I often get asked what books I recommend for those who are just starting out their personal development journey. I have to say, hands down this is a must read book for anyone who wants to live a happier life. I recommend it to all the women that I coach. It’s actually a required read for those that want to work with me.

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

The concepts are very simple and if you can follow them, it will guide you to personal freedom. Most people dismiss these four agreements because they think it’s way too plain and simple to make a difference in their life. As a society, we have come to believe that in order for things to work and be meaningful, the concepts have to hard, challenging, and complicated to understand. But I challenge you to listen (or read) to this book and put the agreements into practice. I’ve seen people’s lives be changed by making small shifts and living within the concepts in this book.

The Four Agreements are:

1. Be Impeccable with your Word
Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean.

2. Don’t Take Anything Personally
Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.

3. 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.

4. 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.

**So if it’s simple and easy to understand, why aren’t more people living this way?**

Well as you know, simple and easy to understand doesn’t mean easy to follow. It takes work and conscious effort to live within these agreements. Most of our lives we have been taught otherwise, and though the actual concepts themselves are very easy, the followthrough takes time. But then again, what doesn’t take time? If it’s meaningful, it has to take time.

I work on these agreements every single day. The hardest one for me is to not take anything personally. You better believe I work hard at that every single day. I have a pretty short temper and being an empath it takes a lot of conscious effort on my part to move on and not take things to heart. Nothing that people do is personal; it’s a reflection of who they are and their experiences. But it’s very challenging not to get offended, not to let what others say defines us. But the more I practice, the more natural it becomes. And that’s all we can do, our absolute best; it’s one of the agreements! 🙂

Here’s to living your best life possible!