Impeccable
May 14, 2012 
Be impeccable with your word.*
I’m quick. Sometimes I consider this a great virtue and just as often my quickness leads me down the wrong path.
For instance, I’m a darter. I move without thought. Because of this I carry bumps, bruises and a collection of scars that continues to grow. I caution myself as I age…”Slow down. Watch where you’re going!”
My quickness of movement is not my greatest problem, however. It is my quickness of tongue. It is my propensity to blurt out my thoughts. It is my ability to deliver a clever response in the blink of an eye and the click of my tongue.
When I was younger I prided myself on this. I had my moments of regret over words that should have been swallowed rather than spewed, but I didn’t comprehend the waves of spiritual damage to myself and others.
I’m still learning to be impeccable with my word:
- To be truthful.
- To be accurate.
- To say only what I mean to say.
- To say it with love and concern.
I'm practicing and learning.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
*The Four Agreements by Michael Ruiz.
Be impeccable with your word.
Don’t take anything personally
Don’t make assumptions
Always do your best.
Reader Comments (13)
Some of us may be quicker than orthers, Mother, but it's a lesson we probably all need to learn. Once it's out of the mouth, it's very hard to bring it back! Thanks for the reminder!
this is a great post to remind me of how far i can still go....thank you SO much.
I once had a professor who was obsessed with words of every sort, and the Logos which underlay them. He would position himself squarely in front of some hapless student and bellow, "Your words are BEAUTIFUL! Your words are ELEGANT! Your words are irresistably CLEVER! But are they TRUE?"
It's a lesson I suspect none of us ever have forgotten.
Oh boy, I sure know about this regret over words! I really do think and hope that I have mellowed a bit with age. Looking back, it seems most of my mouthy moments were caused by taking things so personally and making assumptions so this list is good for me and tthings I still have to work on along with remembering to take a breath before speaking.
Thanks, Mother, for always showing me that I'm not alone in my struggles to do better.
Wonderful words of wisdom to start the week!
Interesting. I was just thinking about this the other day. I STILL hold some words by others and words I've spoken in my heart and mind; wishing I wouldn't have taken them so personally or that they could be taken back.
In German we have this saying, "to carry your heart on your tongue" - or, blurting out your thoughts. An "old" problem of mine, although I have tried to be more thoughtful and "slow" over the last years, and sometimes I'm even successfull! There is relief in knowing that I am not alone.
Those Four Agreements are worth to follow - I will remember them. I still take too much personally and make too many assumptions. Thank you for this beautiful reminder.
The Four Agreements is such an inspirational book. And -yes - me too...I'm working on expressing myself with greater clarity and intent. Always growing and evolving....
This is such a tough lesson to learn in life... but a good one to aspire to. I love the Four Agreements... good to print out and post as a reminder for every day!
I LOVE the "Four Agreements"!!. There was a succession of teachers for me...Don Miguel Ruiz, Ekhart Tolle and Byron Katie...Thich Nhat Hanh...the distillation of the teachings was about being in the present moment. It is a precious gift "not taking things personally" and a life long lesson, but so worth the effort to continue working on!! I also love the strength and clarity of the word, "impeccable". Gorgeous image!!!
Those are four great agreements to try and adhere to. A code to live by.
Hm, I'm slow with my words, but I still need to watch out what I'm saying. Your post will help me - I have to remember this! Thanks!
I want to ditto Jozica. great post