Review of The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz

The Four Agreements

Don Miguel Ruizs The Four Agreements is one of the most interesting books I have ever read. I felt like every thing he said had happened some time in my life and have effected me in some way. His ideas were so simple. This is the first book I have read with such interest.

The first agreement is Be Impeccable with your word. If your word means nothing, then everything you do means nothing. When I was younger my parents always tried to emphasize how important it was to keep your word and follow through with your responsibilities. When I would say to my mom, I promise I will clean my room in one hour, she believed me and always expected me to get it done. I was always trying to postpone the inevitable and never followed through on my promises. Now every time I make promises to my parents they have a hard time believing I am going to do it. I takes time to gain there trust back and once Ive got it I want to keep it. It helps keep our relationship strong and that is important to me.

I am like most any person, I always gossip about a close friend or something that happened to some one I dont know personally. Gossip is a part of our world and is always going to be there. I have been the recipient of gossip all my life and it is always the truth, but stretched. I dont know any one that hasnt gossiped in there life. It is a poisonous habit ane we need to try and stop it.

The second agreement is Dont Take Anything Personally. This is something I dont have a problem with. I dont have much of a problem with what people say or how they think about me. Nothing anyone could say will force me to change my opinion of who I am. I have had many friends in my life who take things so seriously. I am known as kind of a joker and am always making comment that are sometimes out of line. I have made a conscious attempt of stopping that for the most part so I dont cause any one to suffer.

The third agreement is Dont Make Assumptions. I always fail to make assumptions with people when I first meet them. When I make assumptions of what somebody says it can sometimes get you in trouble. When I was younger I always thought when someone I didnt know talked to me I always tried to pick out he negative so I could cause trouble. When I think of the word assume, I always thing back to the Phrase It makes an ass out of you and me. Its true, when you assume someone is going to do something for you and the task doesnt get done, it makes you look like an idiot for assuming someone else was going to do it. The safest way to avoid this is to always rely on yourself.

The fourth agreement is Always Do Your Best. This agreement really interested me. I have had a lifetime of not doing my best. Whether it be homework, testing, or even doing simple chores for your parent. Always doing your best will get you further in life and is something I an trying to improve on everyday. And im getting better but I havent yet given my full 110% like John Stockton. Through trying and working on it everyday, I will be able to achieve new heights and be a much happier person.

Reading this book has given me many ideas for improving my life. If I can take these agreements seriously I know they will make me a much happier person. I now only do things that will build a healthy lifestyle and these four agreements are a big step in the right direction. Success!

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