The Four Agreements

The Four Agreements, written by Don Miguel Ruiz, is a book walking through the ancient Toltec philosophy for inner happiness. The Toltecs were a group of indigenous people in Mexico that lived prior to the Aztecs, and their teachings have been passed down through the ages.

Because of the hectic demands of the modern world, there has been a resurgence of people seeking ancient wisdom to find happiness amongst the daily chaos of our lives. This wisdom was developed in a time without cars, careers, and social media, and it seeks to teach you to find inner happiness. It is an interesting and quick read.

To entice you further, here is a brief snippet of The Four Agreements:

1. “Be impeccable with your word”

Being impeccable with your word goes beyond do not lie. It means speaking positively in all situations. It also means avoiding rumors and gossip and those that spread rumors and gossip.

2. “Don’t take anything personally”

The Four Agreements goes through the changes that affect people in their lives, starting as an innocent child and growing into a jaded adult. It is important to not take things personally, because negative actions say more about the doer than the person they are affecting. Basically, you do not want someone else’s problems ruining your happiness.

3. “Don’t make assumptions”

Even the ancient philosophers knew what happens when you assume…

4. “Always do your best”

Hard, honest work will always provide you with the most satisfaction. This goes beyond your job and asks you to do your best in your relationships and in the first three agreements.

Although The Four Agreements is based on ancient principles, they still ring very true today. I encourage you to dive into this book.

Until next time…we are Advoco, make every minute count.

About Colin: Colin Whitney is a Solutions Architect with Advoco and looks forward to helping others achieve their EAM goals. He is a graduate of both the University of Iowa and the University of Georgia. When he is not working he enjoys getting outside and watching college football. Questions? Send Colin an email!