Exploring the Four Agreements: A Guide to Wisdom and Personal Growth

I heard about Don Miguel Ruiz’s book 7 years ago from a colleague. She had it saved as a background picture on her desktop which kind of peaked my interest. At the time, i used to shy away from non-fiction books and had little interest in self-discovery journeys. Today is another story; curiosity led me to the ”Four Agreements” and I wanted to understand what all the buzz was about. It’s truly a book of wisdom  and as my father used to say “Embrace wisdom and it will keep you moving forward in life”. He was a wise man.

I read this book in one sitting on a Saturday and decided to share with you the wisdom of the Toltec men & women of knowledge from South Mexico. I love spending my Sunday mornings (weather permitting, of course) trying new coffee shops in Toronto and today, I decided to bring my IPad along with me and write.

The book is divided into seven chapters from which four are dedicated to one agreement each.

I will share, below, the quotes from the book that resonated with me most.

1. Be Impeccable with your word : What you say has the power to shape your reality and influence others. Be kind - Be Truthful.

“Impeccability of the word can lead you to personal freedom, to huge success and abundance; it can take away all fear and transform it into joy and love”.

“The word is so powerful that one word can change a life or destroy the lives of millions of people”.

“When you are impeccable you take responsibility towards your actions but you do not judge or blame yourself”.

“One little piece of misinformation can break down communication between people”.

2. Don’t take anything personally : What others say and do is a reflection of their own reality, not yours. By not taking things personally, you free yourself from unnecessary suffering.

“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 because of you. It is because of themselves”.

“What they say, what they do and the opinions they give are according to the agreements they have in their own minds”.

“When you make it a strong habit not to take anything personally, you avoid many upsets in your life. Your anger, jealousy and envy will disappear. Even your sadness will disappear if you don’t take things personally”.

3. Don’t make assumptions : Clear communication is key. It prevents misunderstanding and fosters healthier relationships.

“The problem with making assumptions is that we believe they are the truth”.

“We make an assumption, we misunderstand, we take it personally and we end up creating a whole big drama”.

“If others feel that they have to change you, that means they don’t really love you just the way you are”.

4. Always do your best : Your best will vary from moment to moment, but giving your all - without self-judgment - leads to personal freedom and peace.

“Always do your best”.

“When you overdo, you deplete your body and go against yourself and it will take you longer to accomplish your goal. But if you do less than your best, you subject yourself to frustrations, self judgment, guilt and regrets”.

“Learning from your mistakes means that you practice, look honestly at the results, and keep practicing”.

When I put the book down, I am not going to lie, it took me some time to absorb these simple yet profound lessons.

The Four agreements, though straightforward, hold the power to transform every aspects of our lives, personal and professional, if we commit to practicing them.

It’s a reminder that true wisdom often lies in the simplest truths but mastering them is a lifelong journey.