Book Review: The Fifth Agreement

“Imagine living a whole new way of life – a life where you are free to be who you really are. You no longer rule your life according to what other people may think about you. Imagine living your life without judging yourself or anyone else, without the fear of being judged. You accept yourself just the way you are, and you accept everybody else just the way they are.” ~ From the back inside flap

After reading, studying and teaching The Four Agreements for the past few years, Don Miguel Ruiz and his son, Don Jose decided to share the Fifth Agreement with us. As an avid student of Don Miguel and the Toltec teaching, I was excited to dive into this new material. Thanks to my BWP sister, Lisa, for the gift of this book.

I have heard it said that we are messengers who have forgotten the message. We were sent here to deliver a message, to share something special, something unique. The message is us; and we have forgotten that message. We have forgotten who we really are.

The Fifth Agreement is be skeptical, but learn to listen. Since we have been conditioned, most of what we hear is not the truth. The truth is within each one of us, but we have forgotten what that truth is. We must learn to listen, but recognize that what we hear is only a piece of the truth, someone else’s truth; and may not be true for us at all.

In the Fifth Agreement, the Ruiz’ take us on a journey of the first four agreements as a refresher course. Then we are introduced to this next agreement. Don Miguel said that he tried teaching this agreement to his apprentices but they just were not ready to hear it, therefore unable to hear. Don Jose then took the message and presented it in a way that was ready for its hearers. It is definitely time for this message.

If we can just make the Five Agreements our way of life, then soon we will be living our personal dream of heaven.

Coach Carolyn