Photo by Joshua Sortino on Unsplash
The Four Agreements, Written By don Miguel Ruiz
I like this agreement. This agreement has brought me to this exact moment of writing this sentence. It is likely the reason why you are here. I always say, if you aren’t going to do your best, what is the point of living. That might seem blunt, but how you do one thing is how you do everything, so you might as well give it your all, in every moment.
I could talk about this for hours, but lets start digging into what don Miguel Ruiz means by “Always Do Your Best” as his final agreement in his book “The Four Agreements”
Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy!
Embracing The Growth Mindset
The are two types of people. Ones who believes that their abilities are limited, and the other type that believes their abilities are boundless. Without adopting a growth mindset, you fall into a place in life where you don’t believe it is possible to correct the issues you face. On the other hand, when you believe your abilities and intelligence can be developed, there really isn’t much that you can’t overcome. Obviously this belief can fall on a spectrum of belief, the main belief of growth is the most important.
The main belief of growth will determine if a person remains in poverty their entire life, or breaks free from it. It will determine if a person will remain overweight their whole life, or persevere. It will determine if a person will identify with a disease, or if they will find ways to overcome disease.
Just take a minute to think about how powerful this one thought can be over someone’s life. A simple, “Yes, I can grow” or a “No, this is it” can really determine the path of someone’s life. We all know a person who falls into one of these paths. The person who is always finding ways to move forward, no matter what life throws at them. Or the person who is always talking about their identity of a person who is suppressed in some way or another.
Something tells me, you are the type of person who finds ways to move forward and to continuously learn. Maybe this is the first time you have thought of it this way, and you are just now becoming conscious of this thought process. I encourage you to internalize this thought, and commit to always living a life with the Growth Mindset in the foreground of everything you do. It will take you so much further than you can imagine.
Maintaining Self-Compassion
“Always Do Your Best” doesn’t mean we avoid failure, it means to give your best effort based on your current situation and resources. We are still humans after all, and we have to remember to acknowledge and respect our limitations. Failing is good, and helps us learn and expand our limitations. When we respect our limitations and practice self-compassion we allow ourselves space for growth.
By practicing self-compassion and accepting your limitations, you begin to create a sense of inner kindness and understanding. You begin to believe that your short comings are just part of the greater plan, and that you learn best from these mistakes. Giving yourself the space to fail, and giving the respect required to each effort you put forth as just part of the journey.
Integrity, Integrity, Integrity…
Always Doing Your Best is all about integrity. We spoke about integrity in the first article about The First Agreement “Be Impeccable With Your Word”. I like Integrity… it is doing what you say, and saying what you do. Honoring your values, principles, and commitments with honesty and diligence. You have to have high integrity in your character if you want to have a quality life. Not only with others, but with yourself. Integrity helps you sleep well at night, knowing you did the right thing.
You can see how being a person of high integrity goes hand in hand with “Always Do Your Best”. You can’t have high integrity if you are only doing your best some of the time. And you simply won’t do your best if you lack integrity, it is simply just not who you are. Always strive for integrity.
Your Potential and Purpose
As we talked about before with the growth mindset, “Always Do your Best” pushes us to tap into our full potential and striving for excellence in everything we do. From the small things to the large things in life. Whether it’s pursuing your passions, fulfilling your responsibilities, or facing challenges, giving your best effort allows you to maximize your talents and achieve meaningful results.
The results we put meaning into help us align with our purpose in life. The fact that we are here help show us what our purpose is. Why are we here doing what we do with the effort we put forth. Doing your best at this level, is an expression of living with purpose and intentionality. It means approaching each day with enthusiasm, focus, and determination to make a positive difference in the world. By aligning your actions with your purpose and values, you create a life filled with meaning, fulfillment, and joy. Keep it up!
Celebrate The Progress Forward
Putting 100% into your day calls for celebration. A pat on the back for giving your efforts to the world in such a positive way. It is always a good idea to keep internal dialogue positive, and take a moment to do so. This high energy goes a long way and only allows you to continue to do what you do. By acknowledging your efforts and achievements, you reinforce a positive self-image. This helps keep the positive energy flowing and reminds your who you are now, and who you are becoming.
Again, you have to celebrate the small steps forward, no matter how incremental they are. This journey is no easy task, so taking time to celebrate the space you have covered is so important. Especially when each of the steps brings you that much closer to your goals and aspirations.
Finishing Thoughts
I quite enjoy this final agreement in this book. It is one that I feel I have internalized long ago, and has taken me to this point in my life. The growth mindset is so important. It keeps us true and keeps us building in our lives. Why not do your best? What do you gain from putting anything less than your best foot forward? I personally feel, you have everything to gain from Always Doing Your Best. How do you feel?
This book has been great, and all of the Agreements really hold some amazing Toltec Wisdom that everyone can benefit from. I highly encourage you to get a copy of this book if you haven’t already. Or enjoy a listen on Audible or our preferred audiobook app.
I want to thank you again for reading all the way through. I hope you have learned something about yourself, and maybe even feel inspired. Don’t forget to always put your best foot forward with the Fourth Agreement “Always Do Your Best”
Cheers!