Coffee Thursdays
Book Review: The Four Agreements
“Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counsellors, and the most patient of teachers.”
-- Charles W. Eliot
It doesn't come often that we find ourselves drowning into a good book, with the multitude of choices and thousands of book reviews commending the stars and pushing the best sellers every month in stores, the bewildering mind couldn't find a page to escape. I decided to recall The Four Agreements, as this piece of wisdom really made a positive impact in my life. This short review hopes to tell-tale and motivate at least, as they say a good book should be passed around.
Don Miguel Ruiz's book, The Four Agreements was published in 1997, it dawned the ideas of the ancient Toltec, the native inhabitants of South Mexico. The Toltec were 'people of knowledge' who viewed science and spirit composes the same entity, believing that all energy comes from and is governed by the universe. This distinct writing provides an inspirational code for life; a quintessential model for personal development behaviour, communications and relationships.
The agreements as follows:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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-judgement, self-abuse and regret.
At times when I find it hard to struggle, relate or understand other people; actions and relationships, resulting to conflicts and confrontations. I try to put myself in the right frame of mind, take a deep breath and return to these agreements, and surprisingly it transforms my responses and views differently, and believe me it does change for the better.