Aloha Soulmates... The complex simplicity of "The Four Agreements" presents a challenge AND a solution. I, too, read the book several years prior to today's notes, and I have found the following to be True (note the capital 'T'):

1.Be Impeccable w/Your Word: AMAZINGLY POWERFUL with regard to getting other people to understand who we are and where we are coming from. This agreement, by far, mitigates the "communication monster" stalking so many relationships.

2. Don’t Take Any thing Personally: In a nutshell... This Agreement changed my life forever. Undoubtedly, this is the most prolific and challenging of the Four Agreements. Today, I am known for telling people, "Even if someone walks up to you and smacks you in the back of the head, THEY (obviously) are the ones with the problem. If we/you, in fact, respond in kind, WE/YOU now also have the same type of problem." Now, this may seem like a rather extreme, if not violent comment on an otherwise peaceful point. However, I believe we have to (initially) see the Agreement as an extreme departure from where we are (or have been brought).

3. Don’t Make Assumptions" Admittedly, I struggled with this one solely on the basis that assumptions are just part of life. We all ASSUME the sun will rise tomorrow. We all assume the food at the diner is not poisoned. We all assume...

4. Always Do Your Best: P-OW-E-R-F-U-L-L-Y vindicating. Guess what? When you absolutely, positively do your best, life no longer becomes a competition with others. When we do our best, we stop taking things personally, and we are not afraid to say what we think or feel --- and, the best part... the thoughts and feelings are not presumptuous or disguised (like some "personal attacks).

Yes... this is an AWESOME book. For me, the biggest takeaway is NOT to take ANYTHING personally... even and especially if it is meant for you (personally).