My Four Agreements (with a little help from Miguel Ruiz)

As an avid reader, inner peace seeker and budding global spiritualist, I am often drawn to literature that helps me work to live better and leave a better spiritual footprint wherever I go. I began this journey back in Brownies where I learned to, “Leave places better than I found them.” I expanded this to, “Leave people and places better than I found them,” sometime in middle school and by high school, I was was bent on making sure people, “Knew my name and remembered me after I’d moved on.” I am impressed by my gumption as I remember saying this even as 1 of 18,000 in college. And you know what, I think I did it. As a teacher, this is a daily quest and I am often looking for sources to fuel the immense amount of energy this type of mission statement requires. Miguel Ruiz’s The Four Agreements is now the center of much of this thought.

A friend handed the book to me during one of my infamous seasons of down moods and after recently discovering I’d never returned the book (though I swore I had) and seeing a television interview with the author, I was inspired all over again. The Four Agreements are promises you make to yourself, that in turn, help you be a better you for those who cross paths with you whether intentionally or accidentally. You don't need to read the book, but of course, I wanted to give credit to the soul who so eloquently and simply scribed these rules for living. They are:

1) Be impeccable with your word.

2) Don’t take anything personally.

3) Don’t make assumptions.

4) Always do your best.

Anyone else joining in my, “Well, duh,” chorus? So simple, yet so profound. And remember, you need to apply these to yourself. It’s easy to be kind to others, but many of us are our own archenemy. Be honest with yourself, keep promises to yourself, and for us moms, that means, eat, sleep, exercise, say “no”, and be truthful so you can be who you need to be for those who need you. Don’t take anything personally: usually someone else’s __________ is about them. How dare you think you are the center of their universe? Don’t assume anything. Unless the thought generates from your own center, you don’t know it’s intention and how dare you do so. And finally, Boy/Girl Scout motto, ALWAYS do whatever your best is at any given moment on any given day. How dare you think you can do more and how dare you do any less?

Be true, be you and do your best. What a way to be and be and be and thrive...

http://www.miguelruiz.com/