Today's entry was mined from a LiveJournal post that I wrote back in September 2005. Re-reading it today was downright healing for me -- and except for one major tweak and maybe one or two minor ones, I wouldn't change a word.
***
I've been thinking about the Faery card reading that [a friend] did for me recently. The question I asked her for this reading was one that I've been asking myself for the past couple of years, at least: "How can I be more consistent in keeping the promises I make to myself?"
Well, I think I've arrived at an answer: Stop making so many promises to yourself, woman!
So, I believe I've got it down to four now -- my own personal Four Agreements, if you will. I'm still working on tidying up the wording a bit, but here's the gist:
I promise myself that I will make the most of my creative gifts and interests, and take excellent care of myself in the process so that I may continue to do so.
I promise my husband that I will be his lifemate throughout our lives, that I will stand by him and trust that he will stand by me.
I promise my daughter that I will be the best mother I can possibly be.
I promise you -- that is to say, everyone else -- that whenever our paths cross, I will do my best to treat you with kindness, and strive for authentic connection.
That's it. That's all. C'est tout.
Now, here is a partial list of things I do not promise:
I don't promise to lose weight.
I don't promise to always stick to my schedule.
I don't promise to be perfect.
I don't promise to exercise every day, or even every week.
I don't promise to keep my house spotless.
I don't promise to complete my PhD.
I don't promise that I'll always know the right thing to say.
I don't promise that I'll never screw things up.
I don't promise to never eat junk.
I don't promise that I'll never inadvertently hurt your feelings.
I don't promise you a rose garden. (If I didn't say it, someone else would.)
***
Something to consider and write about later: what does it mean, exactly, to make the most of one's creative gifts and interests? How do I know when I'm doing it? Hmm. I must ponder. In the meantime, I'd welcome your thoughts.
***
I've been thinking about the Faery card reading that [a friend] did for me recently. The question I asked her for this reading was one that I've been asking myself for the past couple of years, at least: "How can I be more consistent in keeping the promises I make to myself?"
Well, I think I've arrived at an answer: Stop making so many promises to yourself, woman!
So, I believe I've got it down to four now -- my own personal Four Agreements, if you will. I'm still working on tidying up the wording a bit, but here's the gist:
I promise myself that I will make the most of my creative gifts and interests, and take excellent care of myself in the process so that I may continue to do so.
I promise my husband that I will be his lifemate throughout our lives, that I will stand by him and trust that he will stand by me.
I promise my daughter that I will be the best mother I can possibly be.
I promise you -- that is to say, everyone else -- that whenever our paths cross, I will do my best to treat you with kindness, and strive for authentic connection.
That's it. That's all. C'est tout.
Now, here is a partial list of things I do not promise:
I don't promise to lose weight.
I don't promise to always stick to my schedule.
I don't promise to be perfect.
I don't promise to exercise every day, or even every week.
I don't promise to keep my house spotless.
I don't promise to complete my PhD.
I don't promise that I'll always know the right thing to say.
I don't promise that I'll never screw things up.
I don't promise to never eat junk.
I don't promise that I'll never inadvertently hurt your feelings.
I don't promise you a rose garden. (If I didn't say it, someone else would.)
***
Something to consider and write about later: what does it mean, exactly, to make the most of one's creative gifts and interests? How do I know when I'm doing it? Hmm. I must ponder. In the meantime, I'd welcome your thoughts.
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