Day 55 of 100 days of Hope
Be Impeccable with Your Word: The Power of Integrity in Action
By Julie Burningham, The Hope Coach
The Creative Power of Words
“Be impeccable with your word.”
This is the first of The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz — and perhaps the foundation of all the others. Ruiz writes,
“Your word is the power that you have to create. Through the word you express your creative power. It is through the word that you manifest everything.”
Our words are more than communication — they are creation. Every word we speak has energy. When we speak with love, truth, and intention, we create beauty, trust, and connection. When we speak in gossip, judgment, or self-criticism, we create confusion and pain.
Being impeccable with your word means being conscious of what you say — to others and to yourself. It means using your language to uplift, rather than to harm.
Integrity as a Living Practice
Gay and Katie Hendricks, authors of Conscious Loving and founders of The Hendricks Institute, teach that integrity is not about perfection — it’s about alignment. In their Four Pillars of Integrity, they describe integrity as a living practice built on:
Being impeccable with agreements.
Only make agreements you are genuinely willing to keep. And when circumstances change, renegotiate rather than break them.“We create integrity when our word and our actions line up.” — Gay & Katie Hendricks
Taking responsibility.
No blaming, no excuses. Integrity thrives when we own our part fully and act from choice rather than reaction.Speaking the unarguable truth.
The Hendricks call this “speaking from your heart.” Instead of opinions or defenses, share your direct experience — what you feel, what you want, what you notice.Keeping attention in the present.
Integrity exists now, not in the past or future. Staying present allows you to respond creatively, not habitually.
These pillars mirror Ruiz’s wisdom — that what we say and how we keep our word shapes our reality.
Impeccable Agreements Create Freedom
Being impeccable doesn’t mean saying “yes” to everything — it means saying yes only when you mean it. Every time we overcommit, say yes out of guilt, or ignore our truth, we fracture trust — both within ourselves and with others.
When we instead make impeccable agreements, we strengthen our word. We can say, “That’s a no for me,” with love and clarity. We can change or update agreements with honesty instead of avoidance.
“By being impeccable with your word, you can transcend the dream of fear and live in love.” — Don Miguel Ruiz
Each time we align our word with our truth, we build confidence. We cultivate relationships based on honesty and respect. And we invite others to trust that our word means something.
Integrity Brings Peace
Integrity isn’t about trying harder — it’s about being real. When our word, actions, and values line up, we feel peace. We no longer need to manage others’ reactions or hide behind excuses.
So today, take a moment to reflect:
Are my words aligned with my heart?
Do I keep the agreements I make?
Am I willing to speak truth even when it’s uncomfortable?
Being impeccable with your word is one of the most loving things you can do — for yourself and for those around you. It is the foundation of trust, confidence, and deep connection.