The Four Agreements, one of my Top 5 Favorite Books, is about how to live in your own "image" of the world instead of the "world" you have been conditioned to live in. It is about breaking free of the belief that there are "rules" that one must believe in order to be happy and teaches a way of saying, "I have the right to live my own way"and living it. The way here is with compassion for others and also a love of oneself.




The Four Agreements are a simple "code" for living:




1. Be impeccable with your word.




2. Don't take anything personally.




3. Don't make assumptions.




4. Always do your best.




The work I personally have done of "doing my best" at following these agreements-for the last three years-has caused a huge metamorphisis of how I view the world and my place in it. It is a path to guide you to personal freedom void of the chains of societal and familial conditioning we have received since our births and continue to receive daily.




The simplicity and brevity of don Miguel's writings are refreshing in this age of "spiritual self-help" books that ramble on without not giving us much help in the way of day to day living.

Although all four of the agreements are profound, the one I have noticed that has the most covert effects on increasing my happiness is not making assumptions. If one realizes all of the subconscious assumptions he/she makes in each moment and works to gain and keep awareness of these behaviors, it will have an amazing and welcomed affect.




Don Miguel also guides the reader in learning of the power of the word and how it affects people in two ways, the words we say to others, and equally as powerful, the words we say to to or about ourselves.

Give everyone I know a copy and the will to read it with awareness. What a peaceful, loving world it would be if we all worked at living by these agreements.

As if the weight of the world had been lifted from me. I had spent so much time in my life condemning myself for not being "right" and after reading and practicing the agreements I no longer felt the way I chose to live was wrong. I now feel a personal freedom to live, forgive myself for my humanity and to embrace it.

Don Miguel Ruiz is a shamanic teacher and healer whose beliefs are based on ancient Toltec wisdom. He teaches and guides individuals to personal freedom and happiness. He has written two books in the Four Agreements spirit. The Mastery of Love and The Four Agreements Companion Book.

It is short, simple and profound.

Book excerpt:




Don't Take Things Personally-


Each of us lives in our own personal dream, and what we say, what we do, and the opinions we give come from the agreements that we have in our own minds - they have nothing to do with anyone else. By the same token, others' opinions have nothing to do with us, so there is nothing to take personally. When we make the assumption that whatever happens is because of us, we continue to hurt each other and brood about what we call injustice. A huge amount of freedom is gained when we take nothing personally.








Check out don Miguel's website at:




http://www.miguelruiz.com/




Thank you,




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Created Nov 22, 2001 at 11:32am • Submit your own review...