Today we dive into the fourth of The Four Agreements: Always Do Your Best. This may be the last of The Four Agreements but it is the beginning of a new way of living, should you choose to embrace it.
Always Do Your Best:
*Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick.
*Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you'll avoid self judgment, self abuse and regret.
This agreement puts the other three agreements into action, allowing them to become new habits that will transform you and your life. By committing to taking action moment by moment, day by day, you set the intention to set yourself free.
The commitment to Always Do Your Best means acting and speaking from a place of truth and love, with integrity and conscious awareness.
Always doing your best does not mean perfectionism. As I have mentioned in previous posts, I used to feel terrified of criticism. I would put on my 'perfectionism armor' in hopes of protecting myself from what I then believed was the pain of criticism or judgement of others.
Little did I realize the profound pain I was inflicting upon myself by striving for this illusion. By not letting my guard down and pretending to be what I was not, not only was I aiming for the unattainable, but I was setting myself up for failure, disillusion and self abuse.
This vicious cycle would repeat over and over. I most feared what I was doing to myself: criticizing and judging. And so of course I was projecting and perceiving external criticism. We project and attract that which we are!
Let's review the first agreement, Be Impeccable With Your Word. Your word has the power to edify and create or to destroy. Mistreating myself with abusive thoughts triggered the same pattern of behavior which perpetuated more self loathing, deep resentment and needless pain and suffering.
Being impeccable with your word begins with what you say to yourself and how you treat yourself and how committed you are to honoring this. If you can't honor and respect yourself, how can you expect others to respect you?
Trust me, criticism and judgement will always be there. Why? Because we all have our own stories and beliefs. This is where agreements number two and three come in, Don't Take Anything Personally and Don't Make Assumptions.
You cannot control nor are you responsible for others' opinions and actions. You are only responsible for your own thoughts and actions and the agreements that you make with yourself.
It is up to you to evaluate whether or not these are serving you and whether or not you are willing to be open to new agreements that better serve and support you.
Doing your best means aiming for excellence, whatever that may mean for you during different situations. Your best will change from moment to moment. It is the intention of approaching every moment and every endeavor with excellence and integrity that counts. It is keeping this commitment to yourself.
It is a practice. A practice of recommitment and willingness. A decision to live your life wholeheartedly and courageously. A choice that you make moment to moment.
Know this:
Life will always meet you exactly where you are.
Be kind, gentle, loving and compassionate with yourself.
Trust that you are always receiving exactly what you need.
Be open and willing to accept, allow and receive.
I invite you to take this challenge:
Read The Four Agreements and commit to putting them into practice. Focus on one agreement every week or every month or every day.... that is up to you, whatever feels good to you.
Every time that you feel uneasiness, discomfort, anxiety.. realize that one or more of the agreements has been broken... Breathe and Celebrate!!! Yes! Celebrate! You noticed that you are not in Alignment and it is in this moment that you stand in your power.
Choose to commit and recommit again and again. You are the chooser. Conscious choice in every moment is a life practice. It is only here and now that you can be fully in your power.
Consciously or not, you are creating your experience in every moment. Are you creating deliberately and intentionally or by default?
You are worthy and deserving. You are here to be happy and to love your life. That is your true purpose. Embrace it and receive it!
Are you ready to dive into the process of creating and living your life filled with joy and abundance? Schedule your clarity session today.
In Lak'ech,
Blanca