Books that Change Lives – The Four Agreements

Book Review – The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom 

by Don Miguel Ruiz

Published 1997 by Amber-Allen Publishing

This book to me is best described as a practical guide to personal freedom. The author combines the ancient teachings of the Toltec, spiritual leaders from Latin America with modern day belief systems and philosophies taking you on a journey of spiritual and intellectual awakening. The premise of the book is based around 4 key agreements:

1) Be impeccable with your word
2) Don’t take anything personally
3) Don’t make assumptions
4) Always do your best

These apparently simple concepts are explored fully through the wisdom of the Toltec and each chapter acts as a roadmap to further enlightenment and happiness. The book explores our self-limiting belief patterns with a view to providing us with tools and techniques that can enable us to navigate our way to greater self-confidence and inner strength.

As we examine the four agreements we are given greater insight into how the practical application of what might appear to be simple values can radically transform our lives. “Impeccability of word can lead you to personal freedom, to huge success and abundance; it can take away all fear and transform it into joy and love”.

We are challenged by the author to rethink our approach to everyday life by attempting to apply these basic agreements to all levels of our existence. The author has an in-depth understanding of the human psyche and allows us to explore the workings of our mind while challenging preconceived notions and conditions often created by the so called norms of society. We look beyond conventional wisdom in an attempt to create a freer more uninhibited mindset.

Empathy plays a key role in the author’s thought process as we are encouraged to abandon the practice of assumption and instead ask real questions of ourselves and others with a view to developing deeper relationships with those around us. This book has the ability to lead us to more peaceful and meaningful connections in both our personal and professional lives. Equipping us with the confidence to be ourselves while allowing others around us to co-exist in non-judgemental environments.

To me the very essence of this book lies in its capacity to give us the strength to breakaway from old, limiting and self-destructive agreements and replace them with uplifting, limitless and self-nurturing paradigms. The Four Agreements is an insightful read with the power to open our minds to pathways of inner peace and transformative self-belief.

Books that change lives – The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz

Review by Miriam Tovar Ferrandez, a graduate of the Diploma in Executive and Life Coaching