What If Success Was Simpler Than You Think?

Most people live by rules they never consciously agreed to. Rules about success, worthiness, love, and identity; passed down by parents, society, and culture.

Don Miguel Ruiz calls this the "domestication of the human." We inherit belief systems, accept them as truth, and shape our lives around them.

But what if those rules are actually cages?

In The Four Agreements, Ruiz offers a radical path to freedom. It's not about adding more to your life. It's about unlearning the lies that hold you back.

Here’s the truth: you can break free by making four new agreements with yourself. These aren't fluffy affirmations. They're practical, powerful, and deeply disruptive.

Let’s explore them, and more importantly, dive into how to live them.

1. Be Impeccable with Your Word

This is the foundation of everything.

Being "impeccable" means without sin or fault. Ruiz defines it as speaking with integrity, saying only what you mean, and avoiding self-judgment or gossip.

Your words are creative forces. They shape how you see the world, how others see you, and what becomes possible in your life.

Most people use words to reinforce fear and limitation. “I’m not good enough.” “They’ll never change.” “I can’t do that.”

Every time you speak like that, you reinforce a false reality.

Actionable Tip:
Audit your inner and outer language today. Catch one self-limiting phrase and replace it with something true, constructive, and empowering.

2. Don’t Take Anything Personally

Nothing others do is because of you. It’s a reflection of their own beliefs, wounds, and worldview.

When someone criticizes you, they are revealing their pain, not your worth. When they praise you, it reflects their values, not your identity.

If you internalize every opinion, you become a prisoner to everyone’s emotions.

This agreement doesn’t mean you stop caring. It means you stop bleeding for every opinion that isn’t yours.

Actionable Tip:
Next time someone upsets you, pause. Ask yourself: What story am I making this mean about me? Then let it go. Their story is not your truth.

3. Don’t Make Assumptions

Assumptions are silent expectations that lead to loud disappointments.

We assume people know what we want. We assume we understand their motives. We assume we’ve seen the whole picture.

Ruiz urges radical clarity. If you don’t know, ask. If you feel unsure, clarify. If you're confused, communicate.

Assumptions corrode relationships and kill momentum.

Actionable Tip:
Identify one area where you’ve been assuming instead of asking. Have the uncomfortable conversation. Clarity always wins.

4. Always Do Your Best

This agreement ties everything together.

Your best will change from day to day. On a day of high energy and focus, your best will look different than when you are tired or grieving.

But if you always give your best, not perfection, not overexertion, but your true best, then you free yourself from regret, guilt, and self-rejection.

It becomes the operating system for consistent progress without burnout.

Actionable Tip:
At the end of your day, ask yourself: Did I do my best with the energy and clarity I had today? Let that question be your compass; not comparison or shame.

Why This Matters

Most people want change, but they try to layer it on top of a faulty foundation.

These four agreements rebuild that foundation. They untangle you from invisible contracts you never consciously agreed to.

By practicing them, you stop living by default and start living by design.

It’s not about perfection. It’s about direction. The four agreements don’t promise ease, they promise freedom. And that’s always worth the discomfort of change.

Reflection Question

Which of the four agreements challenges you the most right now, and why?

Hit reply and let me know. I read every response.

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