I have just finished reading an awesome book called “The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz.
I have read thru it twice and I feel like I need to keep it on my desk and keep reading it over and over because there is so much content to think about. He states that as children we learn to pretend…
[pullquote align=”normal”]to be what we are not, just to please others, just to be good enough for someone else….we pretend to be what we are not because we are afraid of being rejected. [/pullquote]
We are also the only animal on the planet that pays for the same mistake over a thousand times. Because of our powerful memories, we judge ourselves and punish ourselves over and over again. another statement that he makes is… [pullquote align=”normal”]Death is not the biggest fear that we have; our biggest fear is taking the risk to be alive—the risk to be alive and express what we really are. [/pullquote]
The Four Agreements
1 – Be Impeccable With Your Word
Your words can either enslave you or set you free depending on how you use them. “All magic you possess is based on your word. Your word is pure magic, and misuse of your word is black magic.” If someone voices an opinion and you believe it and accept it then it becomes part of your belief system. Opinion is not necessarily true. How you feel about yourself is in direct proportion to the integrity of your word
2 – Don’t Take Anything Personally
If you take things personally you are making the assumption that everything is about “you”. In reality, nothing that people do is about you. If you take things personally you make something big out of someone else’s opinion. This is based on the need to be right and make everyone else wrong. I heard somewhere that people would rather be right than happy.
3 – Don’t Make Assumptions
When we assume things we think that they are true, we end out creating big dramas for nothing. We assume that everyone sees life the same way that we do. In order to keep yourself from making assumptions, you need to ask questions. You have to have the courage to keep asking questions until you are clear. Ask for what you want but realize that people have the right to say yes or no.
4 – Always Do Your Best
When you do your best remember that it will alway change from day to day and moment to moment. This is something that really struck me.”If you take action because you have to, then there is no way that you are going to do your best…. Expressing what you are is taking action…
Without action upon an idea, there will be no manifestation, no results, and no reward.”
I highly recommend this book. Just know that you may want to read it more than once.