The Four Agreements with Nathan Maingard

Musician, poet, influencer and spiritual guide Nathan Maingard appeared on the Book Insights podcast to discuss The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. Here are some of his insights:

"'Be impeccable with your word' is incredibly powerful... It means acknowledging that my word is power. The things I choose to speak have a resonant impact on the universe. If I choose to spend my word creating disharmony it's like black magic."

"'Do your best' was a relief to me to read because I realized that sometimes 'my best' is lying in bed for 3 weeks watching Netflix because I'm crushed by the weight of the world. But if that's my best then I can celebrate that."

"I claim and hold 100% of my sovereignty and responsibility (my ability to respond). If I took things personally I would shut the door on all kinds of incredible lessons, connections deepenings and growth."

"By not taking it personally, I gift myself and the world with the opportunity to grow and expand together."

"If anyone dedicates their life to these agreements - being impeccable with your word, doing your best, etc.- they will develop these skills."

"Our society is not impeccable with its word. Coca-cola says "drink happiness"... An ad can say that, though it's a direct lie! The long-term results of drinking something that's got zero health benefits is only negative. That's not being impeccable with our word."

"My best can look like whatever it looks like. It's not externally judged as not good enough. I feel it. I did my best. That is a gift to me. And I imagine it's a gift to many others as well."

"Life is to be lived fully 100%. That's the invitation...Even if that's outside of what society considers good or okay. His best may not be what I would choose, but what joy it's brought me to free myself from the structure of what 'good' is."

"This book has become my primary way of expressing ideas I had already been working on for a long time like 'be impeccable with your word'. I'm often using the language from this book a lot. I give deep thanks to Ruiz for putting these ideas so well and so simply."