I have just finished reading a book called “The Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz. He talks about the pain we inflict on others as well as ourselves through the domestication process we received when we were growing up.
He introduces us what he claims is ancient Toltec Wisdom from Mexico and it consists of four agreements you need to make with yourself to live a healthy life and be loving to those around you.
The first agreement is that you have to be impeccable with your word.
He believes carelessly said words can inflict damage on not only others but also yourself. He is basically saying “if you can’t say something nice then don’t say anything at all.“
He makes the argument that words can cast a bad spell or good spell depending upon what is said and how you take it. He next goes on to what is the second agreement and that is Don’t take anything personally.
Develop your own persona and recognize that other people may be jealous of you and will say or do things to make you put limits on what you will allow yourself to do in the future.
This goes along with the First agreement and is basically show you should respond to other people who are not impeccable with their words. Those who cast bad spells.
The third agreement build upon the other two and is titled “Don’t Make Assumptions.” When someone says or does something don’t assume that it was solely done to affect you. They may have other things going on in their life that effect what they are saying.
The last agreement is “Always Do Your Best.” You free yourself from self-incrimination about feeling you could have done better. He talks about how we were domesticated by silent agreements from what others said to us.
We taught to comply as we grew up and were socialized by rewards and punishment. He calls these rules the agreements we make with others as we grow up. We reach a point where we are so well domesticated that we become our own domesticator.
My next blog I will talk about how we police ourselves because of the domestication we have received in the past and how the four rules will help us to free ourselves from the negative effects these silent agreements we have developed.
.If you have struggled with these questions and issues then Patterson2Y2R should be a place you should visit. Share your stories and challenges.
I have an ear that would love to hear your stories. Let’s taste the real meaning of life. I am still working on my course with a goal of launching a starter course by June 30th, and I will keep you abreast as to how the process goes.
If you want to participate in this process and join my first class please send me an email to www.bobchuckpatterson@yahoo.com
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