I recently came into contact with a book called The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Wisdom by Don Miguel Ruiz. This book, which was first published in 1997 and has sold around 7.2 million copies in the US alone has been translated into 40 languages and was written by a Toltec spiritualist and self made shaman. Sounds like some weird stuff right? Well on some levels it is, but it is also the most inspiring, motivational and thought provoking material that I have encountered in some time and I loved the message being relayed in the text and really wanted to share it on my blog.
For those of you that have read this book or have already come against the theories outlined within it's pages, I apologise, but for anyone that hasn't encountered this book yet, then I think that you should read it as soon as you can. It's only around 160 pages long and yeah....sure, it's a bit alternative and spiritual in it's approach but it's also lovely to read and leaves you feeling so ponderous and hopeful that you can be a better version of yourself that by the end of it you will feel ready to tackle anything head on.
The book advocates personal freedom from beliefs and poorly designed agreements that we have made with ourselves and others that are creating limitations and unhappiness in our lives. In the book there are four new agreements for you to make with yourself that are simplistic but simplistically perfect at the same time.
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 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.
3. 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.
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 circumstances, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgement, self-abuse and regret.
Don Miguel Ruiz's son Don Jose Ruiz subsequently released a sequel with his father that adds a fifth agreement to that list:
5. Be Skeptical, but learn to listen.
Which, let's be honest, is pretty sound advice on any level. I haven't read the The Fifth Agreement book so I can't really recommend it, but I do recommend The Four Agreements for no other reason than some life inspiration and food for thought.
So, I am going to end this blog entry with my favourite quote from the book:
Life is like dancing. If we have a big floor, many people will dance. Some will get angry when the rhythm changes, but life is changing all the time.
For those of you that have read this book or have already come against the theories outlined within it's pages, I apologise, but for anyone that hasn't encountered this book yet, then I think that you should read it as soon as you can. It's only around 160 pages long and yeah....sure, it's a bit alternative and spiritual in it's approach but it's also lovely to read and leaves you feeling so ponderous and hopeful that you can be a better version of yourself that by the end of it you will feel ready to tackle anything head on.
The book advocates personal freedom from beliefs and poorly designed agreements that we have made with ourselves and others that are creating limitations and unhappiness in our lives. In the book there are four new agreements for you to make with yourself that are simplistic but simplistically perfect at the same time.
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 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.
3. 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.
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 circumstances, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgement, self-abuse and regret.
Don Miguel Ruiz's son Don Jose Ruiz subsequently released a sequel with his father that adds a fifth agreement to that list:
5. Be Skeptical, but learn to listen.
Which, let's be honest, is pretty sound advice on any level. I haven't read the The Fifth Agreement book so I can't really recommend it, but I do recommend The Four Agreements for no other reason than some life inspiration and food for thought.
So, I am going to end this blog entry with my favourite quote from the book:
Life is like dancing. If we have a big floor, many people will dance. Some will get angry when the rhythm changes, but life is changing all the time.
PULP FICTION
Release Date: 1994
Rating: R 18+
Running Time: 154 mins
This black-comedy/action film directed by Quentin Tarantino won major acclaim at the box office and became an instant cult classic. It was nominated for a Best Picture Oscar and won the 1994 Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, it resurrected John Travolta's career and galvanized Tarantino's abilities as a talented director.
This stylized "neo-noir" film connects four intersecting storylines involving a Los Angeles mobster, some small-time crooks, two psychopathic hit men, an aging boxer, a drug snorting gangsters wife, a gimp and a very mysterious briefcase. Yep, it really has got it all, and a stellar ensemble cast to bring it all together including Samuel Jackson, Bruce Willis, Uma Thurman, Tim Roth and Harvey Keitel to name but a few.
This type of gore driven, uber-violent action may not be for everyone, but I just loved this movie from start to end. It's a fun watch with a kick-arse soundtrack and loads going on to keep you entertained.
FINAL SAY: Just because you are a character doesn't mean you have character.
4 Chilli Peppers
Release Date: 1994
Rating: R 18+
Running Time: 154 mins
This black-comedy/action film directed by Quentin Tarantino won major acclaim at the box office and became an instant cult classic. It was nominated for a Best Picture Oscar and won the 1994 Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, it resurrected John Travolta's career and galvanized Tarantino's abilities as a talented director.
This stylized "neo-noir" film connects four intersecting storylines involving a Los Angeles mobster, some small-time crooks, two psychopathic hit men, an aging boxer, a drug snorting gangsters wife, a gimp and a very mysterious briefcase. Yep, it really has got it all, and a stellar ensemble cast to bring it all together including Samuel Jackson, Bruce Willis, Uma Thurman, Tim Roth and Harvey Keitel to name but a few.
This type of gore driven, uber-violent action may not be for everyone, but I just loved this movie from start to end. It's a fun watch with a kick-arse soundtrack and loads going on to keep you entertained.
FINAL SAY: Just because you are a character doesn't mean you have character.
4 Chilli Peppers
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