Life Lessons from Reading .......Part 2
Updated: Jun 10, 2019
This blog is the second in the series, entitled "Life Lessons from Reading ......." This blog is taken from our Life Coaching course's second assignment; reading The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
The Four Agreements focus on how we communicate with each other - namely, the word is impeccable, don’t take anything personally, don’t make assumptions, and the fourth, always do your best. These simple phrases hold a great deal of power if applied to our everyday lives. They can help us to become more in tune with our friends, family, colleagues and acquaintances. And under the guidance of the Toltecs, become freer from our own imposed limitations.
The chapter toward the end of the book, Heaven on Earth, has a lot of resonance with my own philosophy of life.
Imagine that you have the ability to see the world with different eyes, whenever you choose.
Our course has quoted James Sweetman, who offers us 12 questions we must ask when assessing our relationships with each other. One says that we should always try to place ourselves in the shoes of others and decide what that other person would wish us to do.
I once dated a girl who explained to me some simple rules to guide our relationship;
◦ How would I want my partner to behave towards me? Then that is how I should behave towards my partner
◦ How would I want my partner to speak to me about this issue? Then that is how I should speak to my partner
◦ If I do it, then let my partner do it.
These simple, but powerful rules, guided our relationship toward harmony and respect. But also toward a deeper understanding of each other.
Developing further the idea of seeing the world differently brings us on to how we view the world as we travel through it. We should all travel. We should all look at the world through the lens of others. We should all look at the world’s events through the eyes of other cultures.
It was not until I started to travel that I began to understand my own country’s complete history. The history we were not taught in schools. When I first heard about our colonial past from the viewpoint of other nations, other cultures, I was offered a unique insight into our history. I was able to look at what had happened in a different way. I was allowed a chance to better understand the perspective of different peoples from across the planet. It was a powerful and privileged moment. It was a moment that I have not forgotten, nor have I forsaken. It was a moment that allows me to begin to appreciate the power of the Toltec wisdom.
Every future politician, every future world leader and every political decision maker should travel before taking up their career. These men and women, that wield such influence on our lives, should all first experience the vision of the world through the eyes of others.
It was not until I started to travel that I began to understand my own country’s c history. The history we were not taught in schools. When I first heard about our colonial past from the viewpoint of other nations, other cultures, I was offered a unique insight into our history. I was able to look at what had happened in a different way. I was allowed a chance to better understand the perspective of different peoples from across the planet. It was a powerful and privileged moment. It was a moment that I have not forgotten, nor have I forsaken. It was a moment that allows me to begin to appreciate the power of the Toltec wisdom.
I have been very fortunate in my life to be offered some amazing opportunities, to experience and witness some astonishing events. But to be able to open my eyes and begin to see the world around me in a different way, is truly an awesome and privileged gift.