In The Four Agreements don Miguel Ruiz offers four deceptively simple principles to live by. Keeping these four agreements can be one of the hardest things you will ever do and one of the most life changing.
The Four Agreements are:
1. Be Impeccable With Your Word
Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.
2. Don’t Take Anything Personally
Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality. When you are unattached to the actions of others, you free yourself from suffering.
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 just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.
4. Always Do Your Best
Your best is going to change from moment to moment. It will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, do your best and compassionately know this to be true.
Number 5 — be accepting if others do not meet your expectations on these four.
I tend to be a bit less accepting of others and expect more than i get.