The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz

This one was a bit over my head, but worth another read. I had the vague sense that it contains profound wisdom, but I couldn't quite grasp it. I definitely took some wisdom away, but also feel like I only scratched the surface. Everything flows from 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.

Taking these to heart and living by them will change the way you look at the world. They'll improve every goal, every relationship, and every experience you have.

Key Takeaways

• Be impeccable with your word.
• Don't take anything personally.
• Don't make assumptions.
• Always do your best.
• Be a warrior.

Memorable Quotes

• If someone is not treating you with love and respect, it is a gift if they walk away from you. If that person doesn't walk away, you will surely endure many years of suffering with him or her. Walking away may hurt for a while, but your heart will eventually heal. Then you can choose what you really want. You will find that you don't need to trust others as much as you need to trust yourself to make the right choices.
• Whatever happens around you, don't take it personally... Nothing other people do is because of you. It is because of themselves.
• If others tell us something we make assumptions, and if they don't tell us something we make assumptions to fulfill our need to know and to replace the need to communicate. Even if we hear something and we don't understand we make assumptions about what it means and then believe the assumptions. We make all sorts of assumptions because we don't have the courage to ask questions.
• I will no longer allow anyone to manipulate my mind and control my life in the name of love.
• God is life. God is life in action. The best way to say, "I love you, God," is to live your life doing your best. The best way to say, "Thank you, God," is by letting go of the past and living in the present moment, right here and now. Whatever life takes away from you, let it go. When you surrender and let go of the past, you allow yourself to be fully alive in the moment. Letting go of the past means you can enjoy the dream that is happening right now.
• Every human is an artist. The dream of your life is to make beautiful art.
• If you live in a past dream, you don't enjoy what is happening right now because you will always wish it to be different than it is. There is no time to miss anyone or anything because you are alive. Not enjoying what is happening right now is living in the past and being only half alive. This leads to self pity, suffering and tears.
• But it is not what I am saying that is hurting you; it is that you have wounds that I touch by what I have said. You are hurting yourself. There is no way I can take this personally.
• Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama.
• You can have many great ideas in your head, but what makes the difference is the action. Without action upon an idea, there will be no manifestation, no results, and no reward.
• There is a huge amount of freedom that comes to you when you take nothing personally.
• Wherever you go you will find people lying to you, and as your awareness grows, you will notice that you also lie to yourself. Do not expect people to tell you the truth because they also lie to themselves. You have to trust yourself and choose to believe or not to believe what someone says to you.
• True justice is paying only once for each mistake. True injustice is paying more than once for each mistake.
• Also, go inside and listen to your body, because your body will never lie to you. Your mind will play tricks, but the way you feel in your heart, in your guts, is the truth.
• What you will see is love coming out of the trees, love coming out of the sky, love coming out of the light. You will perceive love from everything around you. This is the state of bliss.
• The big difference between a warrior and a victim is that the victim represses and the warrior refrains.
• Whenever we hear an opinion and believe it, we make an agreement, and it becomes part of our belief system.
• Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use your power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

Rating: 8.5/10
I have more to learn here. I may review and update to a 10/10 at some point when I understand better. This is a great supplement to any Stoic reading like Ego is the Enemy or The Obstacle is the Way.