Integrity

Last week I spoke of courage, which is the usual focus for this Michaelmas season. Michaelmas is celebrated today, Sept. 29. However, I see it as a season, and there is more to consider than courage alone. For there to be courage one also needs integrity, diligence, and temperance. Integrity is the balance between the extremes of corruption and legalism with which the world is now being shamelessly antagonized.

Starting with the etymology of the word, integrity is derived from the word integer; meaning a complete entity. In essence, to live in integrity is to be in a state of being whole, entire, unimpaired, in perfect condition, or undiminished in any way. One’s source of inspiration determines what and how one adheres to a given set of moral and ethical principles, which qualifies the soundness of character and honesty. 

Integrity is often connected to the alignment of values, actions and sense of truth with a collective definition of what those things are. These definitions may be good and meaningful things, depending on the basis of the collective group. This is why members of a Neo-Nazi group and those of a church group both feel they live lives of integrity. They feel they are living according to their own inner compass of what is good, true, and beautiful. 

Integrity can also be experienced by embodying authenticity, wholeness, and moral coherence within ourselves. The key word is authenticity. To think of being authentic as related to being an author will take us in a deeply meaningful direction. As an author, we are the writer, the creator and director of our lives. This is the true meaning of being an authority. To know oneself free from outside determining factors, our values become based on our inner compass, and the desire to align our actions and intentions with what we value. The more we accomplish this, we master ourselves. We become authors of our lives. 

Integrity is the central fulcrum, the golden thread that connects free expression with ethical stewardship. In human soul life, the virtues are the balance point between two extremes; one of deficiency, the other to excess. In the case of integrity, its deficiency leads to corruption, and in its excess, to legalism. Of course, the polarities can also exist side by side, but it is in integrity where balance is found. 

Legalism values the rule over the spirit. Its about obedience to external forces and agendas rather than internal alignment. It is fixed and unrelenting by nature. Integrity can challenge legalism when laws or agreed upon mores are unjust, outdated, or mechanistic. A person of integrity might break a law out of moral necessity, think of civil disobedience, or when someone speaking truth to power. 

Corruption distorts integrity by replacing inner truth with external gain, whether for power, money or approval. Corruption arises when the shadow nature predominates, when fear, insecurity, or ambition eclipse one’s authentic voice. Corruption thrives on short-term manipulation and fragmentation, while integrity is about long-term resonance and trust.

I recommend the following activities to do alone or with a trusted friend.

• 1st Theme: “When have you followed a rule that felt wrong?”  

• How did it feel at the time, and afterwards? Draw an image. Write a few key words to describe situation. Write a short poem using the keywords.
• If you’re with another person, listen to each other’s story and description of image.
• Each person shares the image, story, then poem of their partner.
• Journal on your own, or discuss lessons learned, and what changes in life ensued.
• 2nd Theme: “When have you broken a rule to stay true to yourself?” Why did you choose to break the rule? What was the outcome? Draw image. Write a short poem using the key words. 
• If you’re with another person, listen to each other’s story and description of image.
• Each person shares the image, story, then poem of their partner.
• Journal on your own, or discuss lessons learned, and what changes in life ensued.

May you always find your integrity,

Michael

Image: Black Prince by Paul Klee