The Four Agreements
We had a church service about The Four Agreements several weeks ago at All Souls UU Community, and I found them very inspiring and helpful:
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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-judgment, self-abuse and regret.
I have been doing 2 & 3 pretty consistently for several years now, and they definitely make a difference. Number 4 is problematic, because I am often not sure whether I am doing my best (one viewpoint is that each person is always doing their best).
Number 1 is where I am most focused on growth. I remember that when I did a 10-week Landmark workshop on integrity several years ago, just being in integrity about fulfilling my commitment to be there every week was a struggle! I also have a tendency to gossip, though I sometimes catch myself, and appreciate it when others alert me when I am gossiping.
(Thank you to waterfaery for reminding me about this!)
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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-judgment, self-abuse and regret.
I have been doing 2 & 3 pretty consistently for several years now, and they definitely make a difference. Number 4 is problematic, because I am often not sure whether I am doing my best (one viewpoint is that each person is always doing their best).
Number 1 is where I am most focused on growth. I remember that when I did a 10-week Landmark workshop on integrity several years ago, just being in integrity about fulfilling my commitment to be there every week was a struggle! I also have a tendency to gossip, though I sometimes catch myself, and appreciate it when others alert me when I am gossiping.
(Thank you to waterfaery for reminding me about this!)