I re-visited this book today. The author, Don Miguel Ruiz, was born in rural Mexico, the youngest of 13 children. He attended medical school, and became a surgeon. The Four Agreements, published in 1997, was a New York Times bestseller for more than a decade.

In this time of outrageous people (and news) who rant on the TV and computer I recommend you read this if you haven’t already. It presents a code for personal freedom based on ancient Toltec wisdom. The four agreements are:

1.         Be Impeccable with Your Word.
Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean in the kindest of ways, and use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love. Words are powerful tools and we know that they can create or destroy, uplift, or bring down. Being impeccable with your word means not using words against yourself or others. Gossip, lies, and negative self-talk are examples of being non-impeccable. By being careful and truthful in our speech, we can avoid causing harm and instead spread positivity.

2.         Don’t Take Anything Personally.
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. People’s reactions and behaviors are often based on their own beliefs, experiences, and wounds. By not taking things personally, we protect ourselves from unnecessary hurt. For instance, if someone insults you, it’s more about their own issues than about you. Recognizing this helps in maintaining emotional equilibrium and not getting entangled in other people’s dramas.

3.         Don’t Make Assumptions.
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama. Making assumptions can lead to misunderstandings and unnecessary conflicts. Don’t assume people are ignoring you if they don’t return calls or get back to you. Talk to them when you see them again. Seek clarity and not making assumptions, we can navigate our relationships and situations more effectively.

4.         Always Do Your Best.
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. By always doing our best, we live without regrets. It’s important to understand that “our best” can vary. Some days we might be full of energy and enthusiasm, while on others we might be tired or unwell. The key is to give the best of what we have in the present moment, without being overly critical of ourselves.
https://booksthatslay.com/the-4-agreements-summary/

I have seen these written as a poster many times and recommend you buy or download it and put it on your refrigerator!

More on this topic tomorrow night. Love to all on this cold night! Take care of each other!