The Fifth Agreement: A Practical Guide to Self-Mastery (A Toltec Wisdom Book)

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Be skeptical, but learn to listen - have an open mind and question everything, even your own thoughts. Further, the naguals argue that our beliefs are also subjective—and that, because we use language to describe those beliefs, our words carry preconceived notions about what is true, what is good, and what is bad. The naguals believe that, as a result, when we communicate with each other, we describe our subjective reality in subjective terms. Two people can hear the same words and interpret them differently. We often experience anxiety and confusion because our bodies are at odds with what's going on in our minds. And, as we grow older, life gets a lot more complicated. Once you realize that hardly anything you know through symbols is true, then be skeptical has a much bigger meaning. Be skeptical is masterful because it uses the power of doubt to discern the truth. Whenever you hear a message from yourself or from another artist, simply ask: Is it truth, or is it not truth? Is it reality or is it a virtual reality? The doubt takes you behind the symbols and makes you responsible for every message you deliver and receive. Why invest your faith in any message that is not true? By being skeptical, you don’t believe every message; you don’t put your faith in symbols, and when your faith is not in symbols, your faith is in yourself.

The childhood is filled with carefree, playful time. Not only that the media cannot affect and jeopardize that peacefulness, but also can’t get near it. The emphasis falls on the word or should you prefer the term “agree.” The symbolic meaning is both explained and presented as an asset, not as some universal truth. Often, people don’t use system two at all: Unless they make an intentional effort to be open-minded, they go with their first impulse and leave it at that. Even those who make the effort are still missing a lot—they only see what you show them and they may not eliminate all their assumptions, biases, and filters. Take the perspectives of others with a grain of salt. Step 3: Don’t Guess People’s Intentions The only way to master love is to practice love. You don't need to justify your love, you don't need to explain your love; you just need to practice your love.Although these thoughts and laws should serve our interest, it’s often vice versa. Don’t punish yourself anymore, allow new energy to enter your heart and mind. The Fifth Agreement” talks about the control to avoid gossiping and don’t comment on other people’s ignorance or prejudices. In other words, don’t take life too personally! We’ve learned that we don’t have to continue to hold the harmful beliefs society has taught us and what our lives can look like when we’re free—now, let’s explore how to shed those beliefs and achieve freedom. The fifth agreement is be skeptical, but learn to listen. Be skeptical because most of what you hear isn’t true. You know that humans speak with symbols and that symbols are only the truth because we agree, not because they are really the truth. But the second half of the agreement is learn to listen, and the reason is simple: When you learn to listen, you understand the meaning of the symbols that people are using; you understand their story, and the communication improves a lot.

I am two people: one that came into the world with a mission to share, the “real” me. After I got messages from all the people that helped me grow into an adult, I became the “virtual” me, a mixture of all those people's messages that I assumed were the truth. Truth or fiction, you don’t have to believe anyone’s story. You don’t have to agree or disagree. Just listen. The more impeccable a person is with the word, the clearer the message will be, but the words that come from another artist have nothing to do with you. It’s nothing personal. You listen and you understand all the words, but the words no longer affect you. You no longer judge what other people say because you understand what they are doing. They are only letting you know what is going on in their virtual world. The naguals say we shouldn’t take it personally if others don’t see us for who we really are because, bluntly, nobody can. In fact, Dr. Heidi Grant Halvorson, author of No One Understands You and What To Do About It explains that we think others know us better than they really do. We assume anyone can tell what we want, what we think, or what we mean—but that’s not the case at all. It’s possible for someone to get close, but it takes so much effort that most people won’t bother.

PDF Summary Part 2: Challenge Your Reality

In The Fifth Agreement, don Miguel Ruiz and don Jose Ruiz describe five “agreements” to make with yourself that adjust the way you see the world and your place in it. As you put these principles into practice, you’ll rediscover your true self and recapture the freedom and wholehearted love and joy you enjoyed as a child. The Fifth Agreement brings in another element of Toltec wisdom that guides us towards mastering ourselves and cultivating a deep sense of purpose and awareness. The authors provide us with more spiritual and ancient teachings, astute wisdom, and ways to put this knowledge into practice. In so doing, we'll learn the secret to lasting happiness.