In the End, Integrity is all We Have Left - Part I

In the United States of 2024 with a highly contentious and exceedingly crucial presidential election looming, the word, ‘integrity,’ is rarely attributed.  That’s a sad statement on the political environment and our culture. The etymology of ‘integrity’ is from the Latin word, ‘integer,’ that means ‘in tact.’  In The Way of Integrity, Finding The Path To Your True Self, Dr. Martha Beck shares, “To be in integrity is to be one thing, whole and undivided.  When a plane is in integrity, all its millions of parts work together smoothly and cooperatively.  If it loses integrity, it my stall, falter, or crash.  There’s no judgment here.  Just physics” (xii). What, then, is integrity?

The Cambridge Dictionary defines ‘integrity’ as, “…the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles that you refuse to change; someone’s high artistic standards or standards of doing their job, and that person's determination not to lower those standards” (https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/artistic-professional-etc-integrity). And, the Oxford Languages defines ‘integrity’ as, “…equality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness; the state of being whole and undivided; synonyms include - honesty, uprightness, honor, good character, truthfulness, trustworthy, whole” (https://languages.oup.com/google-dictionary-en/).

The medieval Latin translation of the Arabic phrase, “Quod est superius est sicut quod inferius, et quod inferius est sicut quod est superius. [That which is above is like to that which is below, and that which is below is like to that which is above.

It has be simplified: ‘as above, so below.’ ] The origin [of the phrase] dates to sometime between 200 CE and 800 CE. It is attributed to an ancient document called the Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistus” (https://latin.stackexchange.com/questions/15713/shorter-translation-of-as-above-so-below).  How does this relate to integrity?  Integrity is one of the highest, purest traits a person can have; it reflects the connection to God/the Goddess, Higher Power, Highest Self.  As above in the celestial realm/divine domain/level of highest thought, so below on earth/within individuals. Being truthful is a divine quality above and below.

Dr. Beck explains, “Humans create elaborate cultures because we are intensely social beings, dependent on the goodwill of others from the moment we’re born. We also have an enormous capacity to absorb and replicate the behavior of people round us.  From childhood, often without even noticing it, we learn exactly how to in approval and belonging in our particular cultural context…In this rush to conform, we often end up ignoring or overruling our genuine feelings - even intense ones, like longing or anguish - to please our cultures.  At that point, we’re decided against ourselves.  We are in integrity (one thing) but in duplicity (two things). Or we may try to fit into a number of different groups, living in multiplicity (many things). We abandon our true nature” (xiv-xv The Way of Integrity…).

This is an uncomfortable topic because all of us have been out of integrity at some points in our lives.  Still, at the end of the day, at the end our lives, integrity is all we have left.  If we don’t consistently have integrity, we are liars, are divided, are not our true selves. OUCH!

Before I close this first blog post in the series on ‘integrity,’ I am leaving you with an exercise from ages 16-19 in The Way of Integrity… created by Dr. Martha Beck.  Complete the assessment to see where you may have some work to do to on living your life with integrity:

“[Directions-] Answer the questions below as honestly as you can.  If you find yourself fibbing in order to look more impressive and in control of your life, notice that.  It means you’re: (1) out of integrity and (2) unwilling to acknowledge it, even in a quiz no one else has to see.  Take a deep breath and tell the truth.  As you do the assessment, please notice that the words “TRUE” and “FALSE” don’t always appear in the same [order].  Make sure you circle the response that accurately reflects your response for each statement.

1. In general, I see people as good and lovable.  TRUE        FALSE

2. I sometimes feel my daily activities are meaningless.  FALSE       TRUE

3. I adore the company of my friends and loved ones.  TRUE       FALSE

4. My job (includes the job of homemaker) feels like a heavy burden.   FALSE     TRUE

5. I feel “on purpose” and fulfilled even on the most ordinary day.   TRUE        FALSE

6. I have trouble sustaining loving relationships.  FALSE       TRUE

7. I have frequent infections (colds, flu, etc.) even when the people around me aren’t sick.   FALSE     TRUE

8. There’s an undercurrent of contentment that supports me at all times.   TRUE         FALSE

9. I get to make a living doing something I love.  TRUE      FALSE

10. I don’t feel really seen and understood by anybody.   FALSE       TRUE
    

11. I believe my presence is changing the world for the better, in small ways or large.   TRUE      FALSE
    

12. My relationships are often troubled by anger and mistrust.  FALSE     TRUE

13. I don’t need any mood-altering substance or exciting activity to feel great.  TRUE      FALSE
    

14. Other people seem to be accompany great things, but I just don’t measure up.  FALSE     TRUE

15. I have “friends” whose company I don’t really enjoy.  FALSE     TRUE
    

16. I sleep deeply and restfully almost every night.  TRUE      FALSE

17. I can almost always count on my loved ones to understand me.  TRUE      FALSE

18. Though frightening things sometimes happen, I always feel basically safe.   TRUE      FALSE

19. I have aches, pains, and fatigue that limit my activities.  FALSE      TRUE

20. I frequently feel annoyed at whoever happens to be around me.  FALSE      TRUE

21. I love my job and can’t wait to get to it.   TRUE    FALSE

22. I often feel so worried I don’t sleep well.   FALSE     TRUE

23. My life is full of love and companionship.  TRUE       FALSE

24. I don’t feel as if my work contributes anything important to the world.   FALSE     TRUE

25. Even when people around me get sick, I almost always stay healthy.   TRUE      FALSE

26. I often feel an underlying sense of sadness or despair.    FALSE      TRUE

27. I believe everyone’s essence is basically good.   TRUE       FALSE
    

28. I feel angry, even when I’m alone.   FALSE     TRUE

Scoring

Count [each time you circled the first word in pair of words].  Write the amount here _________.  If this number is:

22-28

You live in an unusually high state of integrity.

15-21

Your life is much happier than most, but there may be one or two areas where you’re still divided from your true self.  [If you read and do all of the exercises in Beck’s book, The Way of Integrity, it may help you.]

8-14

Please remember this isn’t your fault.  Still, only reclaiming integrity will keep your areas of concern from getting worse. [If you read and do all of the exercises in Beck’s book, The Way of Integrity, it may help you.]

0-7

Feeling lost and confused might seem “normal” to you.  This book [The Way of Integrity] can help you access more peace and joy that you’ve felt for a long time - maybe ever.  If you don’t take steps toward integrity soon, things will just get worse”  (16-19, Beck, The Way of Integrity).

Did you try the integrity assessment? Please share your thoughts, insights, and suggestions by either commenting below this post if you are reading this on social media, or, if you are reading this through your email subscription, please share, by emailing me, at reimaginelife22@gmail.com. This is the first in a series of blog posts on ‘integrity.’  Please consider buying Martha Beck’s book, The Way of Integrity, Finding the Path to Your True Self; it is well written, well researched, full of beneficial exercises, and personal stories about becoming a person of integrity.

Thank you for reading and participating in this blog essay; I invite you to subscribe to my blog at www.reimaginelifecoach.com.