The Four Agreements are as relevant as ever
Let’s distinguish between knowledge and wisdom. In this modern day, with information coming from all angles, we often mistake the constant barrage of facts, updates, and notifications for nuggets of wisdom. In reality, most of this is knowledge. It’s the pieces of data that we stack up to ensure that we have a full picture of the world. Wisdom, however, is how we apply that knowledge. The information we gather is often tied to the moment, only applicable for a short period of time. Wisdom, however, is universal and timeless.
In 1997, Don Miguel Ruiz published “The Four Agreements”. The book became a worldwide sensation, with over 6 million copies sold internationally. By drawing on the traditions and teachings of the ancient, indigenous Toltec people of Mexico, Ruiz outlines four lessons to impart an enormous amount of wisdom to help individuals break through deep-set beliefs ingrained in our subconscious.
A lot has changed since 1997. The world moves faster. Social media reigns supreme. High-speed internet penetrates every aspect of our life. The smartphone is an extension of our own bodies, with the average American checking their phone once every 12 minutes. Can Don Miguel Ruiz’s four agreements still be relevant today?
I believe so. Wisdom is timeless. The agreements derived from ancient Toltec wisdom were relevant in 1997, and are perhaps even more useful in today’s world of social media.
Be Mindful Of Your Word
Words are powerful. Saying a word is like throwing a stone — you can’t take it back. This is even more pertinent in the modern day. Platforms such as Twitter and Facebook allow us to broadcast our thoughts to our entire network at the tap of a button. In a world where ill-informed tweets and spur of the moment Facebook posts are accessed by anyone on the planet, the words we say matter more than ever.
Never Take Things Personally
2018 is the age of the internet troll. The anonymous safety blanket of the internet allows people to criticize, abuse, and attack without giving a second thought. And they do — ask anyone who puts their work out there for the world to see. Spiteful comments can range from hurtful to downright scary. Humans tend to focus mostly on themselves. We can be hurt if we take these comments personally. The Four Agreements makes the point that negative comments are very often a projection. The “trolls” that infest internet forums are much more likely to be subconsciously commenting on beliefs about themselves rather than you.
Never Make Assumptions
A recent survey identified Instagram as being the worst social media platform for mental health. The never-ending stream of people’s perfect, Instagram-able lives can make us feel like everyone else has life figured out. We assume that the people we follow have lives that are only made up of these picture-perfect moments — but nobody Instagrams the low points in their life. Making assumptions sets us up for suffering, as it gives us a false sense of understanding. By avoiding these assumptions, we can escape the negative feelings that inevitably arise when scrolling through our feed.
Always Do Your Best
Apps. Notifications. Social media feeds. Texts. Breaking news. There are thousands of ways to distract us in the modern age. One of the points Ruiz makes in The Four Agreements is that inaction is one of the biggest barriers to our success. By procrastinating and getting sidetracked by influxes of information, we are preventing ourselves from working. The digital age is full of wonders — I would never get rid of my smartphone. But if we aren’t focused on the task at hand, we can’t do our best. So put away the smartphone, even if it’s just for an hour or so. Focus on your goals and do the work. Don’t let the distractions of modern life lead you into inaction.
If you haven’t read The Four Disagreements, I highly recommend checking it out. At the time of writing this article, the price on Amazon is just $5.39. I guarantee that the wisdom you will absorb from Don Miguel Ruiz’s writings will justify the price tenfold. It was useful when it was discovered thousands of years ago. It was useful in 1997 when the book was published. It’s useful today, in our fast-paced culture. I don’t know what the future will hold for mankind, but I’m willing to bet this book is going to remain just as useful in 20 years from now.
Jon Straub is a health and wellness coach in NYC. He is on a mission to elevate the effectiveness of world-changing leaders through the food they eat and the way they live.
