We can’t watch what is happening in our country right now without noticing that times are changing. As corporate, financial and political leaders are being called into courtrooms and congressional hearings to account for decades of imbalance and indulgence, we are all being called to think about integrity. While it may be easy for us to see the absence of integrity that has resulted in the economic and political collapse we are all experiencing, how do we think about integrity in the choices we make each day? How do we define integrity in our individual lives?
The word integrity comes from the latin word integritas, meaning whole, complete, or perfect. If we go to the dictionary for a definition we find the following:
Integrity:
- Firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values: incorruptibility;
- An unimpaired condition: soundness;
- The quality or state of being complete or undivided: completeness.
As we think about this powerful word from the perspective of self development, we teach that possessing a deep sense of integrity is at the heart of creating the life you imagine. Integrity is a quality which connects all the parts of our self as we walk through the complexities of modern life. It is a quality that gives us a sense of direction and focus as we make choices in the midst of chaos and uncertainty. It is a quality which helps us re-member who we are in times of struggle, challenge or change.
Integrity is responsible for that nagging feeling we get in our gut when we are acting in a way that betrays our highest possibilities or when we compromise our deepest values. It determines how we treat ourselves and others. It winds through our relationships, our work lives, and our financial choices, pushing us to think about our principles and priorities.
As we connect with people who are working to create lives of meaning and passion they consistently ask the same question: Who Am I? Asking that question is the beginning of integrity; answering that question is the work of our lives. The secret to developing a clear and guiding sense of integrity lies in asking this question often, and then seeing that all of our choices, big and small, seen and unseen, are part of the answer.
As we can see from the stories in the daily news, those who fail to think about or develop integrity will find that their lives collapse at some point under the weight and pressure of the world. They do not have the internal foundation to support an honest, full and vital life. But those who learn to reflect with care on this question and on their choices will find that integrity knits their complicated lives together into an incorruptible, sound and complete whole. They will discover a strength of purpose and a resilience of spirit that allows them to weather the challenges of life with presence and grace, while moving with more and more clarity to create a life that perfectly reflects the essence of who they are.
We wish you peace, love and joy, and the integrity to create the life you imagine.
Blessings from the Sisters,
Tracy, Kate and Meg
Learn more about our SEND program, a seven module spiritual and personal self development program to help you create the life you imagine. A new cohort is forming now and will begin in October 2009.
