The Four Agreements - a companion on the journey

The year I turned 42 was the years things started to really open up for me spiritually.  It was my time for it I guess. It was also the year I started really thinking about four truths. 

I'm sure you've heard of The Four Agreements by now.  

When I discovered them by accident - handwritten and taped to the secretary's desk - I was working as a case management assistant in a major hospital.  And I remember that day clearly, as I was feeling the fallout of severe disillusionment with an uncaring system and was starting to question the point of all things. (Things I usually have a pretty good handle on - being born an optimist).

When I read them, I remember thinking to myself that they made 100% total sense.  And the precepts were SO logical. Why hadn't any of them ocurred to me before?  The answer is they have.  They've occurred to us all. And what's more, all of us have lived by their principles at least a few hundred times in our lives.

And it doesn't really matter what "religion" you are, or if you're any religion at all for that matter.  I truly believe every great book of enlightenment - from the Bible to the Talmud - orginally taught these truths - until man's greed and desire for control mucked them up for all of us. 

Oh well, maybe that's all  part of the plan.  One of our lessons being to discover like a treasure what we've known all along.

So in case you've forgotten them. Here they are again - by Don Miguel Ruiz:

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.

The Four Agreements - Precious in their simplicity and the fact that they apply to us and everyone in our lives - no matter how small the role. 

The real 24 carat Golden Rules.