I've moved my blog to WP: idefiningi.wordpress.com
December 13, 2014
integrity (n.)
Integrity. I hear this word often in yoga class when body alignment is concerned: Holding poses with integrity, pushing to a safe, healthy edge by being honest with what you're capable of or feeling so you can give your body a challenge without hurting yourself. Not being so worried about what it looks like from the outside but feeling it come from inside. Being able to look yourself in the eye in that mirror with the knowledge that you're giving it your all and your best while being good to yourself.
This is true in life, too. I try to remind myself of the importance of living with integrity, particularly when my thoughts get the best of me - when infinite options and worst-case-scenarios pollute my brain towards paralyzing indecision or confusion.
Dictionaries define integrity in three ways:
Whatever it is, you gotta do it with integrity - whether it's sticking to your guns or giving up (you can give up with integrity as much as you can fight with integrity); it's about feeling certain in the decisions you make, or rather, as certain as possible (you can't help what you feel but you can help what you do about it). And you get there by being honest with yourself. And then you push that outwards so that it's reflected in your actions - so that you are being honest with those around you, so that you're living honestly.
It's hard getting clarity in this crazy world. How can we hope to navigate the hardships, irrationalities and challenges we face in life if we can't even own up to what's actually happening or how we feel about it? Without clarity, honesty, we risk muddling everything and living in a hazy limbo, which is not a good nor productive place to be.
Ask yourself the tough questions, don't leave holes, or turn a blind eye. Then act accordingly.
This reminds me of a conversation I had with a friend a few days ago. I talked out some stuff I was confused about with her and at the core of our conversation came out my truth - something I had not really solidified as the real answer when in conversations with myself. I learned then, that sometimes it takes talking to someone else for your truth to come out in plain view; it's there, but maybe you haven't owned it yet.
After all, the opposite of integrity is deceit.
It can be fairly easy to lie to yourself - or at least to waver on your stance about something - when it's in your head and you're your only audience. Sometimes talking it out with someone can actually help you judge the integrity of your own claims. You may not know you're being dishonest of course, but hearing your claims out in the open puts them under scrutiny - under your scrutiny.
And that takes grit [integrity - an etymological coincidence but I beg to differ) - it requires a certain strength of character, courage and resolve to be willing to hear the truth out loud. But it's so worth it. Because then you're aligned, living on your edge, and growing stronger with each new challenge - no longer just posing, but living and breathing it, just like in yoga.
This is true in life, too. I try to remind myself of the importance of living with integrity, particularly when my thoughts get the best of me - when infinite options and worst-case-scenarios pollute my brain towards paralyzing indecision or confusion.
Dictionaries define integrity in three ways:
- Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code.
- The state of being unimpaired; soundness.
- The quality of being whole or undivided; completeness.
Whatever it is, you gotta do it with integrity - whether it's sticking to your guns or giving up (you can give up with integrity as much as you can fight with integrity); it's about feeling certain in the decisions you make, or rather, as certain as possible (you can't help what you feel but you can help what you do about it). And you get there by being honest with yourself. And then you push that outwards so that it's reflected in your actions - so that you are being honest with those around you, so that you're living honestly.
It's hard getting clarity in this crazy world. How can we hope to navigate the hardships, irrationalities and challenges we face in life if we can't even own up to what's actually happening or how we feel about it? Without clarity, honesty, we risk muddling everything and living in a hazy limbo, which is not a good nor productive place to be.
Ask yourself the tough questions, don't leave holes, or turn a blind eye. Then act accordingly.
This reminds me of a conversation I had with a friend a few days ago. I talked out some stuff I was confused about with her and at the core of our conversation came out my truth - something I had not really solidified as the real answer when in conversations with myself. I learned then, that sometimes it takes talking to someone else for your truth to come out in plain view; it's there, but maybe you haven't owned it yet.
After all, the opposite of integrity is deceit.
It can be fairly easy to lie to yourself - or at least to waver on your stance about something - when it's in your head and you're your only audience. Sometimes talking it out with someone can actually help you judge the integrity of your own claims. You may not know you're being dishonest of course, but hearing your claims out in the open puts them under scrutiny - under your scrutiny.
And that takes grit [integrity - an etymological coincidence but I beg to differ) - it requires a certain strength of character, courage and resolve to be willing to hear the truth out loud. But it's so worth it. Because then you're aligned, living on your edge, and growing stronger with each new challenge - no longer just posing, but living and breathing it, just like in yoga.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment