Back to Mindset Basics

When you start your personal growth journey, there almost seems to be a natural progression of information you become aware of and exposed to. Call it happenchance or divine order, but I’ve observed a certain pattern to the books/podcasts/documentaries you start with and then move to. Almost everyone I work with in the personal development world has read The Four Agreements, and for many, it was a game changing, direction shifting read. I might suggest that is why it falls early in the journey of personal transformation. It’s a book that opens your eyes, perhaps for the first time, to the way life could be. And it gives you four agreements that, while simple, have the power to metamorphosize your life.

The downfall of this book falling so early in the progression of information is that as we move on, consuming more, expanding personally, learning more complex ideas, we can forget to practice the simple agreements that are foundational to the lives we all seek. And we all know what it means when a foundation weakens under a growing structure. For that reason, I’m taking us back to the basics, strengthening a piece of our foundation so we can continue growing together. 

Be Impeccable With Your Word

“In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God” (John 1:1). The words we speak create the reality we experience. God said “Let there be light” and there was light (Genesis 1:3). God’s creation process was the same for oceans, plant life, animals, and humans. He stated his creation with his words and thus the creation was manifested into reality. The power of word is that of you being alive today. 

But our words have an equally strong power of destruction. Take yourself back to a time when you received hateful words, maybe even from someone you loved and trusted. Maybe they spoke words over you of not being worthy, not being able, not being good enough. And sometimes, even if every fiber of your being didn’t want to believe what they said, those words can plant themselves in your belief system for the long haul. 

This is the double edged sword of your word, it gives you the power to create or destroy. The bottom line is this…you have the same power within you that created the world and universe you live in, so why would you use it to do anything but create the life you dream of? 

Author of The Four Agreements, Don Miguel Ruiz, offers you this agreement, be impeccable with your word. Leave behind habits of gossip, limiting self talk, and hurtful words directed at others. Make space for uplifting conversations, loving affirmations, and words of encouragement. This is the shift that puts you in the driver’s seat of your life. Focus your thoughts (which are words spoken to yourself in your head) on what you want to create, not what you’re unhappy with or lacking. Focus your spoken words on affirming the dreams you’ve thought up for yourself.

There are many practices that build off this agreement: meditating to clear the mind of unwanted chatter, gratitude journaling to attract more of what you are thankful for, and focused visualization of that which you are hoping to attract. As you move on to these practices, and perhaps you already have, don’t forget the agreement that underlies them. Check in with the agreements you hold. Are your words impeccable? Or have some destructive words found their way back into your vocabulary? 

Maybe now is a time to check in with some more agreements. Maybe re-read The Four Agreements. Maybe find some agreements you’ve never been aware of before. I’d love to know what you find and offer support as you continue on your journey.