This article is an exercise that will illuminate your moral compass. The analysis of the key concepts of The Four Agreements’ core principles is an inner work tool. It uses spiritual pathway assessment questions that reveal the intent of your beliefs.
Answering a few simple questions will help clarify the areas you need to address in your personal development. It will pinpoint the governing principles of your moral compass. It will guide you on how to make changes to become healthier spiritually and mentally. You don’t need to join a religion to have guiding principles. It’s easy. You’ll see.
The process is simple. Take the assessment first and record your answers. Then, learn how the Four Agreements relate to the questionnaire. Finally, score your assessment, and you will have a picture of your moral compass along with the growth opportunities.
Spiritual Pathways Assessment Questions
This questionnaire uses the Likert scale to score the answers. Most people are familiar with this scoring method, which is used in a variety of questionnaires and surveys. It measures attitudes, opinions, or perceptions toward a statement or question.
It works by presenting a statement, known as a Likert item. It then offers a range of response options that show the level of agreement or feeling. These options usually form a bipolar scale, ranging from one extreme to the opposite, with a neutral midpoint.
1 Strongly disagree (SD)
2 Disagree (D)
3 Neither agree nor disagree (N)
4 Agree (A)
5 Strongly agree (SA)
Push yourself away from the middle answer of 3. See if you can make a more definitive choice at 2 or 4. Don’t take too long to ponder the right answer. Your first impression is the most honest and will give the most accurate results. Each of the spiritual pathways assessment questions will uncover elements about the health of your path.
| Question | SD (1) |
D (2) |
N (3) |
A (4) |
SA (5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1) Christianity, Islam, and Judaism are good for the world. | |||||
| 2) Christianity, Islam, and Judaism doctrines provide a morally consistent message. | |||||
| 3) Belief in a higher power is better than unbelief, even if you don’t follow a religion. | |||||
| 4) Atheists and Agnostics haven’t considered all the evidence for the existence of God. | |||||
| 5) I consider myself law-abiding and never break any laws. | |||||
| 6) The laws and doctrine of religion are more important than following man’s law. | |||||
| 7) If someone harms me, I forgive and never seek retribution. | |||||
| 8) People should be punished as prescribed in the Bible: an eye for an eye. | |||||
| 9) Showing kindness and compassion to those who don’t deserve it is a weakness. | |||||
| 10) I have never told a falsehood or lie that caused substantial harm to another. | |||||
| 11) Religious followers are less likely to do the right thing than those who do not believe. | |||||
| 12) People of color and immigrants get more governmental benefits than they should. | |||||
| 13) Individualism is dangerous. We need religious institutions to provide moral guidance. | |||||
| 14) Homelessness is a choice people make when they don’t manage their finances. | |||||
| 15) Pagan beliefs like Wicca and Witchcraft are harmless. | |||||
| 16) All religions are based on some level of divine truth. Faith and honesty go together. | |||||
| 17) Admitting your mistakes is a mistake because people will use them against you. | |||||
| 18) Religious beliefs provide absolution and forgiveness for any transgression. | |||||
| 19) I have the right to defend my religious beliefs with force if necessary. | |||||
| 20) All rights start with personal autonomy and the ability to make family planning decisions. |
Analysis of The Key Concepts of the Four Agreements Core Principles
Before diving into the spiritual pathways assessment questions, let’s break down the key concepts of this exercise.
An agreement you make with yourself is a contract of personal responsibility. You can base this contract on things you cannot or should not do, or things you should do. The latter is a more positive approach. Mr. Ruez uses this in four statements.
These agreements are not philosophical positions. They are statements that require both introspection and action. They are simple directives. First, be honest. Second, don’t take things personally. Third, avoid making assumptions. Fourth, do your best and forget the rest. It is a mental “to-do” list with powerful implications.
A thorough analysis of the key concepts of the Four Agreements’ core principles helps you understand how they can be applied. Mr Ruiz didn’t invent this practical approach. It shares many similarities with Buddhism. The positive “to-do” approach differs from the “do not” approach of Western organized religion.
The Abrahamic religions have ten commandments that focus on what we should not do. However, this belief system also has exceptions that contradict its “thou shalt not” rules.
For example, the tenth commandment says you should not covet your neighbor’s wife, animals, or slaves. So, that’s a way of saying it’s okay to enslave people; just don’t be jealous of your neighbors. The spiritual pathways assessment questions will uncover conflicts like this within an ideology.
The idea behind these four assertions of action is to show how you can shape a more positive thought life. This is important because thoughts become behaviors. Positive behaviors are the key to the philosophy of action.
1. Impeccability
The first agreement is to be impeccable with your word. Say only what you mean. Avoid using words against yourself or to gossip. Use the power of your words to direct your life toward truth and love.
To be impeccable with your word means striving to be honest with yourself and others. Impeccability is the first of The Four Agreements’ core principles. The others rest on this foundation.
When you train your mind to reject gossip and hearsay, you’ll also need to stop feeding your mind with harmful propaganda. You’ll find this on social media, including TV news, religious programming, and reality shows.
Your mind is a computer. If you put inaccurate and harmful code into a computer, then you cannot expect to give the correct answers. Therefore, you must learn to identify and eliminate negative thoughts from your mind, and monitor the content you allow in and the way you think.
Observing your own thinking takes some practice, as we usually focus our attention outward rather than inward. When we learn to observe our thinking, we understand our values and why we are drawn to certain things and people.
Self-awareness helps us choose wisely. We learn to establish relationships on a solid base of positive energy, not on temporary situations. Self-observation is the foundation of self-awareness. Self-awareness enables us to track our thoughts and apply a “do positive things” philosophy.
2. Don’t take Umbrage or Personal Offense
The second agreement is don’t take things personally. Nothing other people do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. Learn to be immune to the opinions and actions of others. It will keep you from being the victim of needless suffering.
Don’t take things personally. Don’t fixate on the motives of others. When you do, it can lead to thoughts of vengeance. Vindictiveness is often built not around the actions but on the motives of others.
Not taking offense is often the most challenging aspect of this “to-do” philosophy. Our social media-driven culture is based on who likes you based on your virtual presence. We surveyed members and found that 80% of people find it difficult to break this habit.
Taking things personally makes you a victim of circumstance. Besides, you can never know what someone else is thinking. Don’t assume that what happens is done with ill intent.
Trying to anticipate or guess will take you away from the present. When you do this, you are no longer listening. Your mind takes you down a rabbit trail, and you lose your grounding. It takes your mind out of the present. Keep your focus on being present and mindful. Follow the first agreement and strive to be honest. When you don’t do this, you adopt a victim mindset.
Adopting a victim mentality limits you. If someone has a different opinion, don’t take it as a personal affront. Instead, ask them if you want to know. Ask with genuine intent to determine why they believe what they do. It’s essential to resist the urge to present a different argument unless the other person asks for yours.
The reason this one is so challenging is that our culture often promotes the role of the victim. Don’t be the victim. Learn that we all suffer unjust wrongs. Learn to be a survivor. Not taking things as a personal attack is a mental tactic worth mastering. Taking any criticism without reacting requires practice. It leads to the philosophy of action, where we learn to monitor our words and actions. You can increase your ability to control your emotions through role-playing. Inner work is also beneficial in revealing our thinking and tendencies.
3. Don’t Assume
The third agreement is don’t make assumptions. Find the courage to ask questions and express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can, and this will help you avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama. With just this one agreement, you can transform your life.
Making assumptions is similar to taking things personally. Both involve our imagination, driven by misdirected social instincts.
Don’t assume. Instead, be mindful and present. Accept people where they are. Ask questions, but resist the urge to judge. Avoid projecting your values and beliefs. Give others your full attention and listen.
Don’t formulate a rebuttal while you listen. Listen before you develop your reply. When you pause and listen, it will often change your response.
4. Integrity in Word and Deed
The final agreement is always to do your best. Your best is a continual decision. Things can change from moment to moment. It will be different when you are healthy, as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret.
When you do your best, it means you follow through with promises and commitments. Be wise and don’t over-promise. Always think before you make statements about doing something. Remember to be impeccable with your word. Follow through with what you promise.
Doing your best has more to do with intent and effort. Doing your best means treating yourself like your best friend by being kind and forgiving.
Doing your best doesn’t mean you don’t care about reaching goals. It means not punishing yourself, even when you fail to do your best. Avoid “what-if” thinking and celebrate everything possible. If and when you fail, try to learn from the failure so that it is not repeated.
Answer Key to the Spiritual Pathways Assessment Questions
Now that you have read about what these assertions mean, let’s examine how the 20 questions align with them and how to score. The Four Agreements’ core principles hold the key to understanding your answers. Each of the agreements is scored separately.
Questions about Assumptions
The questions for the agreement not to make assumptions include:
2) Christianity, Islam, and Judaism provide a morally consistent message.
4) Atheists and Agnostics haven’t considered all the evidence for the existence of God.
12) People of color and immigrants get more governmental benefits than they should.
14) Homelessness is a choice people make when they don’t manage their finances.
18) Religious beliefs provide absolution and forgiveness for any transgression.
A score between 5 and 9 indicates you do not make false assumptions. A score from 9 to 14 means you are not as likely to make false assumptions. A score between 16 and 20 means you likely make a lot of false assumptions. A score between 21 and 25 indicates a propensity to draw false and inaccurate conclusions.
Questions about Taking Things Personal
The next group is about the agreement not to take Umbrage or Personal Offense. This group includes:
7) If someone harms me, I forgive and never seek retribution.
8) People should be punished as prescribed in the Bible: an eye for an eye.
11) Religious followers are less likely to do the right thing than those who do not believe.
15) Pagan beliefs like Wicca and Witchcraft are harmless.
20) All rights start with personal autonomy and the ability to make family planning decisions.
Here, the scoring is reversed. A score between 21 and 25 indicates a high respect for the rights of the individual. A score between 16 and 20 shows you respect the rights of personal autonomy. Scoring between 9 and 14 indicates a lack of respect for the rights of others. A score from 5 to 9 indicates a lack of respect for people from other socioeconomic backgrounds, races, or genders.
Questions About High Moral Standards
The next grouping is the questions for Impeccability. Here are the statements for this assertion.
1) Christianity, Islam, and Judaism are good for the world.
3) Belief in a higher power is better than unbelief, even if you don’t follow a religion.
6) The laws and doctrine of religion are more important than following man’s law.
13) Individualism is dangerous. We need religious institutions to provide moral guidance.
19) I have the right to defend my religious beliefs with force if necessary.
A score between 5 and 9 indicates you are a freethinker and someone knows how to sort the facts from the fiction. A score from 9 to 14 means you have an open mind and see through most of the propaganda in the culture. A score between 16 and 20 means you are susceptible to and believe a lot of propaganda. A score between 21 and 25 indicates a psyche that is immersed in propaganda. The last group is most likely to engage in harmful behaviors.
Questions on Doing What You Say
The final group of questions relates to Integrity in Word and Deed.
5) I consider myself law-abiding and never break any laws.
9) Showing kindness and compassion to those who don’t deserve it is a weakness.
10) I have never told a falsehood or lie that caused substantial harm to another.
16) All religions are based on some level of divine truth. Faith and honesty go together.
17) Admitting your mistakes is a mistake because people will use them against you.
A score between 5 and 9 indicates that you are honest and acknowledge that you have broken some law at some point. A score from 9 to 14 indicates you are, like most people, less than honest. A score between 16 and 20 means you are somewhat delusional and can explain away inconsistencies in behavior. A score between 21 and 25 indicates someone is on the slippery slope of narcissistic behavior.
This spiritual pathways assessment questions uses practical research, leading to straightforward premises. Your scores in these four areas indicate where you need to focus your efforts to develop a healthier mindset. Recognizing that you have areas that need improvement is a significant step toward becoming healthier.
The way you address your own opportunities depends on several factors. If you have high scores in two or more of the four agreement sections, then working with a partner or counselor is highly recommended.
In Conclusion
We encourage you to take part in this analysis of the key concepts of The Four Agreements. Share the spiritual pathways assessment questions with others. These simple-to-understand personal agreements help you become a better person. And you can do it without the baggage of adopting a religion.
Additionally, if you are looking for a more comprehensive list of guiding principles, the Dalai Lama offers an example of 18 rules for living.
References
- Don Miguel Ruiz, The Four Agreements. A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book) Paperback, MiguelRui z.com
- A Psychological Exploration of the Power of Our Mindset and Its Influence on Physiological Health. PMC – PubMed Central.
- The Psychological Health Benefits of Accepting Negative Emotions and Thoughts: Laboratory, Diary, and Longitudinal Evidence. PMC – PubMed Central.
- The Four Agreements Analysis Los Cuatro Acuerdos de Don Miguel Ruíz. CSUSB ScholarWorks.
- Spirituality As My Moral Compass. The Center for Growth.
- Positive thinking: Reduce stress by eliminating negative self-talk. Mayo Clinic.
- Predictions of Miscommunication in Verbal Communication During Collaborative Joint Action. PMC – PubMed Central.
- The Four Agreements. Psychology Today.
- The Real Reason to Avoid Self-Judgment. Psychology Today.
- Understanding Your Moral Compass: A Guide to Personal Values. Lemon8-app.
- Following Your Moral Compass. Psychology Today.
- Better, Stronger, Faster Self-Serving Judgment, Affect Regulation, and the Optimal Vigilance Hypothesis. PMC – PubMed Central.
- The Four Agreements and Energy Practices. Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology (ACEP).