For the last few years, I have been working on living the four agreements as presented by don Miguel Ruiz. However, tonight I realized I had not thought about applying these agreements to a specific aspect of my life, my relationship with my body. I had focused on my mind and my spirit, but not my body. I had this epiphany while reading Marianne Williamson’s book A Course on Weight Loss. One of the things she wrote about was how it is not about the food, it is about your mind. So now, I am embarking on a new journey of exploring the agreements I have made about my body, food, and my relationship to Spirit.
The first agreement is to be impeccable with your word. “Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth.” What I have come to realize is that I must not only speak with integrity, but eat with integrity. I cannot say I want to be one way and eat another. I also cannot put myself down in my thoughts, silent or expressed, that are in any way shape or form self-negating. I must use the power of my word and my actions in the direction of truth, which is love. So is what I am eating making a statement about my love for myself and my body. If not, then my new agreement is not to eat it.
Some of us use food as a way of numbing spiritual wounds, however, eating our way to joy does not bring us there. it simply numbs the feelings of shame, anger, fear, unforgiveness, injustice, pressure, inferiority, and the list goes on. it is not until we allow ourselves to become aware of that which is separating us from Spirit, that we can begin to change our agreements and be impeccable with our food as well as our word.
The second agreement is don’t take anything personally. “Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.” I think I have come to this place a bit easier then the other agreements. I know what people think about me, my body, my appearance, my weight is about them. however, I also know how important it is to be mindful to not take what others say personally. It is only about me, if I make it about me.
The third agreement is don’t make assumptions. “Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.” I am finding this to be so true. how many times have I assumed that because something is organic it is better for me. or because it says lower in something, does not mean it is healthy, it just means it is lower then the version of the same product which is higher in whatever that something is. one of the things I remember reading about is the importance of reading labels and understanding the nutritional value of what is in the items I am agreeing to put in my grocery cart. I have to be able to ask questions and seek out those people who can give me the assistance I need. I have to be able to communicate to my friends, family, and associates what I need from them in terms of nutritional support as well as emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Finally, the fourth agreement is to always do your best. “Your best is going to change from moment to moment, it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.” As I am working on mastering the awareness of the agreements which have led me to this space in my life, I need to remember to be patient, loving and kind with myself as I do the best I can each moment. I need to remember I am on a journey of connecting with the Infinite on a new level. My best today is not going to be the same as my best a few years from now. So for today, I am agreeing to always do my best.
Today, I am asking for peace from that which causes me to suffer and desire to numb myself with food.