Becky Tirabassi - Keep the Change: Breaking Through to Permanent Transformation

KEEP THE
Change

BECKY
Tirabassi

KEEP THE
Change

Breaking Through to
Permanent Trans formation

KEEP THE CHANGE

Copyright by 2003 Becky Tirabassi.

Published by Integrity Publishers, a division of Integrity Media, Inc., 5250 Virginia Way, Suite 110, Brentwood, TN 37027.

HELPING PEOPLE WORLDWIDE EXPERIENCE the MANIFEST PRESENCE of GOD.

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Cover Design: David Uttley
Cover Photo: Photonica
Interior Design: Susan Browne

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Tirabassi, Becky, 1954
Keep the change : breaking through to permanent transformation / by
Becky Tirabassi.
p. cm.
ISBN 1-59145-051-9 (hardcover)
ISBN 1-59145-122-1
1. Success. 2. Change (Psychology) I. Title.
BJ1611.2.T57 2003
158dc21

2003008725

Printed in the United States of America
03 04 05 06 07 BVG 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

contents

To my husband, Roger Tirabassi, the most genuine helper I have ever known. His fingerprints, voice, and wise counsel are upon every page in this book. Anyone who grabs on to his wisdom will benefit from hours of free, incredibly valuable informationas I have done for more than twenty-five years.

To Trisha Hubbs. I met Trisha when she was working in the television industry. We connected in a very serendipitous way. Because she had heard me speak at a convention ten years earlier, she came to a television taping where Roger and I were guests. That day we began a friendship that has turned into a working partnership with the goal of seeing the Change Your Life message find a home on daily television and radio. She is an extremely gifted writer to whom I am eternally grateful! She has given more than hours to this book; she has been able to take my spontaneous passion and craft it into the written word.

To Byron Williamson and Joey Paul at Integrity Publishers for giving me the opportunity to write Keep the Change.

To my staff, Heidi Sisto and Carissa Dunn, for hours of typing when it was not convenient but necessary.

To my family and friends for sharing their stories in this book and encouraging us all to keep the change.

For more information on Change Your Life Events, resources, or to contact Becky, write, call, or e-mail...

Becky Tirabassi Change Your Life , Inc.

Box 9672

Newport Beach, CA 92660

800-444-6189

949-644-8044 fax

letters@beckytirabassi.com

www.beckytirabassi.com

introduction
An Unusual Request

If you...

have tried it all and believe nothing will ever work,

feel you cannot face another disappointment,

are paralyzed by fear of failure,

find yourself resentful and needing to make unexpected, unwelcome changes in your life,

have quit fighting because of cynicism (yours or others),

are plagued by negative voices,

are stalled by complacency,

hesitate to bother trying because history tells you the ground you gain will never last,

have almost given up on your dream...

Yet...

in your desperate, quiet struggle for hope, you are willing to consider one more radical approach to permanent transformation...

then Keep the Change is written for you.

In fact, if you are simply seeking a reason to believe in the possibility of changing your life forever, you are holding the right book.

No matter where you are on your journey toward real and lasting breakthrough in any area of your life, I AM ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN EACH OF YOU CAN SUCCEED.

Some of you are strugglers. It is difficult to imagine a finish line because just surviving the day-to-day battle is consuming. You have read countless books intended to jump-start your life, but despite your best intentions you somehow always fall back to the familiar habits, places, and ruts. I am writing most passionately to you with a hope that you might finally get rid of the things that steal your potential and keep you from breaking through once and for all.

Some of you are lofty dreamers. You know in your soul that you are meant for more. But no matter how hard you push or fight, it seems you never make it past a certain point. And frankly, you are worn out and feel beat up. My motivation in writing this book is to offer you encouragement to hold on to your dreams until they are fulfilled. I want to fuel the endurance you need to reach your goals, no matter how large or small.

I am absolutely certain that no matter what you want to change, improve, or achieve in your life, you can do it. I want you to pick up and dust off those dreams, goals, and intentions one more time. You will discover that there is no escape hatch where were heading. This time, the change and progress are irreversible.

I know your bags are heavy with past failures and unfulfilled purposes. And as you look out from this place, the path is daunting. So throughout this book, I will come alongside and show you ways to lighten the load as you go.

Because I vividly remember what and who gave me hope and courage in my pursuit to fulfill a lifelong dream, achieve many challenging goals, and overcome numerous personal struggles, I will offer you hope.

Because I still recall how many times I felt discouraged or desperate or overwhelmed or skeptical in the beginning and middle stages of the pursuit of permanent transformation, I will encourage you.

Many times I only saw the enormity of the emotional, financial, and relational difficulties ahead of me. But I experienced a renewed strength to keep my resolve, knowing there were other sojourners next to me the entire way. I AM ON THE JOURNEY WITH YOU.

Because I found rest through the comforting words of a friend or sponsor who showed compassion for my slow, lazy steps and even offered patience with my outright stumbles on the road to achievement, health, and recovery, I will be one of your accountability partners.

Just as I received incredible encouragement from seeing and hearing trailblazerswhether I knew them or notwho achieved their goals ahead of me and gave some good advice, I am committed to being a trailblazer for you.

Because I have tested this approach, I am offering it to you as a radical but practical way to bring breakthrough into your life. I hope you will find the stories I share here insightful. Whether or not you struggle with my particular challenges, such as alcoholism or anger or an unfulfilled dream, allow the stories to help you look honestly at the areas in your own life in which you wrestle for freedom.