After a serious car accident nearly resulting in his death, author Don Miguel Ruiz left his life as a neurosurgeon to pursue the wisdom of his ancestors. The Four Agreements are the first in a line of books about his studies.
This is my second read-through of The Four Agreements, and it won’t be my last. How such a short-read, can have such a tremendous impact is astounding. A few years ago, I lead a book club through The Four Agreements, and it took us over six weeks to get through the 138 pages. While it may not look like it at first glance – the type is relatively big and the spacing is wide – this book is rich with information and intensely thought-provoking, despite the simplicity of its central tenets.
- Be impeccable with your word.
- Don’t take anything personally.
- Don’t make assumptions.
- Always do your best.
As listed above, The Four Agreements are the intentions one must follow to live in “heaven on earth.” While the statements quite literally mean what they say, Ruiz goes deeper into each agreement to provide examples, metaphors, and stories.
I highly recommend finding a buddy or a group to read and discuss with, as the conversations can be quite compelling and take you much deeper into the text than reading solo might. If you can’t find anyone to join you, I recommend at least taking notes and asking yourself questions through a journal.
“You are not here to sacrifice your joy or your life. You are here to live, to be happy, and to love.”
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