Integrity

Debra Oakland is a Courage Advocate, writer and “Joy-Full Experiencer.” Debra became a Courage Advocate through the loss of so many family members over a six year period.

Debra lost her 21-year-old son Wade, her unborn baby girl in the eighth month of pregnancy, both brothers to AIDS, and her father to prostate cancer. The loss of other  friends occurred during this time as well. She could have given up, but instead she asked herself what each of them would have wanted for her.

She knew deep in her heart the answer was to live a life of courage, to encourage others, and to be happy. Debra says she has become a better person for knowing them and a stronger, more courageous person in their absence. She chooses to love and honour each one and carries them in her heart as a precious gift.

So who is better qualified to discuss the subject of Integrity than she? This is her version to be followed by Mike O’Hare’s supporting article when trying to describe a very personal concept which tries to unravel who we are.

Integrity in view

All life is energy in motion. Each of us make a choice for ourselves alone on the importance of personal integrity. In my mind, it is a powerful quality of life that presents great rewards when actively engaged. It comes down to awareness of values. Your personal path is sacred. When the sacred is not honoured it may take a temporary leave of absence. We cannot presume to know what is right for another, as no two journeys are the same. At the deepest level, we are here to learn and expand soul awareness.

There is no need to judge the integrity level of those travelling beside you or out in the world. You cannot know what they are here to work on or work out. Self awareness is a perfect integrity compass. Becoming the observer of our own choices and actions can bring new perspective to our state of being and becoming.

Living in integrity is like peeling back the layers of density, allowing more light to fill us, reflecting out into the world. Core values of honour raise us into expansive levels of reality. Savour these moments of connectedness as the layers of self recognize soul agreements that are here to serve our highest and greatest good.

‘What?’ and ‘why?’ are good questions to consider in all things. Is what you are thinking, saying and doing in alignment with the level of integrity you wish to express? When the answer is clearly established take action. The world will reward you!

“Have the courage to say no. Have the courage to face the truth. Do the right thing because it is right. These are the magic keys to living your life with integrity.”

– W. Clement Stone

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The following is Mike O’Hare’s attempt to support Debra by offering his version of Integrity. You may realise that the two articles written side by side (or top to bottom in the case of this blog) are personal interpretations based on a subject which, in essence, cannot be broken down into anything finer than what this concept represents.

A living concept

It would appear that we all possess a set of values. However, these values must apply to the level of existence which is in tune and proportionate with our lives on this physical earth. In other words our values can differ in concept and meaning to the nth degree. Not only are we all different, but we are also experiencing at different levels of consciousness.

Physical life is an illusion – a construct of energy formulated mathematically to house our consciousness in a field of matter. Our corporeal bodies are the vehicles which will help carry us through the heavy density of the third dimension allowing us to experience and, hopefully, learn. What we learn is via the polarities that exist which allow us to comprehend the difference between two opposites. For example we have to experience good and evil before making a conscious decision which one is right for us. The resulting contrast is what registers into our subconscious.

This is where those values come into play. The paradox is that what is a value to one person can mean very little to another. Our emotions play a large role in playing out the game of life and it is from here where we categorize those values and place them in order of merit. So what is your highest value? Some would say that their integrity was sacrosanct and without it they would not be able to live with themselves.

This is a generalisation because I don’t want to personalise this when there are so many permutations within our emotions that can determine what manifests simply as a concept or a perception, because that is all there is. Whatever we believe will create a situation that we can buy into and live it. Do I believe that I hold my integrity high on my agenda of values?

In actual fact what I’m doing is living out a concept which allows me to move in a direction where my intellect or ego remains firmly in control. I may be learning something but I doubt that I am progressing spiritually. However, if I can reach a point whereby I can become aware of this situation then this provides a platform for me to discover choices – choices that have always been accessible but I’ve never realised. Now that is progress in my opinion.

“There is value in everything and is a relevant concept. Only by individual judgement do we value by degree. The level at which the value is placed is dependent on its worth to the recipient.” ~ Jasper T. Nicoli.