Book Chat

I read a book yesterday that has given me a "lot to chew on", as my Grandmother used to day. It's "The Four Agreements", by don Miguel Ruiz. subtitle "A Personal Guide to Freedom". It's also "A Toltec Wisdom Book." The Toltec were (and are!) men and women of Mexico - artists, scientists, philosophers - who formed a community to preserve the spiritual knowledge and ways of their ancestors. The Toltec ways have been passed down for generations, outlasting the conquests of Europe and modern times, and they continue to be keepers of knowledge.

I read the whole book in one sitting. That isn't too difficult from a "length" perspective, as it's only 129 pages, but I had to keep putting it down and absorb what I'd just read. I plan to read it again and again.

The book is very simple. There are four agreements that you make within yourself that can transform your world. They're listed on most book reviews and on the inside cover - those words alone were strong enough to get me to pull out the wallet and buy the book. Powerful stuff - but since it's online, I won't go through those - instead, here is one bit that has my brain working:

In your whole life, nobody has ever abused you more than you have abused yourself. That limit of self-abuse then in turn determines how much abuse you're willing to take from someone else. If someone exceeds it, you find it easier to walk away. If less, you will probably stay in the relationship and tolerate it endlessly. The more self-love we have, the less self-abuse we perform, and the less abuse we accept from others.

Whew.

I put this out there because it spoke loudly to me and I love sharing things that I find exciting or revealing :) Have you read this book or others that had an impact on your life? If so, write a little posty for us :) I'll make the tea ... :)