Reviewed by Hilary Hawkes for Readers' Favorite

Peggy M Fisher's 30 Days of Healing Meditations is a very readable short book that suggests ideas for thoughts and meditations for thirty days. The book begins with the true story of how a young man with a mental health diagnosis was helped when he began to use meditation techniques. Then it progresses to a thirty-day program where each day has a theme or something to think about; for example, solitude, productive faith, patience, dealing with conflict, dealing with loss, our purpose, peace, love or facing our demons. The reader is encouraged to rediscover their inner connection with their true nature and their connection with their creator’s power by stepping away from the pace of everyday life and life’s stresses and developing their ability to meditate. In this state, we already have what we need to help ourselves. Writing and reading a positive affirmation for the day and journaling are also recommended. Short sections on the benefits of exercise, setting goals, and eating sensible diets are included too.

I really liked this little book and can see it being a helpful starting point for people suffering from stress and anxiety and needing a doable and sensible method to help them deal with situations and their thoughts in a healthier way. Peggy Fisher is a qualified nurse with training in mental health and clinical psychiatry, so she knows how dwelling on negative thoughts and poor habits can keep people stuck in depressed states or cause them to spiral downwards in mood. Her meditation teaching and other techniques in this book are in keeping with the recommendations of other clinicians, research, and teachers. Peggy M Fisher's 30 Days of Healing Meditations also has a lovely common sense touch to it which I really liked; for example, accepting that no one is able to “get rid of” negative emotions, but we can learn to manage them, and learning to laugh at ourselves when appropriate. I liked the idea of creating your own healing tools (five affirmations that are personally meaningful, written on small cards to keep to hand). This little book includes many insightful words of wisdom and common sense advice, written in a very readable style and perfect for using on a daily basis or keeping to dip into from time to time.