To live our best with Migraine, we need sources of inspiration. I found one such inspiration in The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz. In this book, Ruiz shares his wisdom for living a satisfying life in the form of four agreements. His premise is that we all make agreements with ourselves, our loved ones, and our higher power that determine how we will behave and respond to life events. He proposes these four agreements as alternatives to replace unhealthy, self-destructive agreements that rob us from joy, purpose, and fulfillment.
The agreements
- Be impeccable with your word.
- Don’t take anything personally.
- Don’t make assumptions.
- Always do your best.
Application to Migraine
In this four-part series, we’ll be exploring practical ways to implement each of these agreements to improve our Migraine coping abilities. Let’s start with the first agreement.
Impeccable, defined
What does it mean to be impeccable? Webster’s Dictionary defines impeccable as “free from fault or blame, flawless.” Ruiz explains his first agreement by stating, “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.”
Speak impeccably about Migraine
How we speak about Migraine, in general, affects our beliefs about what is possible. How we speak about ourselves, in terms of Migraine, affects our beliefs about our ability to obtain what’s possible. The more we speak, the more we embrace our words and engage in behaviors consistent with them. We speak impeccably about Migraine when our words are truthful, genuine, and loving.
I recently had a conversation with my husband about the power of words as it relates to Migraine. He has learned that it is correct to say, “I have Migraine,” when speaking of the disease and “I’m having a Migraine attack,” when talking about an individual attack. Even so, he admitted that those two phrases sounded wrong. They challenge societal norms, drawing attention to Migraine, making people think twice.
When we speak impeccably about Migraine, our words may make others uncomfortable. That’s because speaking impeccably expresses truth so revolutionary that it challenges the status quo. We are used to mindlessly repeating the easy phrases heard all around us. We change our view of ourselves, the world, and our place in it when we have the courage to choose truthful, honest, loving words. To speak impeccably about Migraine is one of the most powerful tools we have to break down stigma.
“Migraine is a disease.”
Those four words shook the foundation of my world. Reading them validated everything I ever believed about Migraine and vindicated me from every stigmatizing word ever hurled in my direction. These four impeccable words empowered me to take charge of my Migraine treatment. When I began to speak impeccably about Migraine, the power of those words took on a life of their own. Others soon joined this chorus of impeccable song.
Will you join me? Are you courageous enough to speak impeccably about Migraine?
Source:
- Ruiz M, Mills J. (2008). The Four Agreements. Thorndike, ME.: Center Point Publications.