The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz

 

I read this in just a few hours.  I'll be reading it again for repetition, to more easily recall the new agreements I want to make with myself to replace old fears, anxiety, and depression, and the thinking that is causing those feelings at work that spill over to my evenings and days off.

In this book Don Miguel writes about four agreements, or commitments we can make with ourselves: 1) Be impeccable with your word; 2) Don't take anything personally; 3) Don't make assumptions; 4) Always do your best.  These govern new ways of thinking and behaving that can alter the way you experience life; but they are not new ideas and he echoes the teachings of Christ at times, Buddha as well, and others because this is ancient wisdom.  I thought it would be fascinating to reread the words of Jesus in light of these four agreements and look forward to doing so, though this is not a religious book by any means.

The work will be identifying the thinking I have that is causing the hellish path I am on mentally and emotionally.  Practicing the four agreements will help do this and, as I encounter the sources of my anxiety and depression, I can forgive and let go.  So, it's a bit of cognitive behavioral therapy as well.

It's an easy read, with plenty of cause to pause and take in what is written.  I'm not new to meditation, intentional living, living in the present, and the power of words and thought, but Don Miguel Ruiz is clear about the tools he is offering and how to use them.