036- Have you read "The Four Agreements"?

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In his book "The Four Agreements," author Don Miguel Ruiz provides a fairly simple guide to personal development that can be applied to all aspects of our lives. The book is based on ancient Toltec wisdom and offers four principles that can help us achieve personal freedom, happiness, and fulfillment. I will admit that I had a hard time getting into the book at first but the simplicity of the Four Agreements kept me moving forward.

The first agreement is to be impeccable with your word. This means speaking with integrity and avoiding speaking against yourself or others. Our words have immense power to hurt ourselves and others. On the flip side, our words can also help to build ourselves up in a positive direction. Therefore, it is crucial to use language that reflects our true intentions and aligns with our values.

The second agreement is to not take anything personally. Taking things personally can lead to unnecessary suffering. When we take things personally, we internalize other people's opinions and perceptions, which can damage our self-esteem and prevent us from seeing the situation objectively. By not taking things personally, we free ourselves from the emotional burden of other people's opinions and judgments. I really struggle with this one. I am fairly thin-skinned and really have a hard time not taking things personally.

The third agreement is to not make assumptions. The author states that many misunderstandings and conflicts arise from making assumptions about others' thoughts, intentions, and actions. He suggests that people should ask questions and seek clarification rather than assuming they know what others are thinking. By avoiding assumptions, we can avoid unnecessary conflict and build better relationships. This is the other one of the four that I really struggle with. It's so easy to create a "story" in our minds rather than trying to find the truth.

The fourth agreement is to always do your best. Ruiz acknowledges that perfection is impossible, but he says that we should strive to do our best in every situation. When we do our best, we avoid regret and self-judgment, and we build self-respect and confidence.

Applying these 4 principles to our own lives can have a significant impact on our personal development. By being impeccable with our words, we can build trust and respect with others and ourselves. By not taking things personally, we can avoid emotional distress and cultivate self-awareness. By avoiding assumptions, we can build more meaningful and authentic relationships. And by doing our best, we can achieve personal fulfillment and live a more purposeful life.

"The Four Agreements" provides a practical guide to personal development that can be applied to various aspects of life. By following the four agreements, we can achieve personal freedom, happiness, and fulfillment. I personally struggle with the second and third agreements. I am constantly reminding myself of this book. This is a work in progress when it comes to making myself proud. Awareness is the first step. Make yourself proud!