The Four Agreements: a Practical Guide to Personal Freedom is a book that is a little less about business and more about finding oneself—at home and at work. The Xenium Book Club decided to read this short, self-help book by Don Miguel Ruiz after reading a string of leadership, management and teamwork books. We found this to be a wonderful change of pace, particularly because we, at Xenium, just went through the process of creating our own “agreement” of sorts, called the Xenium Promise.
Cover to cover, the Four Agreements is 150 pages in length for the hardcover version and can easily be read in one evening. Throughout the book, I found many great takeaways and powerful stories; so although it can be read in one evening, I recommend stopping after each “agreement” to reflect upon what was read and tie it back to your own life. We found this even more powerful for the fact we discussed each of the agreements in a small group setting (i.e. book club). Keep in mind, this book was very useful in a discussion setting after reading it; so for anyone looking to pick up this book, try to find a friend, family member or colleague to read with. Each of us in the Xenium Book Club picked up on different powerful statements and provided examples from our lives that we used in the discussion.
Near the beginning of the book, Ruiz explains the Toltec saying Mitote, which, in simple terms, is an illusion in one’s mind made up of what other people say. He further points out that most of us have been living our lives based on other people’s points of view rather than how we wish to see ourselves and live our lives. The first part of the book introduces how each of the agreements can shape the way we think about ourselves and act to others.
The middle of the book is dedicated to explaining the Four Agreements, which are: Be impeccable with your word, Don’t take anything personally, Don’t make assumptions and Always do your best.
Each section has stories, advice and pieces of supporting information to make it easier to digest each of the Four Agreements. As a reader, you discover that each of these apply to the conversations we have with others as well as the one we have with ourselves internally. For example, Ruiz explains in the First Agreement: Be impeccable with your word, that the word “sin” is actually when we, as individuals, go against anything we feel or believe in. In other words, when you are impeccable with your words and actions you are “without sin” because you followed through with an agreement you made with yourself.
Readers will undoubtedly connect to many areas in the book. Ruiz’s writing style is somewhat informal and his ideas are scattered throughout the sections, yet, it is simple to comprehend, which helps readers relate to the ideas presented in the book.
Always do your best is a section I personally found enlightening. Ruiz explains that we should be doing our best 100% of the time. The sticking point for me was that “your best” varies on a moment-to-moment basis, as our emotional and physical state is constantly changing. Depending on work-load, family issues, health problems, etc. “doing our best” may be 40, 50, 60 or 70 percent of our normal capacity on any given day. But, as Ruiz states in the “Fourth Agreement,” if we do our best, and no more or no less no matter what, then we do not “subject ourselves to frustrations, self-judgement, guilt and regrets.”
The Four Agreements is worthy of a read and discussion, especially for teams looking to improve themselves as individuals. Most business and self-help books drag out points for tens to hundreds of pages, whereas, the Four Agreements accomplishes each main point in a matter of ten to twenty pages each. When reading this book, I highly encourage having a mixture of sticky notes, highlighters or pens next to you at all times to help reinforce each point!
Xenium Book Club Review: 8/10
Book Review – The Four Agreements: a Practical Guide to Personal Freedom
