”

So then, how do you pray yourself well?

Myrtle Fillmore believed that anyone can follow the principles of Truth and be healed. It requires more than simple prayer, however. Her teachings on healing indicate that one must engage in regular spiritual practices that encompass mind, body, and soul.

The following excerpts from her book Healing Letters shed light on only a few of the spiritual ideas Myrtle taught about healing. Practiced in unison, these concepts build a foundation for physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Lessons From Myrtle

Unite All Areas of Your Life
Myrtle believed there are three realms that must be addressed for healing to occur. “Daily, declare that your spiritual life and world, your mental life and world and your physical life and world are unified and that you are expressing harmoniously the ideas of the Christ Mind on these three planes.”

Have Immense Faith That You Can Be Healed
When asked what restored her vigorous health, Myrtle stated, “It was a change of mind from the old, carnal mind that believes in sickness to the Christ Mind of life and permanent health. I applied spiritual laws effectively, blessing my body temple until it manifested the innate health of Spirit.”

Turn Inward
Myrtle taught that God is inside each person. “Sometimes we pray to a God outside of ourselves. It is the God in the midst of us that frees and heals. … You need to think of God, the all-powerful Healer, as being already within you, in every part of your mind, heart, and body.”

Be Optimistic
Positive thoughts help replace old ways of thinking and quicken healing. “Prayer is an exercise to change our thought habits and our living habits. … When some of our thought energy is expended in negative beliefs and feelings … we get those old negative results.”

Rest Every Day
Myrtle noted that times of rest and rejuvenation feed the soul. “A period of quiet and rest each day is your opportunity to establish yourself at the center of your being, the one place where the supply of life and substance is inexhaustible.”

Myrtle Fillmore is an inspirational example of how powerful faith and prayer can be. Her teachings continue to guide people in the healing process.

Take Care of Your Body
Myrtle strongly believed in maintaining a healthy lifestyle—eating healthy foods, exercising, and resting. “The body responds to changes of the mind; and when this is accompanied by truly wise living habits, the conformity to true ideas … will renew it and make it every whit whole.”

Bless Your Body
Finally, Myrtle believed that we must express gratitude for our bodies regularly. “Our first duty then is to bless our body … to praise its wonderful work, to learn what its needs are, and to supply them.”

About the Author

Angie Olson is the vice president of digital marketing and strategy at Unity World Headquarters. Angie lives in the Kansas City area with her husband, two sons, and a gaggle of pets. For fun, Angie enjoys cooking, biking, and exploring the woods near her home.

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