Fishel Ruth - Change almost anything in 21 days: recharge your life with the power of over 500 affirmations

What People Are Saying About
Change Almost Anything in 21 Days

Any literature that removes us from the trivial and mundane to connect us with spirit is significant in todays culture. Ruths latest work will impact even the most faint-hearted.

Joan Anderson
author, Year by the Sea and An Unfinished Marriage

In Change Almost Anything in 21 Days, Ruth Fishel presents the reader with hundreds of opportunities in the rhythm of daily life during which transformation can be effected. Fishel understands the power of simplicity and her suggestions are both practical and spiritual.

Anne D. LeClaire
author, Leaving Eden and Entering Normal

Ruths other books continue to sell over the years because they help so many people transform their lives from pain, depression and addictions to healing, peace and joy. I know Change Almost Anything in 21 Days will be added to her long list of successes.

Jennifer McNally
manager, Armchair Bookstore

Once again, Ruth Fishel has created a guidebook to help us deal with the challenges of change. Change Almost Anything in 21 Days gives you wonderful tools and ideas so you can transcend your stuck points and move forward to create the life you want. Her model is easy to read and implement. Ill certainly be telling my clients and colleagues about it!

Gail McMeekin, L.I.C.S.W.
career/creativity coach and author
The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women and
The Power of Positive Choices

Ruth Fishel offers proven techniques that are so simple its hard to believe that they work. But I have personally used affirmations and have experienced profound healing results. I cant say enough about this book!

Margie Levine
author, Surviving Cancer

Change at depth doesnt come easily to many people. Ruths work instructs her readers with such gentleness that they can open up fully to her teaching. Because of that, her book gives her readers wonderful tools with which to manage problems by directing their efforts in positive, pro-active ways that seem to work miracles.

Carole Plummer
owner, Cape Cod Book Center

To the spirit of peace and love
in each and every one of us.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Fishel, Ruth

Change almost anything in 21 days : recharge your life with the power of over 500 affirmations / Ruth Fishel ; illustrated by Bonny Van de Kamp.Expanded ed.

p. cm.

ISBN-13: 978-0-7573-0067-7 (Paperback)

ISBN-10: 0-7573-0067-7 (Paperback)

ISBN-13: 978-0-7573-9989-3 (ePub)

ISBN-10: 0-7573-9989-4 (ePub)

1. Affirmations. 2. Change (Psychology) I. Title.

BF697.5.S47 F57 2002

158.1dc21

2002032920

2003 Ruth Fishel

All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

HCI, its logos and marks are trademarks of Health Communications, Inc.

Publisher: Health Communications, Inc.

3201 S.W. 15th Street

Deerfield Beach, FL 33442-8190

R-04-07

Cover design by Lisa Camp

Inside book design by Dawn Von Strolley Grove

am so very grateful to all the people who have made this book possible.

A huge thank you to Sandy Bierig, who has been an editor, supporter and contributor to all my books. Thanks for all your patience and love.

It has been a joy to work with the very gifted Bonny Van de Kamp again. Bonny has been an important part of many of my books, dating back to 1987 with my first book, The Journey Within.

To all the wonderful people who have contributed their special affirmations and for sharing their powerful experiences: Dorna Allen, Sharon Anderson, Mary Jane Beach, Karen Beaton, Lisa Boone, Nan Cardos, Caryn Case, Thaisa Clapham, Maureen Corrigan, Dale Cotter, Leslie Fabian, Joseph Foote, Sue Howe, Mersh Lubel Kanis, Margie Levine, Darlene Neimeyer, Mindy Ruch, Diane Webster and Nancy Wellington.

A huge thanks for all who helped with the first edition to make the second edition possible: Debbie Boisseau, Brian Bierig, Jane Brown, Nicki Garner and Barbara Thomas.

Im extremely grateful to Peter Vegso at Health Communications for seeing the value in the first pocket edition of Change Almost Anything in 21 Days and encouraging me to expand it.

I am deeply grateful to have had so many wonderful teachers over the years, including every client, retreat and workshop attendee. I cannot name them all, but you will always be in my heart and have my gratitude.

And a special thank you to Bill W. and Dr. Bob, without whom I would not be alive.

small group of tired, discouraged-looking people gathered together, waiting to be told where to go. They had just arrived and were confused and disoriented. Suddenly they saw a bright light and heard a gentle voice.

Welcome.

Everyone looked up.

You have come a long way, the voice continued. And you have had many exhausting, painful experiences. Easy does it. Know that you are safe. You have nothing to fear. You are beautiful human beings and I love you.

The crowd stirred and looked around, trying to find the source of the beautiful voice.

This is the time to search deeply into your hearts and find your regrets, the voice went on.

Some are easy to see. Others are buried deep inside, hidden from your consciousness. Find them all. Be honest with yourselves. Dont be afraid. Now is your chance to clear out all those blocks that stood in the way of pure joy and love. Regrets serve no other purpose than to keep you stuck in the past.

What are your regrets? Theres nothing to fear.

A brave soul said, Its so painful to think of regrets. Do I really have to?

If you want to be free to move on, the voice answered gently. You are ready to move on or you wouldnt be here listening to me. As the saying goes, Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional. I think youre ready to give up your suffering.

At that, each person looked up, surprised. Some of the tiredness left their faces. They were standing a bit straighter. They listened, waiting for more.

There was silence.

I wish I had a better sex life, a graying sixty-or-so man said sheepishly.

Good, responded the voice.

I wish I had taken better care of myself, whispered a heavy, middle-aged woman with a beautiful face.

Wonderful!

I wish I had more money.

I wish I had gone to college.

I wish I had been less fearful.

I wish I had been a better person.

I wish I hadnt drank so much alcohol.

Once they began, regrets poured out until there was finally silence.

Look a bit deeper, said the voice.

Silence and then,

I wish I had been more compassionate.