As a woman in my forties, balancing motherhood, career, and relationships, I've realized how much of my life has been shaped by the beliefs and values I absorbed during childhood. In The Four Agreements, Don Miguel Ruiz writes, "We never had the opportunity to choose what to believe or what not to believe. We never chose even the smallest of these agreements. We didn’t even choose our own name." That quote hit me hard. So much of what we believe was handed to us—by our families, schools, and society—without our conscious choice. At some point, we all need to step back and evaluate: Do our beliefs still serve us? Do they truly align with who we are now? For me, this process of reflection has been key to becoming more intentional in how I communicate and connect with others. Here’s how each of the four agreements has guided me on this path.