Based on the best-selling book titled The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, author Don Miguel Ruiz writes of his own personal experience with addiction and how his self-limiting beliefs robbed him of his joy and potential. His booked has sparked attention worldwide and is used in all areas of life. We believe it fits perfectly into treatment and recovery, because a lot of our addictions and mental illnesses stem from low feelings of self-worth and more. Here are the following Four Agreements, with a description for each:
#1: Be Impeccable with Your Word
In the book, Ruiz explained of honesty being a huge component in recovery. Most of us have experienced the long web of lies that either we or a loved one has told to hide unhealthy habits, painful secrets, and more. As we progress in our understanding of ourselves and recovery, we learn that telling the truth is essential to building character.
#2: Don’t Take Anything Personally
Ruiz stated in his book, “When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.” It’s a sad truth, but someone in life will always disappoint us at one time or another, just as we will disappoint others. We must learn to not take these moments personally, because they are part of being human.
#3: Don’t Make Assumptions
We can’t always know what others are thinking, and Ruiz stated that expressing thoughts and opinions openly and honesty is a wonderful way to create a fluid experience for anyone you interact with. If challenging feelings arise, it’s important to address them and not feel apprehensive about being vulnerable.
#4: Always Do Your Best
Ruiz stated that we must always remember that we can only do the best that we can do. As Ruiz stated, “Your best is going to change from moment to moment.” If you are striving towards being better, you can be proud of your progress.
The author explained that most of us go down the path of addiction because we love ourselves conditionally – we believe we are a good person only if we do X, or if we have X, or if we be X. We need to let go of what is holding us back and embrace who we are – work towards bettering ourselves. The Four Agreements are a great foundation point for recovery or any other time in your life.
If you’re seeking a mental health and/or substance abuse recovery treatment center, call us today at 855-412-2426. Avalon Malibu is a world-renowned, California state-licensed treatment center with licensed, experienced professionals who care about your recovery. We have a variety of methods that we can try with you to see what works and will help you develop a customized treatment plan to best suit your needs. Make the decision to place your health and happiness as top priority and call us for a consultation.
