Let’s talk about the 2nd Agreement from the book “The 4 Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz. And that agreement is…. Don’t Take Anything Personally.
I expect we’ve all been in situations where someone said something uncomplimentary, and we took it in. It changed our mood, our internal weather. Why is that?
What happens when someone says something good? We take that in, too. It feels good. See how our inner weather is influenced by what happens to us from the outside? Our mood fluctuates based on what others say. Based on that awareness, How does that concept sit with you
Nothing other people say is because of you. It is all about them. We view the world through a lens that has been created over a lifetime, or more, of perceptions, misperceptions, and they are shaded by emotions, reinforced by reactions, throw in some changing thoughts, fading memories… So when someone says something it comes from that place, it is their thought, their idea, their opinion, and it’s colored through their lens. If we think about it like that, how much truth about us is really in there?
Even if others lie to you, it is okay. They are lying to you because they are afraid of facing something in their lives.
And, if we are now incorporating what others say as a truth about us, we are not honoring the 1st Agreement… which is being impeccable with OUR word. See how that works
When we see people as they are, and allow them their views without our taking it personally, we can never be influenced by what they say or do.
You can’t control what people say. You can control how you react. Conversely, if whatever is said hits a chord, look for that place in you that might like a little attention.
By taking things personally we set ourselves up to suffer. For no reason, really. And who wants that? Just sayin’