BLISSfix loves “The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz

Yesterday, as Sean and I took in some of the most beautiful scenery on highway 40 winding through Colorado, we listened to the Unabridged Audiobook of “The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz, read by Peter Coyote.  As usual the words were exactly what I was wanting and needing to hear.  I had been entreating God/the Universe to help me recommit to all that I had learned and resonated with in the book “NonViolent Communication” by Marshal Rosenburg and here came this book completely in alignment with all the NVC teachings.  The book contains wisdom from biblical references as well as ancient Toltec (Native American) traditions.  Below I state the agreements I have made with myself based on the four in the book.

Agreement 1. Be Impeccable with My Word. I commit to speak with integrity, being careful to use my word only for the upliftment of myself and others through truth and love.

Agreement 2.  Be Immune to the Opinions and Actions of Others. (This one I have altered slightly from the version of the book because I choose to speak in positives) I acknowledge that the words and actions of others are from their perception of reality and have nothing to do with me as an individual.  I allow them their opinion and process and compassionately related to their human needs.  I powerfully select what I choose to believe for myself even when others are expressing beliefs I would prefer to release.  I am in control of what I choose to believe.

Agreement 3.  Ask Compassionate Questions and Compassionately Speak my Truth. (This one I have altered slightly from the version of the book because I choose to speak in positives) I honor my intuition and at the same time I seek total understanding of others needs through asking compassionate questions.  I honor myself by asking myself compassionate questions about my true feelings, needs and desires.  Once I am clear on my needs and wants, I confidently, consciously and compassionately express my truth and make requests to get my needs met.

Agreement 4.  I always do my Best! (This one I have altered slightly from the version of the book because I wanted to claim it for myself) My best is different in any given moment… for instance, my best when I’m just coming off a spiritual retreat compared to my best after a long day of challenging work will be different.  I accept myself at all times and at all stages and simply commit to doing my best at any given moment.  If I catch myself ’shaming’ myself for not being better, I will stop, and simply remind myself that under the circumstances, that was my best, and in this consciousness, I have the ability to change now and start anew.  I embrace myself reminding myself that it is ok to make mistakes and it is joyful to consciously overcome them.

I’m so grateful for having found this book.  I bought it many years ago and accidentally listened to a brief excerpt while working out the other morning.  I knew immediately that it resonated now more than ever before and the timing of rediscovering it was perfect.   Enjoy the following links and a video that contains images similar to the ones we witnessed yesterday while driving and words from the book.

Sites related to The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz:
http://www.miguelruiz.com/
http://www.toltecspirit.com/

BLISSfix Recommends the AudioBook “Healing Your Appetite, Healing Your Life” By Doreen Virtue

Healing Your Appetite by Doreen Virtue

I just recently listened to this audiobook for the third time.  The first two times I apparently wasn’t ready to hear what she had to say, but this last listen, she said everything I’d been thinking.

She touched on the causes of serotonin depletion and that it is a natural reaction to self medicate through carbohydrates and dairy to make up for the missing neurotransmitter.  Visions of grilled cheese sandwiches and macaroni and cheese from two weeks ago at the height of my stress danced through my head!

She suggests stress reduction, exercise, sunlight, and high quality sleep to increase the serotonin production.  These are all things I’ve heard of a million times, but I find hearing it in a new way is always helpful… to know that a chemical reaction is taking place in my brain and I have to make choices that support brain health in order to experience happiness in my life gives me more will to change.

She goes on to explain the 4 emotional causes of stress and serotonin depleation, and then ultimately weigh gain… Fear, Anger, Tension, and Shame or FATS.  As she goes through each of these, I learned ways to support myself through the expereince of any of these things by turning to Spirit/God instead of turning to food, alcohol, complaining or anything else that may place a bandaid on my problem, but not ultimately solve it.  I love that she sums it up with the affirmation of “I Forgive, Accept, Trust my Self,” which again spells the acronym FATS.

How perfect that the solution to the problem is within the problem itself?  It reminds me of how so many things I go through are for me to learn something… and I move through the experience as quickly as I am open to witness the lessons and learn them.

I highly recommend listening to this short, 1hr talk that will give you a deeper undestanding to why we react the way we do, and teach you practical ways to overcome it immediately.  ENJOY!