The Four Agreements

 Books, Finding balance, Personal Growth, Philosophy, Spirituality, Thoughts  Comments Off on The Four Agreements
Feb 132010
 

One of the nicest collection of words on living life is by Don Miguel Ruiz in The Four Agreements.  I keep the summary of the agreements in sight near my desk.  I am sharing this summary verbatim.  It wouldn’t hurt to read these agreements at the start of our days.

  • BE IMPECCABLE WITH YOUR WORD:  Speak with integrity.  Says 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 void self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret.

A New Year, a New Beginning

 Finding balance, Finding Meaning, Finding Purpose, Goals, Outlook, Personal Growth  Comments Off on A New Year, a New Beginning
Jan 102010
 

“Each year gives us new reasons to celebrate, new journeys to begin.”-unknown

This lovely saying is from the front of a card I keep on the board above my workspace, where it is always visible.  It is also a very relevant saying as we begin the new year.  I have refrained from making any formal resolutions.  Instead, I try to be vigilant about any areas for improvement as they come up and take note to address.

January is International Life Balance Month (or quality of life month).  It’s a great time to reflect on your life and think about the areas you want to see progress on.  Maybe this will be the month and year that you do something about your passions.  Maybe there is even a way to turn a passion into a side venture that can turn into something full-time.  A recession can be viewed as an opportunity to really be doing something you want to be doing or at least make a start.  I feel passionate about writing and being an entrepreneur.  This year, I would like to go further with that interest.

What is holding you back?  What can be done to get out of a rut if you find yourself in one? I have another quote on my board in front of me:  “you will never really change your life until you change something you do daily.”  This is very true and we have to aspire to trying to make any change, as minor as it may seem, EVERYDAY.  Think about this everyday and be conscious of it.

Another quote I have on my desk, that I have had for many years, is by Henry David Thoreau on goals:  “If one advances confidently in the direction of their dreams, and endeavors to lead a life they have imagined, they will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”

I wish you all new journeys to begin and new reasons to celebrate.   Happy new year! 

Be Proactive

 Finding balance, How to find balance, Personal Growth  Comments Off on Be Proactive
Dec 022009
 

Stephen Covey is one of my favorite authors, and his book, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” is a classic that everyone should read.  It made a significant impact on me and I aspire to practice these habits.  I read and own the book, went to a class on the topic, and have the video tapes of the book and habits for my kids.

Habit 1 is to be proactive.  The big point he makes with this habit is that we have choices in life that determine the outcome we end up with.  If we didn’t like a particular outcome in the past, we can choose according to the outcome we want in the future.  He points out that we design our life by these choices, so that life doesn’t “happen” to us.  Being proactive is more than taking initiative.  It is also about taking responsibility for our lives and responding to events and circumstances based on our values rather than reacting. “Instead of blaming circumstances, conditions, or chance for our behavior, we choose our own responses and make our own decisions.”

Exercising this habit also means using proactive language such as “I can” and “I will” rather than reactive language such as “I can’t” or “If only.”  Focusing on what they can control is an important aspect of proactive people.  Understanding how we spend our energies is a big step towards being more proactive.

Sources: Stephen Covey, Franklin Covey

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