Don’t take anything personally!

The second of The Four Agreements: Don¹t take anything personally! Information From: Don Miguel Ruiz. ³The Four Agreements.² Nothing other people do is because of you. It is because of themselves. All people live in their own dream, in their own mind; they are in a completely different world from the one we live in. When we take something personally, we make the assumption that they know what is in our world, and we try to impose our world on their world. Even when a situation seems so personal, even if others insult you directly, it has nothing to do with you. What they say, what they do, and the opinions they give are according to the agreements they have in their own minds. Their point of view comes from all the programming they received throughout their livesŠfamily, education, experienceŠthese all form individual perspectives. When we take things personally; we feel offended or attacked, we get defensive, we make mountains out of molehillsŠthese are all fear responses, based on the need to be Œright¹. Even our own self talk can come from a space of judgement and fear. If we get dressed for our day and think Œdang I look old today¹ and believe itŠthen we tend to live that feeling all day long and our day is not joyous or even pleasantŠand Œold’ is only a perspectiveŠbecause the definition of Œold¹ depends on who you askŠto a small child it is probably 35Šand to a 35 year old it¹s 90! Likewise if someone says to you Œwow you look pretty today¹, it may make you feel good for a while, but that is only one person¹s perspectiveŠand you are hearing it with your perspectiveŠso to allow our happiness to revolve around someone else¹s idea of us keeps us riding a roller coaster of ups and downs. Good or bad, let¹s do our best to give each other their space for Œtheir storyŠor perspective¹ and realize it has NOTHING to do with us! This will alleviate a lot of stress and suffering. When we make this a habit (21 days) we avoid many upsetsŠour anger, jealousy and envy will disappear. A habit I have come to use a lot of the time in place of re-action is ŒThat¹s none of my business¹! When we get wrapped in another person¹s opinion we are just getting on that old roller coaster. How others act or react has nothing to do with us and so it¹s easier to realize ­ that¹s their business not mine! If you keep this agreement, you can travel around the world with your heart completely open and no one can hurt you. You can say, ³I love you,² without fear of being ridiculed or rejected. You can ask for what you need. You can say yes, or you can say no ‹ whatever you choose ‹ without guilt or self-judgment. You can choose to follow your heart always. Blessings to each of you! Let¹s ŒMind our Own Business’ and make this a wonderful day!