How To Get What You Want - 6. FAITH & DRUGS - Orison Swett Marden (1917)

How To Get What You Want - 6. FAITH & DRUGS - Orison Swett Marden (1917) - HQ Full Book.In the sixth chapter of How to Get What You Want, Orison Swett Marden confronts a subject that was as relevant in 1917 as it is today: the reliance on drugs as a substitute for inner strength and mental resilience. Titled “Faith & Drugs,” this chapter is a passionate and often provocative meditation on the power of belief, and how misplaced reliance on medication can undermine the very qualities that lead to personal success.  Marden begins with a central assertion that sets the tone for the entire chapter: faith in oneself, in one’s divine potential, and in life itself is more powerful than any pharmaceutical remedy. He does not completely deny the role of medicine—he acknowledges the importance of medical science and does not condemn doctors or their work. Rather, he takes aim at what he sees as a growing societal tendency to look outside ourselves for salvation, especially in the form of pills and potions.  The core message of the chapter revolves around the idea that drugs can often become a crutch that weakens our natural vitality and resolve. Marden observes that many people, when faced with fatigue, illness, depression, or anxiety, immediately turn to stimulants or sedatives instead of seeking to restore their mental balance through spiritual or psychological means. He sees this as a form of mental laziness or surrender—a failure to call upon the deeper wells of faith, courage, and personal strength that lie dormant in every individual.  Marden’s understanding of faith is not confined to religious belief, although he does invoke spiritual language. Rather, he speaks of a holistic, life-affirming faith in the harmony of the universe, in the divine order of things, and most importantly, in one’s own ability to meet life’s challenges with integrity and purpose. Faith, in this sense, is a vital force—a healing power that can uplift, energize, and even physically heal the body when directed correctly.  One of the key ideas in this chapter is what Marden calls “mental and moral hygiene.” Just as we take care of our physical bodies through proper diet and exercise, he argues that we must also discipline our minds to avoid toxic thought patterns. Dwelling in fear, hopelessness, self-doubt, or anxiety can make a person sicker than any physical illness. For Marden, drugs may dull the pain or provide temporary relief, but they do not address the deeper cause—the state of mind that allowed the affliction to take root in the first place.  To illustrate his point, Marden recounts stories of individuals who, after being told by doctors that they had only a short time to live, chose instead to believe in their own recovery and went on to enjoy many more years of healthy, productive life. These stories serve as evidence for his belief in the power of faith, optimism, and willpower as real forces in the healing process. He challenges his readers to develop what he calls “a victory consciousness”—a mindset so full of confidence and vitality that it leaves no room for disease or failure to grow.  Another significant theme in this chapter is the importance of suggestion—the messages we give ourselves and accept from others. Marden warns against accepting negative suggestions from the outside world, including medical diagnoses that may instill fear and helplessness. He points out that many people unknowingly absorb limiting beliefs about their health or potential from others, which can then become self-fulfilling prophecies. In contrast, self-suggestion, or affirming one’s strength, wholeness, and vitality, becomes a crucial tool for growth and healing.  Although the language of the chapter reflects the early 20th century, the principles remain strikingly relevant. Marden anticipates modern ideas in psychosomatic medicine, placebo effects, and the mind-body connection long before they became widely discussed in scientific literature. His insistence that no drug can substitute for the inner healing power of belief, character, and optimism is an early articulation of what today might be called holistic or integrative health. Marden also levels criticism at what he views as the over-commercialization of the medical field. He observes that people often fall prey to advertising and societal pressure that promotes constant consumption of medicines as a path to well-being. In this way, he argues, faith is subtly transferred from the infinite potential of the human soul to the limited power of chemical substances. The result is a nation of people who have forgotten their own power and who seek healing from the outside in, rather than from the inside out.  This chapter, however, is not simply a critique—it’s a rallying call. Marden urges his readers to reclaim the lost power of faith, to develop inner discipline, and to trust in the divine intelligence that governs life. He encourages practices that foster mental clarity and spiritual vitality: prayer, meditation, positive thinking, moral living, and noble ambition. These, to him, are the true remedies—the only ones that bring lasting health and deep personal transformation.  To conclude, Marden circles back to the essential premise of the book: if you want to get what you want out of life—whether it's health, happiness, success, or love—you must begin with belief. Not belief in luck, or external agents, or fate, but belief in yourself, in your God-given potential, and in the goodness and abundance of the universe. Drugs, in his view, are at best temporary tools. But faith—real, active, living faith—is the permanent foundation upon which all lasting success is built.  In “Faith & Drugs,” Orison Swett Marden offers not just a caution against over-reliance on medication, but a bold, empowering philosophy of life. He asks us to see ourselves not as fragile creatures in need of constant repair, but as powerful beings endowed with infinite capacity to heal, grow, and thrive. In a world still wrestling with the tension between pharmaceutical reliance and holistic wellness, Marden’s voice remains both timely and timeless.  #selfhelp #successmindset #orisonswettmarden #motivationdaily #personaldevelopment #mindsetmatters #inspirationdaily #positivethinking #successquotes #selfgrowth #innerpower #goalsetter #manifestyourdreams #successhabits #believeinyourself #mentalclarity #lifepurpose #prosperitymindset #timelesswisdom #selfmastery