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. Earlier this week, we began our journey into The Four Agreements as we talking about being impeccable with our word. This involved truth-telling and avoidance of gossip; we also touched on the way we talk to ourselves. (hint: be kind when speaking to yourself). Next up: Don’t take anything personally. Do you ever do this? I do….
What better place to begin? So I shall. I LOVE books! There! I said it. For better or for worse, I love them. All kinds of them. Kid books. Grown-up books. Storybooks. Serious books. Funny books. Help-me-if-you-can books. Cookbooks. Look books. All of ’em. I have had this affection, this all-encompassing predilection for as long as I can remember. Little Golden Books littered the floor and bed and shelves in my room when I was a small bespectacled girl. Everywhere…
Sometimes you read a book, and even though you may not apply all that it tells you (cash its checks), it sticks with you over time. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz has been such a book for me. The general premise of the book is that by replacing our old agreements, which led us domestication, with new agreements, our lives can be transformed. We have lived our lives being told what to do and expected to agree. In so…
If you read my previous post, you’ll know we were getting set to talk about The Four Agreements, starting today. It is a book that has the potential to transform your life, and breaking down each of the agreements seemed like the next thing on my horizon. That was the plan. But I got to thinking about the commitments we complete. About how we make a commitment or take on a challenge, and when we finish — we actually cross the finish…
I am an avid reader, and every once in awhile I feel compelled to pull one of my oldies but goodies and give it another read. Interestingly, during a meditation a few days ago, such a book crossed my path, and it seemed important that I read it again. Over time, I had gained a new understanding of some of the languaging in the book, and I decided then and there to share it with you, my readers. This week…
For the last several days, we have been talking about creating some new habits, and I know from personal experience, that is no easy task. Drinking more water may be simple enough, and eating more veggies is doable. Remembering to show gratitude and laughing more? Those may take a little more work. And that meditation habit? Ooh,that one might be the most challenging of all, but I assure you — it’s worth it! So now it’s time to implement. Pick…
Happy Friday! I have a question for you. Did you get some good laughs today? Awhile back I noticed that I had developed the nasty habit of taking myself just a wee smidge too seriously. I would do something totally goofy, and all I could say was, “Gee, Steph, really? What’s the problem?” Let me tell you, when I realized what I was doing, I made haste replacing my grumpy face with a happy one. Taking myself so seriously when…
Quick! Tell me the difference between thankful and grateful. Can you do it? These two words are pretty much used interchangeably, so I decided to find out. For me, their meanings seem to be similar, but somehow being grateful seems warmer, maybe a bit more heartfelt, more appreciative than being thankful. What do I know? I went to the professionals at dictionary.com, and here’s the verdict: thankful – feeling or expressing gratitude; appreciative grateful – warmly or deeply appreciative of kindness…
Good habits week marches on! We’re already halfway through. And today, as you might guess from that little green face peering at you over there, we’re talking about … ta-daaaaaaah… EATING. MORE. VEGGIIIIIIIEEEEEEEESSSSSS! You know you wanna! Disclaimer: I am a hard-core veggie lover. Anything I say here can and will be used to encourage you to eat more carrots and cauliflower, broccoli and Brussels sprouts, green beans and garbanzos — OK, garbanzos are a legume but they do go…
It’s time to talk about another habit you might want to add to your day, and I couldn’t let this discussion get by without including meditation. If you watch or listen to news, spend any time on the internet, or peruse magazines while standing in line at the grocery store, you know meditation is a hot topic right now — trending, I believe they call it. And with good reason. It’s good for you – for your mind, body, and…