Episode 68 - Always Doing Your Best
In this episode we share our thoughts and experiences on the Fourth Agreement, "Always Do Your Best." This is a statement that most of us heard from childhood and it can carry some emotional baggage. But the intention of this new agreement is to free us from the inner critic that berates us for not being perfect, while also knowing that our best looks different in different circumstances. It also helps us to give other people a break from our judgments.
NOTES:
Underlying premise
The Four Agreements are presented as new agreements – to free us from the “Book of Law” or society’s dream
The Four Agreements are presented as new agreements – for Freedom
The Fourth Agreement:
Your best changes with different circumstances
Give yourself a break
But always do your best
By doing your best with the new agreements, old habits will weaken and become less frequent
When you do your best you don’t give your inner critic the opportunity to use guilt or blame against you
Do your best because you want to, not because you have to or because you want to please your inner critic or other people
Doing Your Best
When you take action just for the sake of it (not for reward or because you have to) you will find that you enjoy what you do - rewards will come but don't be attached to them
Make everything a ritual (even taking a shower and paying the bills) and in all things, do your best
“God is life. God is life in action. The best way to say, "I love you, God," is to live your life doing your best.” Don Miguel Ruiz
You can only be you when you do your best; when you don't do your best you are denying yourself the right to be you
Dialogue Questions:
Take an honest look at your life. What agreements have you inherited?
What does 'always do your best' mean to you?
When you find yourself not doing your best at something, what is happening inside you?
Can you see how always doing your best frees you from your inner critic? If not, what do you see?
What do you think of this statement: "When you don't do your best you are denying yourself the right to be you"?
What everyday activities are challenging for you? Can you make them a ritual? Can you change your attitude to reflect the idea that doing/being your best in all things is your way of saying, "I love you God"?
Affirmation
In all things, in all circumstances I do my best, no more, no less. I release my attachment to outcomes, rewards and in some situations my desire for time to pass. Instead, I focus on what is before me and express my true nature by doing my best. God is Life - Life in action - and doing my best is the best way for me to say "Thank you God. Thank you Life."