At the dawning of a new year, in spite of the continuing trouble in the world, I feature today a post from an incredible woman that I call a friend: Meta. She comments on the import of a word we have heard oft repeated today in regards to the Ford funeral: Integrity. She writes about the Don Miguel Ruiz bestseller of a few years ago, "The Four Agreements©". Give this post and its ideas the integrity of your attention and please let me know how you intended to live with integrity in this new year.
Although I haven’t read the book, there are the 4 Agreements from Don Miguel Ruiz, who is a Toltec spiritual leader. I heard about him a few years ago.
They’re pretty basic, if stated in an overly simplistic way:
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, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless 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, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.
8 comments:
Hope, that sure falls in the "easier said than done" category, eh?
Number 4 seems the hardest to me - I get so discouraged sometimes when I feel like we're shoveling against the tide. Discouragement breeds lethargy. It does help to rant and be ranted at in the left blogosphere - I least I don't feel so alone in my hair-pulling.
Op...I know how you feel... but that "they" are continually 'framing' the discussion it is up to us to reframe it and let the light of truth shine into the darkness they so frequently create. I quote here from a text that brings me hope: A Course in Miracles.
"Darkness is a lack of light as sin is a lack of love. It has no unique principles of its own. It is an example of the "scarcity" belief, from which only error can proceed. Truth is always abundant. Those who percieve and acknowledge that they have everything have no needs of any kind. The purpose of the Atonement is to restore everything to you; or rather, to restore you to your awareness. You were given everything when you were created, just as everyone was."
Do not succumb to the emptiness engendered by fear.
Do not succumb to the emptiness engendered by fear.
I'm optimistic by nature, but also a realist. I just have to ignore big swatches of things most of the time, or I would be overwhelmed.
Nice post hope. I like the contemplative angle from time to time, it helps us to keep from being overwhelmed by current events.
BTW, a belated Happy New Year to you!
Thanks for stopping by SadBT. I love your place...amkes me feel like Paris in springtime...
I thought 4 was actually the only one I had a pretty decent shot at...
Thanks for the inspirational post, Hope. I love Don Miguel, you may know that he has two follow up books to The Four Agreements, called The Mastery of Love and The Voice of Knowledge. It's all worth reading and contemplating, soaked in the simple profundity that only comes from a lifetime of practice, not theory.
Happy New Year. May we each proceed with as much integrity as we can muster. Peace.
Kai! what a pleasure to see you. It has been difficult to keep in touch with people since I stopped going over to FDL. Lotus, and Op99, Immantize, Mary, Shoephone and several others come by my place and now you! It was so good to find you made a trip over here.
Happy New Year to you and may the state of the world improve this year.
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