Masterful Mindsets

 “Just imagine becoming the way you used to be as a very young child, before you understood the meaning of any word, before opinions took over your mind. The real you is loving, joyful, and free.” ~ Don Miguel Ruiz

Over the last several weeks, we've been exploring the wisdom found in The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. We've talked about being impeccable with our word, not taking things personally, avoiding assumptions, and always doing our best.

These four simple principles have helped millions of people create greater freedom, peace, and personal responsibility in their lives. And if you've been following along, my hope is that they've helped you reflect on some of your own thoughts, beliefs, habits, and behaviors as well.

But as we wrap up this series, I want to leave you with a question that I think may be even more important than the agreements themselves:

What agreements are you currently living by?

Most of us don't spend much time thinking about that question.

Yet ...

“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.” ~ Don Miguel Ruiz

As we've worked our way through The Four Agreements, we've talked about being impeccable with our word, not taking things personally, and avoiding assumptions. Today, we're looking at the fourth and final agreement:

Always Do Your Best.

At first glance, it sounds simple enough. Most people would probably say they already try to do their best.

But if that's true, why do so many people walk around feeling frustrated, disappointed, and like they're never quite measuring up?

I think the answer is something I've seen repeatedly in both my coaching practice and my own life:

Many people aren't striving to do their best.

They're striving to be perfect.

And those are two very different things.

If you're someone who puts a lot of pressure on yourself...

“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.” ~ Don Miguel Ruiz

Have you ever made an assumption about someone or a situation, only to find out later that you were completely wrong?

If so, you're in good company.

Most of us have done it.

We've assumed someone was upset with us when they weren't. We've assumed someone knew what we wanted when we never actually told them. We've assumed we understood a situation, only to discover later that we were missing important information.

And more often than not, those assumptions create exactly what Don Miguel Ruiz warns us about: unnecessary misunderstanding, disappointment, and drama.

That's why the third agreement from The Four Agreements is so powerful:

Don't Make Assumptions.

Simple advice, right?

Yet it's amazing how often we ignore it.

Whe...

 “You can only be you when you do your best. When you don’t do your best you are denying yourself the right to be you.” ~ Don Miguel Ruiz

If someone handed you a practical guide to personal freedom and told you that following a few simple principles could dramatically improve your life, would you be willing to try it?

I know I would.

In fact, that's one of the reasons I was so drawn to The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz when I first read it years ago. It's a simple book with a powerful message. And although there are countless personal growth books out there, very few have had the lasting impact that this one has because it’s simple to remember the key ideas, and if you follow them… so very powerful.

Recently, I found myself thinking about it again. Actually, that's not entirely true...

It feels more like the book has been calling to me from my bookshelf.

Maybe it's because of the world we're living in right now. It seems like everywhere I look, I see people carrying arou...