What are the actual four agreements?

Asked by: Eula Jenkins Jr.  |  Last update: June 19, 2026
Score: 4.4/5 (4 votes)

The Four Agreements, based on ancient Toltec wisdom and popularized by Don Miguel Ruiz, are a code of conduct designed to eliminate self-limiting beliefs that cause suffering and replace them with personal freedom, happiness, and love. They are: Be Impeccable with Your Word, Don't Take Anything Personally, Don't Make Assumptions, and Always Do Your Best.

What are the original four agreements?

"Be impeccable with your word" "Do not take anything personally" "Do not make assumptions" "Always do your best"

What are the 4 agreements?

Overview

  • "Be impeccable with your word"
  • "Do not take anything personally"
  • "Do not make assumptions"
  • "Always do your best"

What are the 4 agreements in a nutshell?

Its core philosophy centers on four agreements, or commitments you make to yourself to improve your behavior and thought patterns—"Be impeccable with your word;" "Don't take anything personally;" "Don't make assumptions;" and "Always do your best.."

What is the Toltec way of life?

The Toltec Way: A Guide to Personal Transformation is about rediscovering your true self and living at peace with the world around you. It emphasizes the need to take personal responsibility for the choices in your life and the freedom that you attain by doing so.

The Four Agreements (detailed summary) by Don Miguel Ruiz - The key to unlocking your dream life

27 related questions found

Do Toltecs still exist?

The Toltec civilization existed from the years 900 to 1168. They ruled over most of central Mexico, as well as a portion of other countries in Central America. The capital city, Tollan, was located on a ridge overlooking the Tula River.

Are the four agreements really Toltec?

The Four Agreements originate from ancient Toltec wisdom. The Toltecs are a Mesoamerican culture from Hidalgo, Mexico, whose deep spiritual knowledge still proves to be a powerful way to overcome limiting beliefs and suffering today.

Did Tom Brady read the Four Agreements?

Tom Brady mentioned in an Esquire magazine interview I saw recently that he'd read the book by Don Miguel Ruiz titled "The Four Agreements." Curious, I picked up a copy. It's a relatively short book, only 140 pages, so I was able to get through it quickly.

What are the criticisms of the Four Agreements?

Criticisms of The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz generally focus on the book's simplistic, overgeneralized, and sometimes impractical advice. Critics argue the principles lack nuance, potentially encourage unhealthy emotional detachment or passive communication, and rely on subjective "new-age" spirituality rather than solid, actionable philosophy.

How can I practice the Four Agreements?

By being impeccable with your word, not taking things personally, avoiding assumptions, and always doing your best, you set the stage for personal transformation and better relationships. These agreements aren't just philosophical ideals—they are practical tools for living a life that is aligned with your true self.

How to live by The Four Agreements?

Let's take a closer look at each of the Four Agreements and how they can help us live a more fulfilling life:

  1. Be Impeccable with Your Word. ...
  2. Don't Take Anything Personally. ...
  3. Don't Make Assumptions. ...
  4. Always Do Your Best. ...
  5. Ready to Take the Next Step in Your Mental Health Journey?

What is sin in The Four Agreements?

According to Ruiz, sin is doing anything that is against yourself or harms yourself. In this way, the gravest sin is self-rejection, which is utterly against oneself.

What does "don't take anything personally" mean?

I think not “taking it personally” means not letting the actions, behavior, or words of other people negatively affect us, which can be hard to do! Oftentimes, the way people behave toward us or speak to us is a reflection of their own issues, and has nothing to do with us.

Is Toltec wisdom a religion?

Toltec wisdom arises from the same essential unity of truth as all the sacred esoteric traditions found around the world. Though it is not a religion, it honors all the spiritual masters who have taught on the earth.

What does "always do your best" mean?

Always Do Your Best means that regardless of where you are, who you are with, what time of day it is or how you are feeling at any given moment, do your very best in that moment. When you do your best, remember that your best will fluctuate and will be different from one moment to the next.

Is The Four Agreements an easy read?

I'll start with that it is not necessarily an easy book to read. It is short but I had a little trouble with the language of it at first. Once I got used to how the author was speaking through his writing it got easier for me. I absolutely loved the fourth agreement.

Are the Four Agreements based on any religion?

The knowledge of the Four Agreements comes from a way of living prescribed by men and women of knowledge from Southern Mexico called the Toltec. The book is clear in stating that the Toltec knowledge is not a religion.

Why does Trump oppose the Paris Agreement?

In Trump's speech, he commented on the Paris Agreement as “a financial and economic burden” imposed on the United States and cited meeting the Agreement commitments would reduce 38% iron and steel production and 86% production in the coal mining sectors respectively.

What does the Toltec concept of mitote mean?

In Toltec wisdom, the mitote refers to the “chaos of 1,000 voices” or a “fog” of chatter in the mind, where thousands of internal beliefs, judgments, and fears talk at once. This chaotic state prevents inner peace by creating, enforcing, and distorting our reality.

Why did Gisele left Tom Brady?

Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen divorced in October 2022 after 13 years of marriage, primarily due to growing apart and tension over Brady’s decision to unretire from the NFL. Bündchen expressed that their goals had stopped aligning, while the strain of Brady prioritizing his football career over family life created irreparable, long-term friction.

Does Tom Brady have a high IQ?

Yes, Tom Brady is widely considered to have an exceptionally high "football IQ". He is renowned for his elite ability to process defensive information, analyze opponents quickly, and make split-second, accurate decisions under pressure. He scored a 33 out of 50 on the Wonderlic test before his NFL career, which is well above the average for NFL quarterbacks.

What is Tom Brady's favorite book?

Tom Brady's favorite book is "The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom" by Don Miguel Ruiz. He has described the 1997 self-help book as a "mantra for my life" and reads it annually to gain perspective, relying on its principles during challenging times like "Deflategate".

Are Aztec and Toltec the same?

No, the Toltecs are not the same as the Aztecs, but they are closely related. The Toltecs (c. 900–1150 CE) preceded the Aztecs (c. 1325–1521 CE) in Central Mexico, serving as their cultural and intellectual predecessors. While the Aztecs considered the Toltecs their ancestors and imitated their art, religion, and architecture, they were distinct, separate civilizations.

Are the Four Agreements related to stoicism?

Yes, the four agreements are in line with Stoic wisdom. Although the reasoning behind them differ the essence of the agreements is sound.

Are Toltecs Native American?

The Toltec culture (/ˈtɒltɛk/) was a pre-Columbian Mesoamerican culture that ruled a state centered in Tula, Hidalgo, Mexico, during the Epiclassic and the early Post-Classic period of Mesoamerican chronology, reaching prominence from 950 to 1150 CE.