Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz Changed Tom Brady’s Life and it Can Change Yours, Too

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
Image used with permission by copyright holder
We can all admit that 2017 has gotten off on a crazy foot. But we’re not here for details or complaints, just some possible solutions. Bestselling author Don Miguel Ruiz reveals some of these based on ancient Toltec wisdom in his self-help book, The Four Agreements.

the four agreements book cover
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Ruiz was born into a Mexican family of traditional healers, but instead he chose the path to become a medical surgeon. After coming to terms with an out-of-body-experience (stay with me now), Ruiz was pushed to re-examine his life and his beliefs.

Now, before you click-away thinking this is some cookie cutter, self-help book — think again. Ruiz presents a short, easy-to-read, and universally digestible set of tools to combat the self-limiting beliefs that create unnecessary suffering and stress on a daily basis. Hell, even the G.O.A.T. (greatest of all-time), Tom Brady and his wife Giselle have been reading The Four Agreements for almost a decade.

“It hit me at the right time,’’ Brady told boston.com. “It was very relevant at that point in my life, and I read it once a year to reflect and gain a little perspective. It’s served me pretty well.’’

If you’re thinking this sounds outlandish and it’ll never work, maybe you’re right. Or, maybe it’s just easier said than done. Every self-building book should be taken with a grain of salt. However, it takes nothing away from the impact these four simple steps could have in helping you regain or strengthen the happiness in life. And if not your life, for the lives of others around you. For the reading averse, here’s a summary of the four agreements and what they mean:

Agreement 1: Be Impeccable with Your Word

Simply put, speak with integrity and meaning. Say what you mean and only what you mean. Use the provocative power of language towards something bigger than you — truth, life, science; whatever makes you happy.

Agreement 2: Don’t Take Anything Personally

This is one of the hardest to accomplish, but also one that has the most to offer (and it’s Tom’s favorite mantra). Nothing that others do occurs because of you. How others act, what they say, and what they do is rooted in their own “dream” as Ruiz states. This dream refers to the implicit reality nested in others. Everyone is raised to see their world through their own lens and there are many things in life that are simply out of your control. At the end of the day you’re only responsible for yourself and your actions.

Agreement 3: Don’t Make Assumptions

What’s that old saying again? “When you assume, you make an ass out of u and me.” Oh boy is it true. Instead of assuming, which can rile someone up in the wrong way, communicate with others to hash out any misunderstandings. Ruiz says this one agreement can “completely transform your life.”

Agreement 4: Always Do Your Best

There’s a reason why your parents may have reiterated this to you as a child. Your best may not be the best every time, but it’ll let you avoid any regret after the fact. This can be a huge contributor in not letting you get down on yourself when things don’t go according to plan.

If you’re interested in reading Don Miguel Ruiz’s works, you can find The Four Agreements on Amazon for just under $8.

Topics
Bryan Holt
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Bryan Holt is a writer, editor, designer, and multimedia storyteller based in Portland, Oregon. He is a graduate from the…
The Ghostbusters have a new ride in Frozen Empire, courtesy of Mercedes Benz
Mercedes Benz Sprinter plays a pivotal role in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
The ECTO-Z makes its debut in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.

Later this month, the Ghostbusters will be back on the big screen in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. And while three generations of the team are coming together, there is a big addition to the crew: The ECTO-Z. At an event in New York City, Mercedes-Benz officially unveiled the Ghostbusters' new ride, which is a customized Mercedes-Benz Sprinter that follows in the footsteps of the iconic ECTO-1 from the first three films.

Given the larger size of the second and third-generation Ghostbusters team, it was only natural that they would need a vehicle that could carry all of them to the scene of a haunting anywhere in NYC. As for the name, it comes from original team member Dr. Winston Zeddemore, as played by Ernie Hudson. Ghostbusters: Afterlife established that Zeddemore is now the financial backer of the Ghostbusters and the de facto leader of the team.

Read more
Everything points to Apple TV+ making a change you’re not going to like
Is an ad-supported tier coming to Apple TV+?
The Apple TV Plus Logo

It turns out that TV worked pretty well under its old model. According to a new report from Business Insider, Apple TV+ may be the latest streaming service that's set to introduce an ad-supported tier and charge those who don't stream with ads a premium fee to access their great shows and movies.

At this point, the report is still speculation, but Apple has made several recent hires in the advertising space that seem to suggest the direction they're planning to take. The company recently hired former NBCUniversal ad executive Joseph Cady to serve as executive vice president of advanced advertising and partnerships, a move that comes following the company's hiring of another former NBCUniversal executive, Jason Frum, who joined Apple's video ad sales team.

Read more
From Gilda Radner to Ali Wong, these are the best female comedians of all time
These women from all generations will make you laugh out loud
Ai Wong comedian 2017 Moontower comedy festival

Hot take: I don’t care for straight male comedians. It’s not that they’re not funny, they’re just … I don’t know, boring? Maybe that’s reductive of me, but I never seem to leave a straight male comedian’s set feeling particularly inspired. And though some may argue that it’s not important for a set to "inspire" its audience, I’d actually argue that the opposite is true. For me, I want to see a comedian use humor to address real issues and say real things about the world, even if they do it in a completely goofy way.

Therefore, I tend to prefer female and female-identified comedians. They’re sharp, tough, and have often seen shit that makes their comedy feel raw and true. Undoubtedly there are male comedians who do this, too, but to a much lesser degree, in my very humble and very personal opinion.

Read more