The Four Agreements (Angela Austin)
The First Agreement - Be Impeccable With Your Word
Have you ever felt like you’re living someone else’s life? Or maybe living a life that someone else has told you should…whether it be work, relationship or personal endeavors?
When you were younger…were you ever told “You can’t play with dolls because you’re a boy or you can’t play with match box cars because you’re a girl, or any other roles?
Whether it was by a parent, sibling, or peer, were you told you couldn’t do something, you have this personality, you have that characteristic or aptitude?
These are all examples of agreements we’ve accepted either currently or at some point in our lives. There are some agreements that we may have reevaluated and decided that it is indeed the right fit or that it’s not for us. Such as: Being Republican because our parents said we were or being Methodist or Catholic because we grew up in that church.
The first part of this book, the foundation of the four agreements, is to be aware. Be aware that everyone is living in their own dream. Be aware of our own thoughts. Be aware of the judge and victim inside of us. And most importantly be aware of the past agreements we’ve made with ourselves and make sure they still apply.
The first agreement is to BE IMPECCABLE WITH YOUR WORD.
Directly from the Four Agreements: “Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.”
Another excerpt from the book describing the importance of your word:
“Why your word? Your word is the power that you have to create. Your word is the gift that comes directly from God. The Gospel of John in the Bible, speaking of the creation of the universe, says, “In the beginning there was the word, and the word was with God, and the word is God.” Through the word you express your creative power. It is through the word that you manifest everything. Regardless of what language you speak, your intent manifests through the word. What you dream, what you feel, and what you really are, will all be manifested through the word.”
Are you aware of your thoughts to the point that you have control of them or do they have control of you?
Do you agree with everything you think?
Where do your thoughts come from…You, God, others?
Does your word inspire or discourage you or others?
The following are examples from the Bible of the importance of being impeccable with your word.
Matthew 12:33-37
Jesus said to the Pharisees and teachers of the law:
33"Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. 35The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."
Ephesians 5:4
4Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
Closing thoughts:
Impeccable means without sin or perfect. We all have ideas of perfection for ourselves and others whether we put those ideas in place or not and we will never put live up to those expectations. But we should begin to turn our attention to truth and love by accepting and respecting ourselves and others just the way we are with words of love and praise. Only one was perfect and that was Jesus. Jesus was truth and love. If you let Jesus infiltrate every part of you, your word will be nearer to impeccable.
Have you ever felt like you’re living someone else’s life? Or maybe living a life that someone else has told you should…whether it be work, relationship or personal endeavors?
When you were younger…were you ever told “You can’t play with dolls because you’re a boy or you can’t play with match box cars because you’re a girl, or any other roles?
Whether it was by a parent, sibling, or peer, were you told you couldn’t do something, you have this personality, you have that characteristic or aptitude?
These are all examples of agreements we’ve accepted either currently or at some point in our lives. There are some agreements that we may have reevaluated and decided that it is indeed the right fit or that it’s not for us. Such as: Being Republican because our parents said we were or being Methodist or Catholic because we grew up in that church.
The first part of this book, the foundation of the four agreements, is to be aware. Be aware that everyone is living in their own dream. Be aware of our own thoughts. Be aware of the judge and victim inside of us. And most importantly be aware of the past agreements we’ve made with ourselves and make sure they still apply.
The first agreement is to BE IMPECCABLE WITH YOUR WORD.
Directly from the Four Agreements: “Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.”
Another excerpt from the book describing the importance of your word:
“Why your word? Your word is the power that you have to create. Your word is the gift that comes directly from God. The Gospel of John in the Bible, speaking of the creation of the universe, says, “In the beginning there was the word, and the word was with God, and the word is God.” Through the word you express your creative power. It is through the word that you manifest everything. Regardless of what language you speak, your intent manifests through the word. What you dream, what you feel, and what you really are, will all be manifested through the word.”
Are you aware of your thoughts to the point that you have control of them or do they have control of you?
Do you agree with everything you think?
Where do your thoughts come from…You, God, others?
Does your word inspire or discourage you or others?
The following are examples from the Bible of the importance of being impeccable with your word.
Matthew 12:33-37
Jesus said to the Pharisees and teachers of the law:
33"Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. 35The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."
Ephesians 5:4
4Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
Closing thoughts:
Impeccable means without sin or perfect. We all have ideas of perfection for ourselves and others whether we put those ideas in place or not and we will never put live up to those expectations. But we should begin to turn our attention to truth and love by accepting and respecting ourselves and others just the way we are with words of love and praise. Only one was perfect and that was Jesus. Jesus was truth and love. If you let Jesus infiltrate every part of you, your word will be nearer to impeccable.
posted by Jen Austin at 7:54 AM
1 Comments:
I like it! Good job. Go on.
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