Revolutionary Agreements:
Practical Ethics for an Awakened Humanity
In times of change (which is, of course, ALL the time!), our choices are guided by our personal values and vision of what is possible. Yet few of us take the time to articulate those values and vision so they can support us in making conscious choices every day.
More than 30 years ago, a dozen business friends gathered in our home to answer this question: “How can we support one another in living our highest values in all aspects of life, and especially at work where we spend most of our time?” We began developing a set of Agreements to guide us. These “Geneva Group Agreements” evolved as we explored their impact on our lives every month for the next 20 years.
We have shared the Agreements in their various developmental stages with tens of thousands of others. Results have been profoundly positive--we might even say, “rEvolutionary”! Applying them assists us in moving beyond society’s prevailing paradigm of negativity to live lives of positivity and possibility.
The Agreements are our guide to greater inner peace, especially during stressful times. One reason is that our relationships at home and work become more vibrant and fulfilling. Because these Agreements are, first and foremost, agreements with ourselves, we can often resolve relationship issues without even involving others!
In a recent discussion with Barbara Marx Hubbard, President of the Foundation for Conscious Evolution, the Agreements revealed a new meaning: Ethics for an Awakened Humanity.
Twelve “rEvolutionary” Agreements self-organize into three pillars: Truth, Acceptance, and Gratitude. Truth is being the truth of who you are, your authentic self. Acceptance is accepting others for who they are in this moment. Gratitude is feeling and expressing appreciation for the multitudes of blessings in our lives.
Truth
We start with I Agree to Live My Mission. Have you ever given up today what you really want most in life in order to focus on achieving your mission someday? This Agreement encourages us to identify the essence of our mission or purpose so we can live it now and feel fulfilled rather than waiting until someday for the mission to be accomplished.
I Agree to Speak My Truth with Compassion guides us to be honest while caring for the wellbeing of each person in the conversation. In order to do this, we let go of the need to be “right” or to protect ourselves from disapproval by masking the truth. What freedom!