Don Miguel Ruiz, the author of The Four Agreements, is known as a nagual, or shaman, of the Toltec tradition. The Toltecs were an ancient group of scientists and artists that was formed to explore and preserve the practices and spiritual knowledge of the ancient ones. It is not a religion, but a way of life that embraces spirit and honors all the spiritual masters who have taught on the earth. Toltec wisdom arises from the same essential unity of truth as other sacred esoteric traditions that are found all over the world.
From this wisdom, he has created The Four Agreements which are very simple, but very profound. To embrace and live each of the Four Agreements is to find yourself experiencing personal freedom–possibly as never before.
1. Be Impeccable With Your Word
Your word is your power to create the events in your life. It can create positive events or destructive events. Impeccable means “without sin”. So the idea here is that you use your word without sin against yourself. You take responsibility for your actions but you do not judge and blame yourself. There is a big difference. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love. The Four Agreements
Excerpt from The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
2. Don’t Take Anything Personally
Don’t take compliments or insults or anything in between personally. If you know who you are and are impeccable with your word (i.e.: being yourself, not going against yourself) then you will get better and better at not allowing others to shape how you feel about yourself. Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.
Excerpt from The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz The Four Agreements
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3. Don’t Make Assumptions
This almost requires no comment. We do this ALL the time. I know I do. You hear someone explaining their situation and as they are you are summarizing it in your own words in your head, filling in blanks because you want to have the complete picture. Except it’s not the complete picture because rather than ask questions to fill in the blanks, you used your own experience and assumptions to do so. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.
Excerpt from The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz The Four Agreements
4. Always Do Your Best
Always do your best so that you will not judge and punish yourself. Do things because you want to do them and do your best, not for some reward. Enjoy your life. Live it now. And your best may not be the same every day if you’re sick, tired, or you’ve fallen victim to beating yourself up. Doing your best means doing your best with the previous 3 agreements also and it means you may not always live up to your desire to always honor them. Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret. The Four Agreements
Excerpt from The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
