I could not put this book down.
I picked this book up on a Sunday morning and by the evening I had finished it, it was that easily digestible.
Using easy and simple language Don Miguel Ruiz wrote this book to show you how you may practically reach a level of personal freedom and relief through committing to four agreements to yourself.
- Be impeccable with your word.
- Do not take anything personally.
- Do not make assumptions.
- Always do your best.
Be impeccable with your word.
This agreement is the foundation to the other three agreements and the area where I personally know I am working to be better at.
At its essence, this agreement wants you to take full responsibility for your actions WITHOUT judgement or blame, and the second part is where I need to focus on. My natural thought pattern after not achieving the standard I want or failing is to punish myself and speak negatively about myself.
Yet if we objectively look at this or better yet I imagine I am person I want to care for, I simply will not do this. If I wanted to be successful long term, I would accept the failing, simply learn the lesson and encourage myself to go again.
A great line in this chapter says;
“The word is the most powerful tool you have as a human; it is the tool of magic. But like a sword with two edges, your word can create the most beautiful dream, or your word can destroy everything around you”.
When you are “impeccable with your word,” you:
- Say only what you mean
- Speak with integrity
- Stop your internal negative self-talk
- Refrain from gossiping
Do not take anything personally.
A self-explanatory agreement but one I needed reminding off.
By taking things personally we are you are setting yourself up to suffer for nothing.
When you make it a strong habit not to take anything personally, you avoid many upsets in your life. Your anger, jealousy, and envy will disappear, and even your sadness will simply disappear if you do not take things personally.
Do not make assumptions.
Something I imagine we all commonly do, the issue with making assumptions is we believe they are the truth. When in fact we simply do not know the truth.
Because we are afraid to ask for clarification, we make assumptions, believing we are right about the assumptions, defending them and try to make other people wrong.
It is always better to simply ask questions and clarify.
An individual who has acted as an inspiration for the values and principles within Daintree Wealth management, Ray Dalio, swears by radical honesty and transparency. Seek clarity and the truth above all else.
Always do your best.
Always do the very best you can.
Don’t worry if your best now is the same or better than your best yesterday, or even a moment ago.
Accept your bet will change moment to moment, depending on the conditions within and around you.
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