—Inspired by Your Body Believes Every Word You Say
—by Barbara Hoberman Levine, 2000.
The New Thought Movement, of which Unity is a part, came forward in the late 1800s with a radical concept: thoughts are things that can affect your life. Barbara Hoberman Levine wrote a best-seller linking our thoughts to physical events involving our bodies (Your Body Believes Everything You Say, for example). Here's an example of her thoughts and writings for your evaluation.
“Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.” —Unknown
Our inner life is not a private echo chamber; it is the quiet architect of our well‑being. The way we think, speak, and interpret our experiences shapes the way we move through the world. Even the familiar contrast between thorns and roses reminds us that perception is a choice: we can complain that a rose bush has thorns or rejoice that a thorn bush has roses. The difference is not in the plant—it is in the mind that beholds it.
Growth, too, is a word with many layers. Physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual growth often begin in the same place: with a single thought. The concept of seed thoughts captures this beautifully. Just as a seed contains the blueprint of a plant, our thoughts contain the beginnings of moods, behaviors, and even physical responses. While thoughts alone do not cause disease, they do influence the body through chemical, hormonal, neurological, and muscular pathways. Disordered thinking can contribute to disordered brain chemistry. Conversely, hopeful, confident, and life‑affirming thoughts support resilience and healing.
Awareness is the key. When we practice observing our thoughts—especially during moments of physical or emotional tension—we create a space between stimulus and response. In that gap lies freedom. Instead of reacting automatically, we can choose our next action. This witnessing presence does not judge; it simply notices. And in noticing, it loosens any grip of fear, worry, and habitual negativity.
Modern medicine’s focus on germs and pathology, while essential, overshadowed the previous understanding that emotions and health are intertwined. Removing a symptom does not always create healing. Total well‑being includes the will to live, the capacity for joy, and the confidence that it is possible. These are not alternatives to physical/medical care; they are companions to it.
Speech plays a powerful role. The body does not distinguish between literal and figurative language—it responds to the emotional tone behind the words. Negative language, chronic worry, and self‑criticism create inner tension.
Positive affirmations must be believable to be effective. They work best when stated in the present tense and held long enough for the mind to feel their possibility. Conversely, telling yourself not to think of something only reinforces the unwanted image—try not to imagine a pink elephant and notice what appears.
Mindfulness helps dissolve worry because the mind cannot hold two complete thoughts at once. When attention rests fully in the present moment, fear loses its momentum. Visualization, gentle affirmations, and expressive statements can shift the inner landscape, altering how we relate to treatment, and recovery.
Ultimately, we are both the observer and the observed—the thinker and the one who notices the thinking. We are the process of our own becoming. Thoughts are things, and the mind is the builder. When we expect good, we help create the conditions for it. When we speak kindly, we influence not only ourselves but everyone around us. Hope remains one of the most potent healing forces available to us.
04/12/26