The premise of Miguel Ruiz's book The Four Agreements is that "everything we do is based on agreements we have made [...] but the most important agreements are the ones we make with ourselves". There are simply stated as follows:
- Be Impeccable With Your Word.
- Don't Take Anything Personally.
- Don't Make Assumptions.
- Always Do Your Best.
I think these statements and Ruiz's examination of their application to life are a good foundation for someone who is trying to "do the hard inner work" of becoming a better person from the inside. The people I trust live these principles.
I feel I have been pretty good about all them except the second one. It's the one I have to revisit when I am calming myself down after feeling rage after experiencing some inconvenience or perceived sleight against me. It is perhaps ironic that what sets me off is when I see people not practicing the four agreements with me by being dishonest, evasive, overly personal, jumping to conclusions, or cutting corners in our interaction. Bad documentation? VIOLATION OF 1, 3, and 4!!! Sri ANGRY now! 😅
So yeah, still working on that one. Maybe I should reread the book...
...
There is a Fifth Agreement from the author!
- Be skeptical, but learn to listen.
That's a good one too.