A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom
Don Miguel Ruiz
This is actually the third time I have read this book, which you might infer that I find a lot of value in its contents. If that were the case, then you are correct. Often, after reading a book, I can share what I have learned. To the contrary, reading The Four Agreements is more like remembering. I’ve heard it said before that when you hear the truth, you recognize it… this is what I mean by “remembering”.
I’ve also heard it said that “knowing and doing are different things”. As such, I must humble myself and admit that I am not always impeccable with my word, at times I take things personally, I occasionally catch myself making assumptions, and I don’t always do my best. However, I can say that the more I keep the simple tenants of this book on the forefront of my mind while integrating them into my actions, the more I see the benefits in my relationships, career and overall quality of my life.
In connecting with my warrior energy, this time through, I also noted that the author relates those in the shamanic traditions to warriors -- in a war against the parasite of the mind,
The warrior is the one who rebels against the invasion of the parasite. The warrior rebels and declares a war. But to be a warrior doesn’t mean we always win the war; we may win or we may lose, but we always do our best and at least we have a chance to be free again. Choosing this path gives us, at the very least, the dignity of rebellion, and ensures that we will not be the helpless victim of our own whimsical emotions or the poisonous emotions of others.Even if we succumb to the enemy – the parasite – we will not be among those victims who would not fight back.
He continues to state,
The warrior has control. Not control over another human, but control over one’s own emotions, control over one’s own self. It is when we lose control that we repress the emotions, not when we are in control. The big difference between a warrior and a victim is that the victim represses, and the warrior refrains. Victims repress because they are afraid to show their emotions, afraid to say what they want to say. To refrain is not the same thing as repression. To refrain is to hold the emotions and to express them in the right moment, not before, not later. That is why warriors are impeccable. They have complete control over their own emotions and therefore over their own behavior.
From one Warrior to another, thank you for the wisdom you have shared.
We pretend to be what we are not because we are afraid of being rejected. The fear of being rejected becomes the fear of not being good enough. Eventually we become someone that we are not. Don Miguel Ruiz: The Four Agreements
Death is not the biggest fear we have; our biggest fear is taking the risk to be alive – the risk to be alive and express what we really are. Just being ourselves is the biggest fear of humans. Don Miguel Ruiz: The Four Agreements
We are not good enough for ourselves because we don’t fit with our own image of perfection. We cannot forgive ourselves for not being what we wish to be, or rather what we believe we should be. We cannot forgive ourselves for not being perfect. Don Miguel Ruiz: The Four Agreements
In your whole life nobody has ever abused you more than you have abused yourself. And the limit of your self-abuse is exactly the limit that you will tolerate from someone else. Don Miguel Ruiz: The Four Agreements
Regardless of the language you speak, your intent manifests through the word. What you dream, what you feel, and what you really are, will all be manifested through the word. Don Miguel Ruiz: The Four Agreements
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. Don Miguel Ruiz: The Four Agreements
The human mind is like a fertile ground where seeds are continually being planted. The seeds are opinions, ideas, and concepts. You plant a seed, a thought, and it grows. The word is like a seed, and the human mind is so fertile! Don Miguel Ruiz: The Four Agreements
Personal importance, or taking things personally, is the maximum expression of selfishness because we make the assumption that everything is about “me.” Don Miguel Ruiz: The Four Agreements
Whatever you think, whatever you feel, I know is your problem and not my problem. It is the way you see the world. It is nothing personal, because you are dealing with yourself, not with me. Don Miguel Ruiz: The Four Agreements
All the sadness and drama you have lived in your life was rooted in making assumptions and taking things personally. Don Miguel Ruiz: The Four Agreements
It is not important if the answer is correct; just the answer itself makes us feel safe. This is why we make assumptions. Don Miguel Ruiz: The Four Agreements
We make all sorts of assumptions because we don’t have the courage to ask questions. Don Miguel Ruiz: The Four Agreements
Everybody has the right to tell you no or yes, but you always have the right to ask. Don Miguel Ruiz: The Four Agreements
Regardless of the quality, keep doing your best – no more and no less than your best. If you try too hard to do more than your best, you will spend more energy than is needed and in the end your best will not be enough. Don Miguel Ruiz: The Four Agreements
You do your best because you want to do it, not because you have to do it. Don Miguel Ruiz: The Four Agreements
You were born with the right to be happy. You were born with the right to love, to enjoy and to share your love. You are alive, so take your life and enjoy it. Don Miguel Ruiz: The Four Agreements
Awareness is always the first step because if you are not aware, there is nothing you can change. Don Miguel Ruiz: The Four Agreements
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