The four agreements-Part 2: Don't Take Anything Personally
Welcome back to our four-part blog series inspired by "The Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz. If you missed the first part, we explored the power of being impeccable with our word. Today, we journey into the second agreement: Don't Take Anything Personally.
This agreement reminds us that nothing others do is because of us. It reminds us that we are all walking through life with our own personal perspective, shaped by our own personal experiences throughout our lives. When we take things personally, we allow others perception to infiltrate ours, often causing unnecessary suffering on our end.
No ONE thinks about me as much as I DO.
Practicing this agreement has taught me the art of emotional resilience. Its so easy to get completely caught up in what others think of us that we do not live true to ourselves.
When I find myself thinking things like- “What did I do? Are they mad at me? Why did they treat me like that? I wish they would have…” That’s a good indicator that I'm taking things personally, and putting my freedom in someone else’s hands.
“Personal importance, or taking things personally, is the maximum expression of selfishness because we make the assumption that everything is about ‘me’.” — Don Miguel Ruiz
Some tools I've integrated to not taking things personally
Release the Need for Approval: I no longer seek constant approval from others to validate my self-worth. Instead, I find it within myself.
Realizing the world is not out to get me: Integrate the belief that everything in my life is happening FOR me and not TO me.
Find ways to boost confidence and improve self esteem: practice acts of self love, make time to get to know yourself and do things that you enjoy doing.
Choose Empathy: When faced with negativity, I practice empathy. I remind myself that everyone is battling their own challenges.
Embrace your own emotional resilience
Are there situations where you've taken things personally, causing unnecessary pain? How could embracing this agreement lead to greater emotional resilience and freedom?
In our next blog, we'll dive into the third agreement: Don't Make Assumptions. Until then, remember that your emotional well-being is a precious gift, and by not taking things personally, you protect it.
Don Miguel Ruiz has many books to help navigate multiple paths to self-realization, click the link below to check out his collection!