"Hush, speak when spoken to", "Out of the mouths of babes", ...and so many other sayings relate to what we say with no thought of what others may feel.  The power of words, "Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but words.....", oh the power of words.  The lesson taught in the first of four agreements in the book entitled, "The Four Agreements"- by Don Miguel Ruiz is not an easy feat.  Speak with integrity.  Use the power of your words in the direction of truth and love.  "Think before you speak".  Think with your heart; think with the knowledge that words can and will move mountains.  Words move problems, changes lifestyles, and embrace a moment.  Ones words can correct the ill wills of those who are against you.  Words can heal, forgive and convince one that life is worth living.  But they must be spoken with integrity, without malice, without misunderstanding, without fear of repercussions. 

Don Miguel Ruiz takes ones' reflection of themselves deeper.  The second agreement from the book, "Don't Take Anything Personally" reflects on the people in our lives and how their opinions, actions, and thoughts direct and guide us, even when negativity has an effect on us. There are circumstances that warrant our involvement but you must understand more often than not "it's not about you".

Communication is the key element of the agreement.  There is a need to communicate, clearly, with integrity, without it becoming personal, and without assumptions.  Our relationships, our friendships and our lives will change and ultimately we will be able to be the best for ourselves and others.  Misunderstandings cause unhealthy feelings, self abuse, and regret. 

A better you is the sum of always doing your best.  By putting your best foot forward in actions, thoughts, deeds, and expressions is a personal agreement.  "The Four Agreements"-by Don Miguel Ruiz is a personal guide for improving yourself".

Sometimes we can feel disconnected from the Universe, but it is always there for us, take a breath and reconnect.

There may be times when we feel like our connection to the universe is closed. Maybe things don't seem to be going well in our day, or our lives, or we may feel out of our element. The truth is, the universe is always

there for us. We know that we create our experience with our thoughts, and this is another way we need to make a conscious decision about how we want to experience life. It is up to us to do the work of making the connection, because nobody can do it for us, though sometimes the universe may send us wake-up calls.

You can think of it as getting some fresh air. We are always breathing and the air is always around us, surrounding us, moving through us. But we may need to step outside of where we are in the moment-physically, mentally, or emotionally-and make the conscious choice to take a deep breath in order to feel the air coming in and going out. Whether this means stepping outside physically or merely shifting our thoughts, it is only our perception that changes; the air remains the same.

It is just as easy to reconnect with the universe. Using the same technique as a breath of fresh air, a deep breath can bring us back to our center. As we inhale, we fill our bodies with the oxygen needed to replenish our most basic physical needs, allowing the air to circulate within us. Exhaling, we release the stale, the used, the potentially toxic air, removing any blocks that may keep us from going deeper into the stillness that lies at our center where we connect to the universe. Feeling closed off does not need to be a negative experience. When we become conscious of it, we can think of the wholeness of a closed circuit, which allows electricity to connect and flow properly. Our bodies work the same way, and when we make that connection in our minds, it can help bring us back to the connection we seek.