Wednesday, August 09, 2006
T h e__F o u r__A g r e e m e n t s
by Don Miguel Ruiz
I just finished this book.
This is a 'Toltec Wisdom' book.
The four agreements are:
'Be Impeccable With Your Word'
'Don't Take Anything Personally'
'Don't Make Assumptions'
and
'Always Do Your Best'
The agreements are simple, but put in the order the author presents them makes for an interesting program.
The first, I knew, would be the one I could immediately apply.
I don't remember when or where I picked it up, but somewhere along the line, I became a very sarcastic person. I have noticed that my sarcasm has been a composite entity. The intention is humor, but the humor is twinged with the slightest bit of bitterness that to me has become more obvious in my communication with people of late.
I don't want to be bitter.
So I tried the first agreement at work and at choir and at home.
I found it was really freeing to say only what I thought was beneficient, and to not poke fun.
Poking fun has it's place, when one is at play, but not all throughout life.
So as I communicated with people, I said only what I thought was good, relevant and beneficient.
It worked!
My communication these past few days has been remarkably improved.
Maybe obviously, the first thing I've noticed is people have seemed to take me more seriously and have actually listened to what I say.
The not taking things personally is always a challenge, but due to experiences from the past six years, I've actually been doing this one for quite some time.
Don't make assumptions.
Aren't we all guilty of this one? If it doesn't make sense, if you don't understand, or if you can't sense it...ask questions! I've found this one is tough because of the speed of day to day life, where it is almost demanded we make split second decisions with almost little, or even no, information! The trick for me here has been to slow down a little. Stop myself. Do I really understand what's expected? If not, I have the right to make myself better informed. The flip side of the coin is, I respect others enough to explain my expectations to them. The people in my life are worth the little bit of extra time it takes to tell them why I need something from them.
Finally,
Do Your Best
Honestly, I think I've overdone this one in the past. I tend to be goal oriented and want to get the task done efficiently and as quickly as possible while leaving no loose ends. So I've found I can actually do my best better by realizing tomorrow's another day and it's okay for things to take a little longer.
At the end of the book, Ruiz offers some prayers to the Creator I found to be very honest, universal and peaceful.
by Don Miguel Ruiz
I just finished this book.
This is a 'Toltec Wisdom' book.
The four agreements are:
'Be Impeccable With Your Word'
'Don't Take Anything Personally'
'Don't Make Assumptions'
and
'Always Do Your Best'
The agreements are simple, but put in the order the author presents them makes for an interesting program.
The first, I knew, would be the one I could immediately apply.
I don't remember when or where I picked it up, but somewhere along the line, I became a very sarcastic person. I have noticed that my sarcasm has been a composite entity. The intention is humor, but the humor is twinged with the slightest bit of bitterness that to me has become more obvious in my communication with people of late.
I don't want to be bitter.
So I tried the first agreement at work and at choir and at home.
I found it was really freeing to say only what I thought was beneficient, and to not poke fun.
Poking fun has it's place, when one is at play, but not all throughout life.
So as I communicated with people, I said only what I thought was good, relevant and beneficient.
It worked!
My communication these past few days has been remarkably improved.
Maybe obviously, the first thing I've noticed is people have seemed to take me more seriously and have actually listened to what I say.
The not taking things personally is always a challenge, but due to experiences from the past six years, I've actually been doing this one for quite some time.
Don't make assumptions.
Aren't we all guilty of this one? If it doesn't make sense, if you don't understand, or if you can't sense it...ask questions! I've found this one is tough because of the speed of day to day life, where it is almost demanded we make split second decisions with almost little, or even no, information! The trick for me here has been to slow down a little. Stop myself. Do I really understand what's expected? If not, I have the right to make myself better informed. The flip side of the coin is, I respect others enough to explain my expectations to them. The people in my life are worth the little bit of extra time it takes to tell them why I need something from them.
Finally,
Do Your Best
Honestly, I think I've overdone this one in the past. I tend to be goal oriented and want to get the task done efficiently and as quickly as possible while leaving no loose ends. So I've found I can actually do my best better by realizing tomorrow's another day and it's okay for things to take a little longer.
At the end of the book, Ruiz offers some prayers to the Creator I found to be very honest, universal and peaceful.
