by Catherine Malchaire
What would you do if the world were magical and you could invent a rule to improve it?
In my magical world, I would apply the Pinocchio principle to the 4 Toltec Agreements.
Take the 1st agreement: “Be impeccable with your word.” So every time I lie or speak ill of someone. Whoops, my tongue grows longer. That’s going to make it pretty hard to say just anything. Try speaking with your tongue sticking out and you’ll see.
On to the 2nd agreement: “Whatever happens, don’t take it personally.” Every time I react negatively to someone else’s behaviour (sulking, seeking revenge, grumbling), my eyes will turn inward. It will force me to look at my own behaviour before complaining about others’.
The 3rd agreement tells us: “Don’t make assumptions.” For this one, my ears grow longer every time I presuppose something. Maybe with bigger ears, I’d learn to listen better and ask the right questions.
And finally, the 4th agreement: “Always do your best.” So every time I slack off or beat myself up because I tell myself I should have done more, I end up with an enormous backside. Okay, that one is less directly tied to the agreement, but I find it funny. At the very least, it will force me to respect myself and honour my limits, because what I can do my best looks different every single day.
So, who’s joining me in my world? And don’t forget to share your magical world with me!