Articles

Living With Integrity

by Ada Porat

How do we become more effective in life?  How do we gain credibility and power?

Our power as spiritual beings is based on our integrity.  Webster’s Dictionary defines integrity as:  “…the state of being whole, entire, undiminished.”   In other words, it is the ability to align all aspects of our being and our truth into a unified, harmonious flow.  When standing in that wholeness, we are able to manifest, create abundance, effect positive outcomes and heal ourselves and others with grace and ease.

When this harmony and power is missing in our lives, there may a subconscious discrepancy among the various levels of integrity.  This discrepancy results in our broadcasting mixed signals which attracts mixed – and often confusing - outcomes. 

To walk in power and flow, we need to have harmony in four areas that collectively make up the integrity of our intention.  There needs to be unity among our thoughts, actions, words and beliefs.  When one or more of these areas is not in harmony with the overall goal, the collective impact of our efforts is diluted. 

How often have you not listened to someone (a public figure, for example) talking about an issue with seeming intensity, yet their emotional appeal did not feel credible to you.  In fact, you may have felt uneasy about it; as if something fishy is up although you cannot name it.  Later, you may realize that the person had paid lip service to a concept that was not backed by congruent action. 

Even children pick up on this discrepancy.  This is one of the reasons why children do not respond well when parents say one thing and do another.  In such communication, there is a discrepancy between words and actions which dilutes the power of the communication. 

Whenever the four areas of integrity - thoughts, actions, words and beliefs - are not aligned in our interaction, communication becomes blurred and others have difficulty understanding, believing or trusting us.  They may feel that something is just slightly off, or that they don’t feel comfortable working with us. 

The first step in restoring integrity, lies in the awareness that something is amiss.  In becoming aware of it, we can run a self-check to clarify our true desires, motives or intentions at all levels. 

If your words or actions seem to backfire, ask yourself a few questions to get clarity on the deeper reasons why.  These reasons lie at the very root of why you chose to speak, act, think or believe in a given way.  Some good questions to answer, include:

• What is it I really wanted?  
• Were my actions and words a conscious expression of the Divine in me (who needs nothing) or were they based on some  deeper need for acceptance, security, status or revenge?
• Did I set up conditions in my mind such as “If I …………… then they will …………….?”
• How did I want the other party to respond?  Why?
• Why did I get upset, hurt or angry when they did not respond the way I wanted them to?

When we have inner expectations for others to behave in a certain way, we ignore their free will and set up ourselves to be hurt and disappointed.   Moreover, we give away our power to others by expecting them to meet our needs.

Instead of diluting our power in that way, we can acknowledge our inner need for acceptance, support, love and security, and then we can start to nurture those needs within ourselves.  Each one of us knows exactly what it will take to meet our heart’s deepest longing, and so we are uniquely qualified to nurture ourselves. 

Once we nurture our inner self - our inner child - with love and compassion, our thoughts, words, beliefs and actions come into harmony and we reclaim our own power.  So give yourself the gift that keeps on giving:  nurture yourself with light and love, support yourself wherever you are at, and enjoy the benefits of harmony, peace and power!

©Copyright Ada Porat. For more information, visit www.adaporat.com

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