In his powerful
book The Four Agreements,™ the Toltec author
don Miguel Ruiz offers his readers
four simple yet profound agreements as important tools on
the path to personal freedom. Anyone can use these wonderful
tools to break their self-limiting beliefs and agreements
from the past and transform their lives into a new experience
of freedom, true happiness, and love. These new agreements
have the potential to help you move your attention from
what the world
thinks you "should" do or be to what you know
is right for you, reclaim scattered personal energy and
power, and open up to
a deeper intimacy in personal relationships.
Be Impeccable
With Your Word. Our words, our thoughts, and our
feelings all contribute to the creation of our reality.
Our word is a two-edged sword, it can create or it can destroy.
To be impeccable is to create with conscious awareness and
love. The human mind is fertile ground for the seeds that
are our word. Plant the seeds of love, not fear. Judging,
blaming, shaming, and especially gossiping create poison
in ourselves and others. This agreement alone is enough
to break all of our old agreements and change the dream
of your life.
Don't Take
Anything Personally. Other people's reactions and
opinions are simply other people's reactions and opinions.
They are having their own experience and none of it has
anything to do with you -- it does not make you wrong, guilty,
bad, unworthy, famous, loveable, or important. You only
take them personally when you agree with their poison. If
you are "triggered" by someone or they "push
your buttons," they have touched a wounded place in
you. Become aware of the emotional wound they have exposed
for you, be grateful for their help, and take responsibility
for your healing of your wound.
Don't Make
Assumptions. Our minds have the need to "know."
When we don't know, we make assumptions -- they make us
feel safer than not knowing. To imagine that you know what
someone else is thinking is an assumption. To imagine that
you can know or control the future or another person's actions
is an assumption. Expectations are assumptions. In making
assumptions, we create our reality without respect for another's
truth or experience. To avoid assumptions, ask questions.
It takes courage to trust the present moment, to allow other
people to be exactly who they are, and to let life unfold
according to its own plan... and it avoids a great deal
of suffering
Always Do
Your Best. Your best changes from moment to moment,
sick or well, tired or rested. Remember that you are an
perfectly Divine human being. We can extend to ourselves
and to others compassion for our human-ness and reverence
for our divinity. There is no value to judging yourself
for "failing" -- and no truth to it either. When
you are not impeccable, when you take something personally,
or make an assumption, you are still doing your best, and
you are still a beloved child of Spirit. Agree that you
are always doing your best, with love and acceptance for
the perfect Divine human that you are.
From:
The Four Agreements™ — A Practical
Guide to Personal Freedom.
A Toltec Wisdom Book by Miguel Ruiz.
And be sure to read MY
new book, The Everything
Toltec Wisdom Book, wherein I have described in
depth the many tools available to us from Toltecs both ancient
and modern-- tools you can use to change your dream, become
impeccable with your word, learn not to take things personally.
. . and break the habit of making assumptions.
When you are done, you will know you are always doing your
best, and be free to be an Artist of the Spirit and make
your life a beautiful work of art.
Miguel Ruiz said: "Allan
Hardman became a true Toltec Master several years ago, and
it is the way he lives his life. He was one of my best apprentices.
For sure, you will enjoy this book very much."