Review: The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

One of the more insightful books that I read recently is Don Miguel Ruiz's "The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Well-Being." The novel is an easy read and is written in the style of a self-help book. But it is also a thoughtful and educative piece that uses Toltec wisdom to support personal empowerment. Miguel Ruiz takes us on a journey through the sacred knowledge of the Toltec-- who were a class of men and women who were versed in the magical practices and indigenous knowledge of Central America. This caste of sorcerers thrived for generations years before contact with the European invaders.

Throughout the novel, Miguel Ruiz touches on major topics. He first introduces to us what Toltec wisdom can teach the average individual. His argument is that many people are caught in a state of suffering because they have not realized the four agreements between themselves. This impacts a person's state of being and carries on not only in their relationship with other human beings but also with themselves. Our inability to foster better relationships and to maintain peace between nations is reflective of the harm that we do to ourselves every day. Living a life that is authentic to self and others is key to liberating ourselves from mitote-- which literally translated from Nahuatl is referencing "uproar" or "confusion." When we lift this fog, we find the pathway that leads us out of it.

The Four Agreements are written about in further detail, each chapter highlighting not only how it can help an individual from overcoming self-limitation, but why it is necessary and how it can practically be implemented. These four agreements are:

1) Be Impeccable with Your Word

2) Take Nothing Personally

3) Make No Assumptions

4) Always Do Your Best

The chapters following the explanations talk about breaking old agreements that we have with ourselves and the world around us that keep us from becoming our full self. He also looks at how and why self-limiting beliefs are addicting and why people can and will struggle with overcoming them. It is a thoughtful analysis that comes from an ancient method and practice that helped Central American societies thrive and even posed a threat to the Catholic church and the Spanish conquerors that came in contact with them. This legacy of hiding the practice is addressed by Miguel Ruiz but I would argue that there is certainly opportunity for further exploration.

In a time where our world is facing so many obstacles that can easily be overwhelming, I see how Toltec wisdom still managed to last even despite the history of empire and conquest that tried to eradicate it. The mystic tradition is rooted in resilience. Rather than advocate for the belief in a particular deity, it instead encourages us to look at our own agency and to take ownership of our daily lives. While this task is not easy, it does bring rewards that not only help us with our struggles but also improve our relationships with the world around us.

One of my favorite quotes from this book is:

Choosing this path gives us, at the very least, the dignity of rebellion, and ensures that we will not be the helpless victim of our own whimsical emotions or the poisonous emotions of others.

This book was thought-provoking and I want to take the insights from it and apply them to my daily life. Perhaps after implementing some of these strategies, I will write a post to see the differences I notice in my daily life. While this was rooted in an indigenous knowledge, I agree with the author's point that everyone can find something of value in these four agreements.