A lady I didn't know at the bookstore but knew me approached me and recommended this book by Miguel Ruiz. It is a book sharing Toltec wisdom. The Toltecs were more or less an ancient Mexican communal group of artists and scientists.

It speaks of how we as humans are "domesticated" at birth by parents, teachers, our community, etc with what we are to believe and that we make "agreements" to what is taught to us. We accept what we are taught about how to be and how we think about ourselves. Speaks of an internal Judge and Victim where we perceive what to think of ourselves and then victimize ourselves because of it. Ruiz speaks of how to make four new agreements with ourselves that if applied consistently would change your life.

1. BE IMPECCABLE WITH YOUR WORD - Say what you mean and with integrity. When you speak do so in ways that don't speak against yourself. Avoidance of gossip is discussed heavily here. When your word reflects poorly on you, the internal Judge and Victim kicks in and again you "agree" to feel poorly about yourself. Speaking with integrity and using your word for love will allow others to see you positively and you then can think positively with yourself.

2. DON'T TAKE ANYTHING PERSONALLY - Common sense again and we hear it here frequently. When someone says or does something against you, know it is something about them and not you. Knowing this again prevents you from internalizing and "agreeing" that there is something wrong with you. Knowing it's them and not you does not allow you to judge and then victimize yourself based on the actions of others.

3. NEVER MAKE ASSUMPTIONS - Communicate clearly and completely. Know specifically what others are truly saying. Avoid misunderstandings.

4. ALWAYS DO YOUR BEST - Your best varies based upon your current condition. It is different when you are sober as opposed to drunk, but always do your best in honoring the above three agreements. If you fail to do your best one time, persevere and do your best the next time. Always doing your best leaves you with no regrets that you didn't.

All common sense stuff but still intriguing reading. Certainly applying them is no easy task but definitely worthwhile. Whether or not it changes your life is up to you, but clarly nothing but good can come from living your life with these things in mind. A quick and simple read, but I would recommend it to most here.

Next I am considering digging into some Philosophy perhaps some Immanuel Kant who spent much effort into moral philosophy. His seemed to be more grounded than most philosophers.

Thanks Moe. Yep.

I have a very talented and musical friend whom I met, oh, about 33 years ago. !! She recorded this CD while working with Miguel. It's a spiritual mix. People generally find it inspiring and healing.

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00006JKZ7/102-2331955-3360961?v=glance</a" target="_new">http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00006JKZ7/102-2331955-3360961?v=glance</a>;

Album Description

"Inspired by the teachings of don Miguel Ruiz, singer/songwriter Cari Cole infuses her music with a spiritual message to create a powerful, transformative effect. Featured on this compact disc are ten original songs, including a musical version of The Circle of Fire prayer written by Ruiz, and a beautiful rendition of The Lord's Prayer."


He published 'The Voice of Knowledge' in 2004.
Chapter 7--Emotions Are Real.

I don't always follow those four agreements and I always regret not always following them.

Moe...have your read Erick Tolle's stuff? I am fascinated by his thinking and writing. His book, The Power of Now (I think is the title, it's upstairs and I am too laze to climb the stairs). Great philosophy. Locate and glance through it at the book store.

Eckhart Tolle? I am aware that many have a love-hate thing with his work. I guess it's all in what you are looking to take from someone's writings.

In February we are participating in a leadership conference where the speaker has adopted the concepts from Dr. Rosalene Glickman's book "Optimal Thinking" which emphasizes methods for personal as well as professional empowerment. Seems like it would be a good read to get a jump on the conference. If nothing else, I would be able to sleep off the hangover from the night before that I most definitely will have during the conference.