'I'm always looking for the Hows and the Whys and the Whats,' said Muskrat, 'That is why I speak as I do. You've heard of Muskrat's Much-in-Little, of course?'
'No,' said the child. 'What is it?'
- The Mouse and his Child. Russell Hoban.

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Thursday 10 December 2009

The Four Agreements



1.  Be impeccable with your word and deed.
Speak and behave with integrity.  Say only what you mean.  Avoid using words to speak against yourself or to gossip about others.  Use the power of your word and deed in the direction of truth and love.

2.  Don't take things so personally.
Most of what others do isn't because of you.  What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dreams and hopes.  When you don't mind the opinions and actions of others, you won't suffer needlessly.

3.  Don't make assumptions.
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want.  Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama.  With this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

4.  Do your best.
Even in small day-to-day tasks.  Remember however, that your best is going to change from moment to moment.  It will be different when you are tired or ill than when you are rested or healthy.  Under any circumstances simply do your best and you will avoid self-judgement, self-abuse and regret.  

The above is from my fridge but is old and tatty.  Time to stick it here and throw out the old piece of paper.  

5 comments:

  1. Anonymous12.12.09

    It is my belief that the human brain and basic human compassion are by nature in some kind of balance.Sometimes,when we grow up,we may neglect human affection and simply concentrate on the human brain,thus losing the balance.It is then that disasters and unwelcome things happen.

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  2. Welcome to TLVD Jane. I like your comment. Which I suppose is another way of saying I agree with it.

    I would extend it by suggesting that too much head/logic/thought and not enough heart/feelings/intuition (and, presumably vice versa) puts us out of balance.

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  3. This is really brilliant and so relevant, in part, to my life at the moment.

    Please may I repeat it on my blog. I will, of course, give full credit to you and link it to your blog.

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  4. Of course you are welcome to take it GB. I pinched it from somewhere. But it's the 'making it your own' which is the thing, isn't it?

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  5. Yes it is. Thanks for that.

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