I was fairly young when I first heard the story of Robert Johnson, the old blues guitarist rumored to have sold his soul to the devil in exchange for extraordinary talent. The story goes that Johnson went to the “crossroads,” a place traditionally where suicides or the poor were buried, and made an agreement for his soul. The devil took his guitar, tuned it, played a few chords, handed it back—and Johnson went on to become one of the greatest blues guitarists and singers the world has ever known.
There are many stories like this, people making deals with some unseen force in exchange for time, treasure, or talent. Faust, the German scholar, is another example: he sold his soul for ultimate knowledge, power, and worldly pleasure. Every time I heard one of these stories, I felt an uncomfortable recognition—as if, somehow, somewhere, unconsciously, I had made a similar deal. Except I didn’t receive more time, talent, or treasure in return. I just gave something precious away.
Years later, in the middle of a workshop while talking about thoughts, beliefs, agreements, behaviors, habits, and addictions, it suddenly hit me. I realized I had made an agreement:
“If you love me, I will be perfect—and I will give you power over my worth.”
This was just one of many agreements I made within my family. It wasn’t done at midnight at a crossroads or through some Faustian contract. It was made with love, hope, and a longing for connection.
I’m curious—have you made any agreements for your soul, your peace of mind, your freedom, or your sense of love?
Some of the most common agreements revolve around:
- Worth
- Mistakes
- Being overly responsible
- Comparing
- Approval
- Trust
- Money
- Success
The folklore around these kinds of deals tells us they’re impossible to undo. But that isn’t true. There is a pathway back, a way to reclaim what we unknowingly gave away in the name of love and belonging.
At our next Wednesday gathering, I’d like to talk about what I call the Three R’s:
In the meantime, I invite you to gently bring awareness to any agreements you may have made—and begin questioning the contract.
Remember:
Questioning interrupts the old story and weakens its hold on you.
Let’s talk about this at the next Wednesday talk on January 7.
