Always do your best
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Pondering: Always Do Your Best

This is the second in a series of four consecutive ponderings that will cover The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. I highly recommend reading this book as the concepts can help you process how you relate, adapt and grow with all your communication efforts. The Four Agreements are:

Don’t take things personally

Always do your best

Be impeccable with your word

Don’t make assumptions

This piece will cover the second agreement which is: Always Do Your Best!

Always do your best

A seemingly easy, small phrase but a fabulous reminder! Are you doing your best? Think about it — have you been on autopilot since the holidays? Not paying attention when your spouse is talking to you?

There is that 80/20 rule that says eighty percent of the work is done by twenty percent of the people. CHOOSE to be in the twenty percent that is contributing and giving their best each day.

“Take your life and enjoy it”

“You are alive, so take your life and enjoy it. You were born with the right to be happy, to love and to share your love. Just to be — to take a risk and enjoy your life — is all that matters.”

Doing your best isn't just for work — but for you as well. Are you taking care of yourself? Getting enough sleep and eating properly? Do your very best starting with yourself!

“Stay in the present moment”

“Keep your attention on today, and stay in the present moment. This is the beginning of a new understanding. A new dream.”

I talked about this recently in my Pondering: Are You Present post? But, again, a simple reminder worth repeating. Be present in each moment.

“Practice makes the master”

“By doing your best over and over, you can master the art of transformation. By doing your best, the habits of misusing your words, taking things personally, and making assumptions will become weaker and less frequent with time.”

Be patient with yourself and be open to being the best that you can be! Honor yourself by always doing your best.

Do you feel like you are putting your best foot forward? If yes, then please share how! If no, what do you think that you could do a little or a lot better?

If you liked this, you'll enjoy the rest of the series:

The Four Agreements are: 

Don’t take things personally

Always do your best

Be impeccable with your word

Don’t make assumptions

 Quotes from The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.

 

7 Comments

  1. Doing your best – even when it doesn’t succeed – still works in helping your confidence and awareness that you can do your best. Great lesson – another great post, Peg!

  2. What’s truly remarkable is that someone wrote a book centered around four principles and the first two are “Always Do Your Best” and “Don’t Take things Personally”. Wow. I learned those watching episodes of “Little House on the Prairie” as a kid (or was it “Sesame Street”?)

    1. Very true Dan. I would say that it semi-equates to the “everything I needed to know I learned in Kindergarten” mentality however; The Four Agreements are much more indepth and complicated. Have you read it?

      Taking things personally is a problem for many people. For example, many people might be offended by your comment but it is a reflection of you and where you are and not of me or where I am therefore; I am not offended. 

      Sometimes people just want something to think about in smaller pieces and The Four Agreements, while seemingly simplistic, does hold meaning for everyone that has read that I have talked to — you should check it out.

  3. You are such a positive ball of energy Peggy; I have a dear friend with that kind of energy who has made a tremendous impact on our lives. He’s fighting a very tough battle with cancer WHILE he’s started a committee to help his fellow alumni of Milton Hershey School who are stricken with the disease and facing financial issues.

    There is nothing that can dull the bright light of someone who consciously chooses to Be the Positive Force.

    1. That means so much to me Amy! Thanks!

      I am sending prayers to your friend while he fights his battle with cancer. What a big thing to deal with and still thinking of others. Amazing!

  4. Very good points. I think we all need to be reminded to take a breath and live in the present.

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