THE THIRTEEN AGREEMENTS
*CHERISH YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY* The ones who love you and the ones that you love are the most important jewels in this confusing and mysterious world we live in. Treasure them. For they are the true wealth in your life. All material aspects of your life pale in comparison to true, real loved ones.
*BE RESPONSIBLE*
The needs of those that count on you outweigh your own desires. Meaning...If you love mountain climbing, if you have a wife and children, you DO NOT climb the biggest peak in North America in the middle of December. You put SOME of your needs, wants and desires on hold while you have such major responsibilities. When people count on you and your life you do not jeapordize it. You have children? Don't go jumping out of a perfectly good functioning aircraft.
*FORGIVE*
Probably the most difficult of all the agreeements I've placed here. Difficult in that you don't always know where the person that hurt you was coming from when the hurt occurred. By forgiving, you remove the stain that turns your heart cold. By forgiving you may lift the world off the shoulders of the one that hurt you. By forgiving it will make you a better person. I'm not saying forgive and forget. You can remember and learn from the hurt you experienced. Just don't hold a grudge.
*BE IMPECCABLE WITH YOUR WORD*
Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.
*BE APPRECIATIVE* When someone goes above and beyond the call of duty and does something, obviously, that will have a distict consequence on your life. Do something meaningful for them. It could be as small as a tricket from the heart. But, it's still something from the heart that matters.
*DON'T TAKE ANYTHING PERSONALLY*
Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.
*DON'T MAKE ASSUMPTIONS*
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.
*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 will avoid self-judgement, self-abuse, and regret.
*TREAT OTHERS AS YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED*
If you treat others with the dignity and respect that they deserve they will Treat you in kind. You will also find that they will treat you the same in kind. By doing this you can change someone outlook on life. By changing someones outlook, they can change others.
*COMMUNICATION AND YOUR WORD ARE THE CORNERSTONES OF ANY RELATIONSHIP* Any and all relationships rely on open clear communication and your Word. Your Word is everything. You Word is what makes you who you are. Your Word is the most important thing you have. It makes you who you are.
*BE GENEROUS*
If God has blessed you with gifts, share them. By doing so you are sharing a little bit of the blessings God has given you.
*HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY*
While sometimes hurting the ones you love, only honesty will pay itself back in the long run. If you are honest with everyone they will be honest with you. Its advantages outweigh every shortcoming exhibited.
*BE PATIENT*There are some relationships that are like shooting stars. Brilliant, intense, glorious and yet fleeting. Such shooting starts are more usually more detrimental than advantageous. Take your time in something so new and invigorating. Usually both parties enter into such an ephemeral, impulsive and hasty liaison with expectations that are more wishful thinking and idealistic than that of actual reality. So, take your time and don't forget to become friends before becoming more emotionally engrossed. Otherwise, the fire that heated the relationship will end up burning you.
*LEAVE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE THAN YOU FOUND IT!*