The second agreement, “Don’t take anything personally,” can be counterintuitive. This is a reminder that words help shape how we think about ourselves and others. For addicts, prioritizing honesty can help break them out of habits they learned while using. It encourages readers to be as kind and honest as possible in speaking not only about others, but also themselves. This agreement emphasizes the impact that words can have, positive or negative. One of the four agreements is “Be impeccable with your word,” a short but powerful suggestion.
