Civic Engagement

Huma-1010
Isabella Kennedy
December 9, 2015

I do think Civic Engagement is a responsibility in a democratic society. Civic

engagement is all about creating better individuals which in turn create better communities and
in turn create a better society. The event I choose to attend embodies this principle entirely. I
attended a workshop put on by don Jose Ruiz, co-author of The Four Agreements and author of
The Fifth Agreement. It was presented by the Salt Lake Center for Spiritual Living at the
Complex in Salt Lake City. I attended the workshop on Sunday, November 15th at 2 pm.
The topic I was thinking about when I chose to go to this event was the idea that the
actions and way we live as individuals directly effects our society as a whole. To properly
explain the reasoning behind that statement I think it is important to understand what the Five
Agreements are, why they are life changing and a vital part of being a good human being. Good
human beings change the world, they create a society worth living in which is why I picked a
topic like this, because thats what Civic Engagement is all about.
1. Be Impeccable with your Word: Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid
using the Word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your Word
in the direction of truth and love.
2. Dont Take Anything Personally: Nothing others do is because of you. What others say
and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the
opinions and actions of others, you wont be the victim of needless suffering.
3. Dont Make Assumptions: Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you
really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness
and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.
4. Always Do your Best: Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be
different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best,
and you will avoid self-judgement, self-abuse, and regret.
5. Be Skeptical and Learn to Listen: Dont believe yourself or anybody else. Use the
power of doubt to question everything you hear. Is it really the truth? Listen to the intent behind
words, and you will understand the real message. don Miguel Ruiz and don Jose Ruiz
The purpose of these agreements are to achieve enlightenment, in the workshop Jose said,
Enlightened is when the earth slaps you in the face and says youre still alive. I have found my
best self by applying these agreements to my life, it has taught me to unlearn all of the ways we
have been taught to judge ourselves, and it has forced me to be authentic. Jose explained, One
of the most important truths the Four Agreements teaches us is that there are no pedestals, that all

humans are equal. What if our society was made up of people with this mentality, who applied
these truths? The goal of applying the Five Agreements is to create Heaven wherever we are, to
remember that if we dont judge ourselves, nobody can judge us.
I do feel my participation in this workshop made me a more responsible citizen in terms
of promoting my own freedom. The type of freedom I have found by applying these agreements
has been the most liberating thing, body, mind, and soul. I know Civic Engagement has to do
with our communities and making society better but I truly believe the closer we are to achieving
our own freedom the more effective we will be in changing our society. I dont know if I can
adequately express the type of place we would live in if every person had this freedom, freedom
from guilt, judgement, and the need to pretend. If we all understood the concept Jose presented
in the workshop, will positivity or negativity win? Whichever one you feed. Something so
simple yet so profound brings about the freedom from negativity which fuels so much of the
hatred and fighting in our society.
I loved this experience, and would definitely do it again. I appreciated the opportunity to
listen to don Jose Ruiz and how the Four Agreements has changed his life for the better. It was
fascinating to hear about the Toltec, his father taught, the Toltec were scientist and artists who
formed a society to explore and conserve the spiritual knowledge and practices of the ancient
ones (Ruiz, Miguel. "The Toltec." Foreword. The Four Agreements: A Toltec Wisdom Book. San
Rafael: Amber-Allen Pub., 1997. N. pag. Print.). Jose talked about how he has been through so
much including addiction, divorce, and total loss. He explained the answers to his problems were
presented to him his whole life by his father and grandmother but when it comes down to it we
all will do the work when we dont want to suffer anymore.