By being considerate of everyone on my team at work. Giving a helping hand or praise to someone on my team. Lately after our “team building” meeting last week being cognizant of different communication needs of each person on my team. Knowing full well that everyone has their days where they need more support emotionally and/or workload wise.
I can live with integrity today by leaning in and doing what feel like hard things that I need to face, setting and taking small steps, and bringing compassion, understanding and kind inner messaging to whatever I am able to do, or not, in my best human capacity for today. Breathing… Grateful for this day, and community …
When I see the word “integrity” I think of the word “integrate.” I share a meditation I wrote in 2023 in reference to a grateful living daily question about integrating one’s shadow.
I think the meaning of living with integrity is always about growing in self-awareness. It took many years for me to realize that fact and examine my intentions. My mentor use to say, “We are here to integrate our insides and our outsides.” And so, in all situations, I do my best to analyze both my outer and inner reaction and not resist what it is teaching me. According to the Oxford Dictionary, to integrate is to “combine (one thing) with another so that they become a whole.” Acceptance of one’s self is key. Until I did that, I could only see the negatives and not the gifts of my ‘shadow.’ I often remind myself that ‘willingness’ is my job. I have found that ‘willingness’ keeps my mind and heart open–my insides and my outsides in harmony. Life is trustworthy and so am I.
By acknowledging my fear, and not turning away from it, but also gently guiding myself to taking life one step at a time. This translates to walking with fear during a time when I feel I may be consumed by it.
Thanks, Drea. Your words are an inspiring way of explaining the willingness to face one’s fear and proceed. I think it is important to proceed even if I’m “shaking in my boots.”
This question made me let out a deep breath.
Right now, for me, living with integrity means, not being swayed too much by the sea of emotions around me.
I hear you Charlie T, with the upheaval at my wife’s place of employment I need to not let my mouth be swayed with her difficulties and lend an idea for other options. Comes out to my lovely wife as trying to fix. She does not want fixes, she just wants to vent (Cheryl’s word for complaining).
Today I will be taking my sister to the hospital because she says she needs to go. She hasn’t been willing to see me for about 8 months.
I said I will take her so I will. I will be kind to her and let her know that I love her. I will not ask her lots of questions. I will be present with myself and my thoughts and feelings and remember to use my breath when I feel stressed. I will be present for her. I will be a loving presence for her, but I will not allow her to deplete me. It’s all about balance and about not abandoning myself while caring for a beloved family member.
But it’s also about loving my sister.
Sending love and peace to all.
So I thought about my response later in the day
and asked myself if I had even answered the question,
or was I just writing about my upcoming day.
Upon reflection,
I believe living with integrity is choosing to live according to my values.
The value I was thinking about in my answer is being a kind and loving person
to others ( in this case my beloved sister) as well as being kind to myself.
So I do think I answered today’s question about living my day with integrity.
As an aside I do question myself when my answers are so specific to my life.
Specifically I wonder if I am over-sharing, or if I will be perceived as over-sharing.
(Over thinking much lately, Mary? Probably yes. Anyway.)
To me, I’m just being me, and showing up as I am, in my answers.
So that’s about it for today, my friends.
Mary your words reach me every post. Today’s specifically about not letting yourself get depleted. I very much needed that because it gave me the words I have been looking for. Keep being you!
Dear Mary
I knew you at the Lounge a few years ago and have always enjoyed your posts. I often missed them, for the special way you offered your vulnerability to the community, which, in the end, is our true common sense of life, of our everyday life. Now I’m so happy to see you again, I’m grateful, joining Elizabeth in what she answers you. You’re not oversharing, for me.
I’m so grateful for you, dear Anna, and I’m always so happy to see you here.
You have always made me feel safe and accepted and loved,
and I love you so much. ♥️
All the best to you, Mary, as you go through this difficult time with your sister, and try to find that balance between between kind and loving with your sister and also being kind with yourself. Thank you for your vulnerability, and I do not perceive you as over-sharing.
I hope your sister will be ok. I also have a bit of a rollercoaster relationship with my sister. We are very much opposite but she is family and I do love her. Sending you peaceful moments during stressful times.
By trying to bring my actions as much as possible in line with my ideals. I have tried to do this on an ongoing basis, and have made many changes, such as switching to a vegan diet and changing where my retirement savings are so that my retirement money is not going into the creation of nuclear bombs. There is an online retailer that I am contemplating moving away from because their actions in the world have not been in line with my ideals. It is hard to think of moving away from such convenience and I find my mind making all kinds of excuses as to why to continue getting items through this retailer. I find that often the first step towards making changes is to allow my mind to take in information that I don’t want to take in. So perhaps today I will read some articles about that retailer.
There are little ways I try to live in line with my ideals too (and often slip and fall down), such as trying to be patient and present with those around me.
In my limited capacity, I may not be able to say yes to everyone and everything that comes my way. I remind myself that whenever I do say yes, I say it and act with all my heart and ability. I just returned from a trip to Las Vegas and California, and I’m still recovering from the cold. However, I have an application that I must finish to help an old lady with her home services program. Hopefully, I can move it forward by this week. Wishing everyone a warm weekend!
My Ngoc, reluctance is the last thing we need. It’s important to take care of ourselves to serve others. As my college friend, Angela, says, 1 cannot give from an empty cup.
Ngoc Nguyen, I appreciate your reminder of the importance of being mindful of our “yeses” and making sure that they are true yeses and not out of a desire for approval. A wonderful way to live with integrity! Wishing you the best as you recover from your cold.
Embracing conservatism is one way I can live with integrity today. There’s a fine line between attraction and attention. Valuing relationships helps with attraction, but recognizing right from wrong prevents going down the attention seeking rabit hole. I’d take boring but basic over interesting but insecure any day of the week.
Turning my attention to my default audiences being the Paw Mu formula is another way I can live with integrity. Project 9X has a robust nature but has also proven to thrive in more conservative environments before as well.
Earlier this week, Carol mentioned The Four Agreements, related to Toltec wisdom. Be impeccable with your word is the first agreement. Today, I will put extra focus on that agreement.
Give yourself the gift of free bi-monthly inspiration including uplifting articles, diverse stories, supportive practices, videos, and more, delivered with heart to your inbox.
By being considerate of everyone on my team at work. Giving a helping hand or praise to someone on my team. Lately after our “team building” meeting last week being cognizant of different communication needs of each person on my team. Knowing full well that everyone has their days where they need more support emotionally and/or workload wise.
I can live with integrity today by leaning in and doing what feel like hard things that I need to face, setting and taking small steps, and bringing compassion, understanding and kind inner messaging to whatever I am able to do, or not, in my best human capacity for today. Breathing… Grateful for this day, and community …
When I see the word “integrity” I think of the word “integrate.” I share a meditation I wrote in 2023 in reference to a grateful living daily question about integrating one’s shadow.
I think the meaning of living with integrity is always about growing in self-awareness. It took many years for me to realize that fact and examine my intentions. My mentor use to say, “We are here to integrate our insides and our outsides.” And so, in all situations, I do my best to analyze both my outer and inner reaction and not resist what it is teaching me. According to the Oxford Dictionary, to integrate is to “combine (one thing) with another so that they become a whole.” Acceptance of one’s self is key. Until I did that, I could only see the negatives and not the gifts of my ‘shadow.’ I often remind myself that ‘willingness’ is my job. I have found that ‘willingness’ keeps my mind and heart open–my insides and my outsides in harmony. Life is trustworthy and so am I.
By acknowledging my fear, and not turning away from it, but also gently guiding myself to taking life one step at a time. This translates to walking with fear during a time when I feel I may be consumed by it.
Thanks, Drea. Your words are an inspiring way of explaining the willingness to face one’s fear and proceed. I think it is important to proceed even if I’m “shaking in my boots.”
This question made me let out a deep breath.
Right now, for me, living with integrity means, not being swayed too much by the sea of emotions around me.
I hear you Charlie T, with the upheaval at my wife’s place of employment I need to not let my mouth be swayed with her difficulties and lend an idea for other options. Comes out to my lovely wife as trying to fix. She does not want fixes, she just wants to vent (Cheryl’s word for complaining).
Yes
Today I will be taking my sister to the hospital because she says she needs to go. She hasn’t been willing to see me for about 8 months.
I said I will take her so I will. I will be kind to her and let her know that I love her. I will not ask her lots of questions. I will be present with myself and my thoughts and feelings and remember to use my breath when I feel stressed. I will be present for her. I will be a loving presence for her, but I will not allow her to deplete me. It’s all about balance and about not abandoning myself while caring for a beloved family member.
But it’s also about loving my sister.
Sending love and peace to all.
So I thought about my response later in the day
and asked myself if I had even answered the question,
or was I just writing about my upcoming day.
Upon reflection,
I believe living with integrity is choosing to live according to my values.
The value I was thinking about in my answer is being a kind and loving person
to others ( in this case my beloved sister) as well as being kind to myself.
So I do think I answered today’s question about living my day with integrity.
As an aside I do question myself when my answers are so specific to my life.
Specifically I wonder if I am over-sharing, or if I will be perceived as over-sharing.
(Over thinking much lately, Mary? Probably yes. Anyway.)
To me, I’m just being me, and showing up as I am, in my answers.
So that’s about it for today, my friends.
Mary your words reach me every post. Today’s specifically about not letting yourself get depleted. I very much needed that because it gave me the words I have been looking for. Keep being you!
Thank you so much, Deann.
Your words bring tears to my eyes.
I feel heard and appreciated!
You keep being you too!
Dear Mary
I knew you at the Lounge a few years ago and have always enjoyed your posts. I often missed them, for the special way you offered your vulnerability to the community, which, in the end, is our true common sense of life, of our everyday life. Now I’m so happy to see you again, I’m grateful, joining Elizabeth in what she answers you. You’re not oversharing, for me.
I’m so grateful for you, dear Anna, and I’m always so happy to see you here.
You have always made me feel safe and accepted and loved,
and I love you so much. ♥️
All the best to you, Mary, as you go through this difficult time with your sister, and try to find that balance between between kind and loving with your sister and also being kind with yourself. Thank you for your vulnerability, and I do not perceive you as over-sharing.
I appreciate your kind answer to me, Elizabeth.
I feel affirmed.
I feel it best to frame my reflections, so they are specific to my life Mary.
Thank you Joseph.
I hope your sister will be ok. I also have a bit of a rollercoaster relationship with my sister. We are very much opposite but she is family and I do love her. Sending you peaceful moments during stressful times.
I miss the way the relationship I had with my sister years ago.
Thank you for your kind response to me Robin Ann.
Mary, Sending love and peace to you.
♥️
By trying to bring my actions as much as possible in line with my ideals. I have tried to do this on an ongoing basis, and have made many changes, such as switching to a vegan diet and changing where my retirement savings are so that my retirement money is not going into the creation of nuclear bombs. There is an online retailer that I am contemplating moving away from because their actions in the world have not been in line with my ideals. It is hard to think of moving away from such convenience and I find my mind making all kinds of excuses as to why to continue getting items through this retailer. I find that often the first step towards making changes is to allow my mind to take in information that I don’t want to take in. So perhaps today I will read some articles about that retailer.
There are little ways I try to live in line with my ideals too (and often slip and fall down), such as trying to be patient and present with those around me.
Admit to myself my emotional, physical, spiritual, and intellectual “temperature ” with full honesty.
Amen!
In my limited capacity, I may not be able to say yes to everyone and everything that comes my way. I remind myself that whenever I do say yes, I say it and act with all my heart and ability. I just returned from a trip to Las Vegas and California, and I’m still recovering from the cold. However, I have an application that I must finish to help an old lady with her home services program. Hopefully, I can move it forward by this week. Wishing everyone a warm weekend!
My Ngoc, reluctance is the last thing we need. It’s important to take care of ourselves to serve others. As my college friend, Angela, says, 1 cannot give from an empty cup.
Ngoc Nguyen, I appreciate your reminder of the importance of being mindful of our “yeses” and making sure that they are true yeses and not out of a desire for approval. A wonderful way to live with integrity! Wishing you the best as you recover from your cold.
By continuing to strive to be my best self, being honest, and try to take each next best step.
By continuing with my practices that nourish me and my body. By speaking from my heart. By being myself, not being scared of how I’ll be perceived.
“the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.” – dictionary meaning of integrity
I will just be me, focus on being Present, kind, loving, and smile:) Traveling today – prayers for safe travels always appreciated, thanks!
Reading all your comments made me smile, and I have my heart filled with joy. Thank you everyone
Safe trip and enjoy!
Celtic traveler’s blessing:
While you are away
From your people we do pray
That on your journey you will find balance
In your heart and mind.
Wishing you a safe trip with lots of fun, Michele.
Wishing you a beautiful traveling and safe return, dear Michele. Blessings be with you.
Have fun in PA!
May you go & return safely Michele…& enjoy the time in between.🙏
By quietly continuing to live with a heart full of kindness, justice, fairness and peacefulness.
Embracing conservatism is one way I can live with integrity today. There’s a fine line between attraction and attention. Valuing relationships helps with attraction, but recognizing right from wrong prevents going down the attention seeking rabit hole. I’d take boring but basic over interesting but insecure any day of the week.
Turning my attention to my default audiences being the Paw Mu formula is another way I can live with integrity. Project 9X has a robust nature but has also proven to thrive in more conservative environments before as well.
Earlier this week, Carol mentioned The Four Agreements, related to Toltec wisdom. Be impeccable with your word is the first agreement. Today, I will put extra focus on that agreement.