 |
| How to Achieve the Freedom to Live Like an Ancient Toltec |
How to Achieve the Freedom to Live Like an Ancient Toltec. This time I will discuss the book The Four Agreement by Don Miguel Ruiz. This book discusses the wisdom of the ancient Toltecs in living life.
Often we limit ourselves to achieving what we want in life. Miguel himself was enlightened when he nearly died in a car accident.
This incident made him realize that life is not just about success or material wealth, there are things that are far more satisfying. His encounter with a shaman teaches Miguel about the ancient secrets of wisdom that the Toltecs apply to life.
How to Achieve the Freedom to Live Like an Ancient Toltec, Which You Can Try
I summed it up into three highlights from the book The Four Agreement by Don Miguel Ruiz:
First, Toltec Wisdom
Miguel was born in Mexico, studied medicine, and worked as a surgeon for many years. Then, one day his life changes due to a car accident that almost kills him.
Thus, Miguel becomes a disciple of a shaman, a person who is believed to have supernatural abilities and can cure diseases. Through a shaman, Miguel learns about the ancient wisdom that comes from the Toltec tribe.
For information, the Toltec people lived in central Mexico, consisting of warriors and artists who lived in the 6th and 8th centuries. The Toltecs are known as legendary stone carvers and artists who left behind many buildings and stone carvings. Their tradition is education and knowledge passed down to the next generation.
Miguel will show how Toltec's concepts and ideas can help us realize our full potential to live a balanced, happy life and not get caught up in the burdens of other people's expectations.
He said that we should be warriors, like Toltec. The difference is, in the past using spears and arrows, now using sharpness of mind.
Toltec has understood that every human being must struggle in his or her inner struggle, this is a battle with old perspectives that have been deeply rooted since we were born.
This perspective is like brainwashing us since childhood, when we were too young to be able to think and think critically. From the moment he opens his eyes to the world, a child is taught how to live, whether it be through his parents, his teacher, or the environment around him.
Children also learn which behavior is good and which behavior is bad. It's like a child being taught how to be human. Miguel calls this domestication, how the outside world has a significant influence on the way we live our lives.
Domestication is so strong, that at one point, we don't need someone else to teach us how to live, we can become the ones who tame ourselves through the set of beliefs and reward punishment systems we've learned before.
These beliefs are like laws that govern what our lives are like and we regard them as true truths.
However, on the other hand the term domestication is generally not very positive. Instead, it encourages us to be afraid and judgmental. When we are punished for bad actions and rewarded when we obey the rules of the outside world, we are obsessed with rewards.
This thinking then underlies us to do good deeds, just for the sake of receiving gifts. In fact, we must do good deeds for the sake of the deed itself.
On the other hand, punishment for breaking the rules makes us feel like we're not good enough. Based on this, Miguel believes our greatest fear is being who we really are.
Second, a new way of looking at life
We can be free from the shackles of the past. Miguel suggests there are four new deals you can make with yourself today.
The first agreement, be impeccable with your word means to be perfect in words. This is the most important first deal, but difficult to execute.
Miguel explains that the word "impeccable" comes from the Latin words sin and the prefix without. He also explained that sin means anything that goes against who you really are.
So, being impeccable in your words means that you are responsible for the actions you take and are not judging anything. The context is not only judging others, but also oneself.
 |
| How to Achieve the Freedom to Live Like an Ancient Toltec |
Miguel explained that the big difference between soldiers and victims was that the victims felt oppressed while the soldiers held back. It should be understood, sometimes words have extraordinary effects beyond our imagination.
Words are the basis of a concept, the way you label other people, and beliefs. You have to be careful before you speak because it can create the illusion of a dangerous life.
A simple tip that you can try is to get used to speaking according to the intent you want to convey. If you're in doubt, it's better to be quiet
The second agreement you can make with yourself is, don't take things personally. Don't let other people's words hurt you. What other people say about you, is not the actual reality, but the reality they see.
For example, when someone feels that you are being rude. Maybe it stems from his interactions when you're in a bad mood. But, have you always been a rude person? Of course not.
We must have a strong identity so that we do not have to depend on the opinions and judgments of others to make ourselves happy. This is what makes Miguel emphasize, don't be easily offended, because when we stop acting like that, then anger, jealousy, and sadness will disappear.
Still related to the first agreement, here you must also remember that you are the person in charge of your life. We don't need to focus on information that comes from outside ourselves, but rather focus on accepting all the strengths and weaknesses within us, and start improving them.
Third, see life more clearly
The third agreement is don't assume. You must have the courage to ask questions and express what is on your mind.
Use language and delivery methods that are easy to understand to avoid misunderstandings. Assumptions often cause suffering because they contain little reality and the rest is only our own imagination. The more often we assume what other people think, then this will actually make us become stressed.
A simple example is when a couple assumes each other. Some people often assume that their partner knows what they want. As a result, when their partners do not behave according to initial assumptions, they become disappointed and angry.
More Cool Stuff: How to Apply Love Language in Daily Life
They think that their partner doesn't care anymore. In fact, if both can communicate honestly and clearly, this can be prevented.
The fourth agreement is to always do your best, meaning that you are always enjoying the process and without realizing it, you have already achieved your desired goal. Doing your best means you have to do your best at what you can control.
As a result, you will enjoy the activity, not just enjoy the reward for the success of the activity. Miguel gave an example, how we see work.
 |
| How to Achieve the Freedom to Live Like an Ancient Toltec |
If our main motivation to work is money, then we never do anything with our best effort. Maybe we get a big salary, but there are parts that are lacking and do not make us happy.
That's what I wrote about How to Achieve the Freedom to Live Like an Ancient Toltec. What other people say about you, is not the truth. Start taking responsibility for your own life and always do your best.
0 comments