MIND MATTERS: THE FOUR AGREEMENTS

 In only a few hours, I read The Four Agreements cover to cover, but its message will impact the rest of my life. 

Praised as a practical guide to personal freedom, it reminds me of concepts I discovered last year. The first time around, these concepts didn’t make much sense, as I didn’t see how I could implement in the real world what I learned about the universe and my place in it. So, I shelved them, and they gathered dust while I went about life as I always had. 

But things have a way of returning in life, and the re-introduction of these concepts seems to be telling me something. Perhaps there’s a lesson to learn… 

The story goes like this…in ancient times a man emerged from a cave with an astounding realization: “Humans exist in a world of fog and smoke, a dream world of their own creation that separates them from the truth of who and what they really are—pure love and light.” 

This dream world is a compilation of all the individual dreams of all the world’s people, and it came to be society’s dream that everyone agreed over time was the truth. But it is not the truth…it is only what we agree to accept as the truth. By changing the agreements we have with ourselves about what is truth (i.e. beliefs), we change our dream and therefore, our reality. 

Okay, I realize it’s not easy to comprehend in 350 words what this means, but let me put this possibility before you: What if what you believed to be true was only a dream you created, based upon the acceptance of others’ opinions of you?  

Let’s say someone tells you that you’re incompetent, and you believe this person’s opinion. You agree this is true. What happens to your world? Do you find proof this person was right? Of course! Something so small as another’s opinion of you (especially if a parent!) transforms your entire life. 

In sum, here’s the book’s message: remember you are pure love as God intended and love yourself accordingly. Live the agreements—Be impeccable with your word. Don’t take anything personally. Don’t make assumptions. Always do your best—and your dream will always be heaven. So simple, but so profound. 

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Wendy Jameson, MA, offers corporate and personal coaching through her company, Potentiate (www.potentiate.net). She's an author, counselor, consultant and life adventurer. She lives in Gilbert with her husband, two boys and pet menagerie.