delara, interrupted

If you haven't yet, please find and read The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. Aside from what you might consider "all the touchy feely stuff," the author lays out a fabulous code of spiritually based ethics by which one may choose to live his or her life. As a Baha'i, I found Don Miguel Ruiz' writing most inspiring and completely in line with what I have learned throughout my life. In a nutshell, and to quote the author, the agreements are:

Be impeccable with your word.
Speak with integrity. Say 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.

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 avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret.

If you were to reflect on just one of these gems of wisdom, you could spend hours contemplating the inner meanings and varying applications to your everyday life.

I feel fortunate that I get to present workshops on this material from time to time. And I am FAAAAAR from having a solid grasp on any of these agreements. I would do well, in fact, to pay more attention to practicing them. It is, after all, about the process and not the destination.

Good stuff.