Your Best

Based on ancient Toltec wisdom, Don Miguel Ruiz wrote ‘The Four Agreements’ – a book in which he unpacks four agreements he believes will lead us from self-limiting beliefs to true happiness.

The Four Agreements are: Be impeccable with your word. Don’t take anything personally. Don’t make assumptions. Always do your best.

It was the fourth agreement – always do your best – that caught our eye, especially in light of the time we spend with needle and thread.

It’s easy to believe that always doing our best equates to perfection, but that couldn’t be further from the truth Ruiz puts forward as he goes onto state that:

‘Your best is going to change from moment to moment. Under any circumstance, simply do your best.’

It’s a call that reminds us to always do our best, no more and no less, and that our best is never going to be the same from one moment to the next. As frustrating as that may be, it will help us to process why some days spent with needle and thread are more productive than others and why the quality of our work will differ from one day to the next.

As we practice what Ruiz is preaching, we will find ourselves consistently more productive, kinder to ourselves and the self-judgement we may have previously imposed on our stitching has now given way to happiness.

And isn’t that exactly what the doctor ordered?! Ensuring our time spent stitching always provides the happiness and joy needle and thread can provide.