The Four Agreements

by Don Miguel Ruiz

[adamfortuna]

As good as the advice in this book is, it's hard to consider it groundbreaking. Part of that could be due to the prominence of these ideas in culture today. The 4 agreements are quite simple:

1. Be your word (treat agreements as unbreakable)
2. Don't take anything personally (it's not about you)
3. Don't make assumptions (expectations without an agreement are assumptions)
4. Always do your best

This is a short take on these ideas and why with just these 4 rules you can live a happier, more productive, more fulfilled life. In my past job, we did quite a number of personal development/self-help talks and exercises. The idea of agreements/expectations was a big one, so those two on this list felt directly out of that. "Don't take anything personally" reminds me of stoicism, and "always do your best" is good advice for a 1st grader on up.

While not revolutionary, these are good reminders and inspiration for sure.