Some Agreements

I just finished reading this book... and before I return it to the library I thought I'd share a few ideas from it. I will admit freely that I didn't love this book and rolled my eyes several times during the course of reading it. Perhaps my mindset wasn't where it needed to be (on a higher plane?) to appreciate it... It came very highly recommended by a friend with whom I usually agree on book choices, so I was a little disappointed that it didn't rock my world like she thought it would... but no matter, it still had a few things that caused me to reflect a bit more and I hope that I'm better for having read it.

It's based on the assumption that we have all made agreements with ourselves and our society, most of which aren't beneficial to us. The author suggests that to improve our lives (and increase our happiness and freedom) we need to rid ourselves of these bad agreements and form new agreements.

I liked the four agreements that he suggested:

1. Be impeccable with your word.

2. Don't take anything personally. (This one was interesting... he emphasizes that it's not just the negative things thrown our way that we shouldn't take personally, but the compliments and positive things too.)

3. Don't make assumptions. (I'm so guilty of this... but trying to do better... which leads us to...)

4. Always do your best. (This section reminded me of President Hinckley. I love that President Hinckley always reminded us to do our best, but make sure it's our very best. I liked that the author spelled out that some days our best is better than others. We won't need to have any regrets if we know that we have always done our best.)

**Did any of those agreements speak to you?