The Four Agreements

The Four Agreements. Words: Don Miguel Ángel Ruiz. Graphic © herbshealthhappiness.com

“The Four Agreements
1. Be impeccable with your word.
2. Don’t take anything personally.
3. Don’t make assumptions.
4. Always do your best.”

Don Miguel Ángel Ruiz, a Mexican author, wrote the book The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom which has sold 5.2 million copies in the U.S. In this widely translated and famous book, he gives the four principles believed to be the key to creating love and happiness.

His ‘New Age’ spiritual insights have some roots in Toltec origins, combined with neo-shamanism. His teachings focus on the ancient Toltec teachings but are presented in a way that modern society can relate to. Because of the wide acceptance of the book, he was listed as one of The Watkins 100 Most Spiritually Influential Living People in 2014.

According to history sources, the Toltec civilization thrived in central Mexico between the 10th and mid-12 centuries CE. The Toltecs came after the Maya and earlier than the Aztecs. Toltecs were considered prosperous and wise, as manifested by their relics and writings. They were also highly regarded by other ancient civilizations and seemed to have copied many aspects of their art and religious practices. The Everything Toltec Wisdom Book by Allan Hardman explains that the modern Toltec teachings are mostly directed to self-acceptance and freedom.

The modern interest in Mesoamerican spirituality was probably revived by Carlos Castaneda in his series of bestselling books. However these are somewhat abstract and the mystical elements can be complex. It was Don Miguel Ruiz who modernized Toltec wisdom, making it simple and practical for solving modern issues. One of the distinctive changes is the shift from fear-based to love-based teachings.

Perhaps the basic concept of the 4 agreements can be best summarized by Ruiz himself: “You don’t need to change the world; you need to change yourself.”

note – book links on this page are “Amazon affiliate links” for which we earn a small commission on sales at no extra cost to the buyer.