Lawd this goes into the category of less is more. In my mention of my seeing the show Raw last Saturday I apparently offended a journalist who thought I was referring specifically to his/her review (which I wasn't as I haven't even read it in it's entirety).

I usually don't spend time thinking about let alone replying to people taking offense to things that were not intended to be offensive and most certainly NOT ABOUT THEM! However, because I actually like and respect this particular journalist I wanted to publicly make it clear that my post was not in any way a comment on him/her or the publication they write for.

This is a perfect example of the power of The Four Agreements, two of which were broken here. The first was the first agreement (Be impeccable with your word). I broke that agreement by trying to be witty and demonstrating that I was just offering my thoughts on a show I saw as opposed to my writing a review. LESS IS MORE, had I wrote less and not tried to be witty there would have been no room for mis-interpretation of any kind.

The second agreement broken here was (Do not take ANYTHING personally because it's NOT ABOUT YOU...ever!!!) My comments were not meant to be derogatory to begin with and certainly not about a specific person or their journalism.

Anyone who knows me knows I could care less about the silly things that people say and do to each other as long as they do not affect me or cause harm to others. In this particular case since I was partly to blame by trying to be funny and simply coming off shady instead AND the fact that I actually like and respect the person who was offended...I decided to use this as an opportunity to publicly apologize for NOT being impeccable with my word and to share this as an example of how the Four Agreements could have prevented this whole thing.

Check out the Four Agreements. I have gotten pretty good at living them and they make a huge difference. Clearly I can learn to do better. By the way the previously offended party and I did do one thing correctly...we spoke to each other directly, cleared it all up and laughed at the foolishness of it all. Ahhh the power of the truth and positivity.

Have a great evening.

Ricky

THE FOUR AGREEMENTS

1. Be Impeccable With Your Word
Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

2. Don't Take Anything Personally
Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.

3. Don't Make Assumptions
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

4. Always Do Your Best
Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.

http://www.miguelruiz.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6:the-four-agreements&catid=13:books&Itemid=7