I was cleaning out my book shelf and pondering on what to keep and what to donate. A book I’ve read many times fell out so I picked it up and began to browse through it for the 20th time. The book is a little worse for wear because I’ve marked it up, highlighted, underscored and bent the pages, but it is so relevant that it speaks to me every time I open it up.
The definition of a genius is taking the complex and making it simple.
Albert Einstein
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
It’s a small book of 138 pages, so it’s a quick read, but don’t be fooled by its size, between these covers are practical guides to freedom from things that hold us all hostage in one way or another. I am always looking for things that help me in my journey to minimalism and this has been a huge help in many of the things that I trip over in my daily life. The book has 4 major chapters which guide you in how to live a simple drama free life.
- Be Impeccable With Your Word~ Words have power within yourself and with others. The words you use have the power to build up or tear down. Choose your words to inspire and uplift, plant words in yourself and others to help grow. The seeds of positivity and love can only feed your soul as God intended.
- Don’t Take Anything Personally~ Personal importance, or taking things personally, is the maximum expression of selfishness because we make the assumption that everything is about “me”. Nothing other people do is about you. You are never responsible for the actions of others; you are only responsible for you. Grasping this idea is hard but once you begin to practice and use it, your life will become so much more rewarding.
- Don’t Make Assumptions~ We make the assumption that everyone sees life the way we do. We assume that others think the way we think, feel the way we feel, judge the way we judge, and abuse the way we abuse. The way to keep from making assumptions is to always ask questions, that way you are clear on what is happening and you won’t assume.
- Always Do Your Best~ Just do your best, in every situation in your life. It doesn’t matter if you are sick or tired, if you always do your best there is no way you can judge yourself. And if you don’t judge yourself, there is no way you are going to suffer from guilt, shame, or self-punishment.
You need a very strong will in order to adopt the four agreements!
But if you can begin to live your life with these agreements, the transformation in your life will be amazing. You will see the drama of life disappear right before your very eyes. Instead of living in a dream of turmoil, you will be creating a new life, and your path to personal freedom.
This book has helped me through some difficult struggles and is applicable in every life situation I’ve encountered. I encourage you to pick up a copy of this “simple” book, and when you do remember.
Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.
Making of a Minimalist 