So this idea is “stolen” because I heard someone share about it in a meeting saying they had heard about it somewhere else. Rarely are ideas that original, so I’m calling it the stolen idea challenge. And because this idea is inspired by agreement one from The Four Agreements, be impeccable with your word, I’m calling it the Stolen Idea Challenge: Watch Your Mouth and Be Impeccable With Your Word. So I’m going to challenge myself to do this for seven days, and I’m officially challenging you to do so as well. This is a challenge that I got from a Book Club participant in our discussion of The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz, in particular, agreement one, be impeccable with your word.
Seven days.
Watch your mouth before you speak, and if you catch yourself about to say something unkind either about someone else or, more importantly, yourself, stop it, say nothing, or find something different to say.
I’m curious how much it will force me to slow down in my own speech and thinking. Don Miguel Ruiz states in The Four Agreements, “The word is the most powerful tool you have as a human; it is the tool of magic. But like a sword with two edges, your word can create the most beautiful dream, or your word can destroy everything around you.”
Example One – Gossip:
You may find yourself wanting to talk about other people’s situations that have NOTHING to do with you. Here’s an example, if you’re in recovery and you notice someone is having a hard time, if you catch yourself talking about this person you know is struggling. Still, they aren’t there to be a part of this conversation. Is anything that is about to come out of your mouth going to empower this person to do better, or is it just feeling good to gossip and talk about someone else’s problems? Don Miguel Ruiz cites the frequently used saying, “Misery loves company,” in his discussion of agreement one because emotionally, it can feel easier to spiral into a charged conversation about someone else rather than practice discipline and refraining from toxic conversations.
I’ve been guilty of gossip many, many times, and I am going to make an effort for seven days to stop.
Example Two – How We Talk About Ourselves:
In the text, the author also highlights how individuals are very quick to use “the word” against themselves and gives examples of how we say things. He writes, “Oh, I look fat, I look ugly. I’m getting old, I’m losing my hair. I’m stupid, I never understand anything. I will never be good enough, and I’m never going to be perfect.”
With that being said, watch your mouth. Watch it closely. Any time you start to say anything about yourself that you likely wouldn’t be comfortable saying to someone else you love and adore, stop it. Either reframe it positively or don’t say anything at all.
I’ll try this myself for seven days to see where it takes me.
