Always Do Your Best

This Week's Quotation:

God is life. God is life in action. The best way to say, "I love you, God," is to live your life doing your best. The best way to say, "Thank you, God," is by letting go of the past and living in the present moment, right here and now. Whatever life takes away from you, let it go. When you surrender and let go of the past, you allow yourself to be fully alive in the moment. Letting go of the past means you can enjoy the dream that is happening right now.

~ Don Miguel Ruiz,: The Four Agreements

 

Always Do Your Best

Terri McCartney

Since the late 90’s when Don Miguel Ruiz published The Four Agreements, I set the intention to live by their code of conduct. I especially treasure the fourth agreement, always do your best, because it deepened my capacity for compassion.

While my ego might want to react with judgment and condemnation over my own or someone else’s words or actions, my heart reminds me that sometimes one’s best at the moment isn’t very good at all! Sometimes we mess up. Even then, we can honor our intention to always do our best in the manner in which we choose to respond.

That is to say, we can still choose to respond with compassion and blessings, whatever the circumstances. We are love even if the world shows us hatred and horrors. We remain complete even when the world shows us separation.

One practice I use when I find myself in challenging circumstances is to ask myself, How does Grace (or love or compassion or forgiveness,.) respond to this? I heartfully welcome contributing in any manner I’m able to the dissolving of the veil of illusion created by the belief in separation.

That belief has resulted in many pain patterns for humanity that have been passed on, generation after generation. From my perspective, doing my best means contributing in ways that dissolve those patterns. It means I intend to meet anger with empathy, cruelty with kindness, and sneers with smiles.

I feel we won’t be misguided if we intend to perceive every experience and person in our lives as a vehicle for the evolution of consciousness. It’s okay if others accuse us of being cock-eyed optimists wearing rose-colored glasses! Where goodwill flows, all grows. We are creating a basis for living together in peace.

About Open Windows

We, the authors of this blog, dedicate it to the transparent exploration of the world's sacred scripture and enlightened spiritual thought. We believe that the original inspiration of all faiths comes from a common source, named and revered in a myriad of ways. With that understanding, the innumerable symbols, beliefs, and practices of faith cease to divide. They become open windows to a common reality that inspires and unifies us. We find deeper insight and nourishment in our own faith and from the expression of faith from others.

We hope these weekly quotations and meditations speak to your heart and soul.