Don Miguel Ruiz, in the best-selling book The Four Agreements, offers four principles (termed as “the four agreements”) that, if applied, can help anyone live a life full with happiness and love. If you can manage to put them into practice, they will finally become integrated into your being and every area of your life will be totally transformed.
The four agreements might seem simple and easy, but in fact are perhaps the most difficult things to practice. But with discipline, patience and persistence, anyone who honestly desires to transform his or her life can practice them, and will be rewarded for this.
The Four Agreements are:
1. Be Impeccable with your word
Speak with integrity. 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.
2. Don’t take anything personally
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.
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. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.
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.
