The Four Agreements - 2nd Agreement: Don’t Take Things Personally

One of pregnancy’s most challenging things is learning not to take things personally. It can be hard not to get defensive when you feel judged for not knowing a pregnancy fact or when you’re reprimanded at the doctor’s office for missing an appointment because you forgot the date. But if we want to maintain our sanity, we must learn how to let go of taking things personally. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz can help us do just that.

Based on ancient Toltec wisdom, these four agreements can help us change the way we react to the people and situations in our lives. If we can learn how to apply these agreements in our own lives, we will find ourselves becoming less reactive and more at peace.

Not taking things personally is easier said than done, yet doing so helps to quiet your mind and clears the mental noise. This agreement focuses on the nature of the mind. If you feed your mind positive thoughts and affirmations, it helps you move through life with more ease. For example, leaving a note on your room or bathroom mirror with an uplifting message such as, “you got this, or your baby will thank you,” is something you can do to pour into yourself.

We are constantly bombarded with messages telling us that we need to meet certain expectations in order to be happy and successful. We compare our actions to those of others and often find ourselves coming up short. As a result, we tend to take things very personally. However, Ruiz argues that we need to let go of these expectations and judgments and instead focus on our own values and what truly matters to us. He also reminds us that we are not responsible for the actions of others; we can only control our own behavior.

In the end, Ruiz’s message is a powerful reminder that we should not take things personally and focus on what we can control in our lives. As an expecting mother, this is a fundamental lesson to remember. We often put so much pressure on ourselves to be perfect that we forget to enjoy the ride. So next time you find yourself taking things too personally, remember it’s not about you. It’s about them. And you can’t control what they do or say. You can only control your actions and reactions. Choose wisely.

Here are a few ways to not take things personally:

⦁ Don’t place your trust in what others say or do.

⦁ Only trust in yourself to make responsible choices.

⦁ Never take responsibility for the action of others.

⦁ Be happy with your life journey and the thoughts you are producing for yourself

It’s important to remember that no one can make you feel anything without your permission. Releasing yourself from others’ expectations and relinquishing control of those negative thoughts will help establish inner peace.