Integrity calls
Upon quiet mind and sacred heart
the peace of grace falls
~Thomas C. Maples
A Call to Integrity
The honesty of the upright guides them;
the faithless are ruined by their duplicity.
How much honesty and integrity do we see today? In this day and age of duplicity, how often do we truly come across individuals or institutions that engage the simplistic art of letting their yes mean yes and their no mean no?
Far too often, it seems like we focus on those points that divide us rather than unite us. Do not worry, this article will not be about divisive politics or rhetoric. Far too much of that noise already fills our daily lives. No, this article is about integrity. It discusses ways we can harness its call to build a more holistic sense of wholeness. Through the union of body, mind, and spiritual wellbeing, we can achieve this.
Defining Integrity
The Oxford Language Dictionary defines integrity as
- the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.
- the state of being whole and undivided.
While honesty is certainly important, and nobody wants to deal with a liar, integrity is more than just telling the truth. It’s a state of moral wholeness. It is a path to an undivided sense of being, one that enables the soul’s internal growth.
To live with integrity, our body, mind, and spirit must align with the values and vision we hold for our lives. Yet, it is difficult to achieve this inner harmony in a world full of external pressures and internal conflicts.
How much division do we see around us? Or even more important, how can we begin mending that divide within?
Let Go of Duplicity
Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one.
As I have delved deeper into the Bible in recent years, I am in awe of the raw and uncensored truth that Jesus proclaimed. In a world where our attention is bought and sold, and our consciousness is divided by duplicitous messaging, it is a profound relief to encounter a reality founded on a clear message, one of moral integrity.
In Matthew’s verse, we are reminded to say what we mean, and to mean what we say. “Anything more is from the evil one.” While it may seem a simple act to just say what we mean, the reality is that our consciousness is inherently divided. Knowledge between good and evil exists as a lineage to The Fall, that powerful one-time decision that paved the way for consciousness itself to arise.
Like Adam and Eve, we fall into a state of consciousness as part of our overall maturity journey. We must divide to scar over, but it is in this story itself, that we are afforded free will, and must decide to reunite with moral clarity to the maker in whose image we are made. Yet, it is in the capacity to mend this paradoxical divide, that the true strength of a consciousness arises. This strength is grounded in its spiritual essence.
Is it easy? No, not by any means. Yet, by listening with a quiet mind, a sacred heart arises. From this place, the paradoxical divide can mend, transforming a fractured consciousness into one grounded in spiritual grace. This new wholeness allows us to finally make sense of our inner world we wish to create.
An Exercise of Grace
Let us try an exercise here. How can we re-connect with the sense of spiritual grace, that curiosity factor that spurred us to explore the world from fresh eyes? Have you ever been burned, or even stung? Before that event, a bee, or a stove was an innocent curiosity. However, after that hurt, our conscious state of being divided, and the fall into consciousness occurred. We learned that the world can hurt us, like a bee that stings, so we naturally begin to have natural fears, even if they are not fully rational, as a means to assure our survival. By mending this divide and letting go of our fears, we can reconnect with that childlike wonder. This is how we begin to live an integral life.
When the Trees were larger
Do you remember when you were a child, and the trees seemed larger? Do you remember a time when the world was a source of wonder? As your eyes explored, marveling at its sheer vastness and never-ending supply of new experiences, you were fully present. I hope that you can recall this feeling, for it was in this state of undivided consciousness that Grace was ever present. It was in that state where judgment did not dictate your inner sense of freedom. It’s that feeling we must reconnect with to find our way back to wholeness
Let Go of Worry
During your formative years, do you remember ever having a worry? As you reflect on those moments, did the stress of those days somehow overshadow the wonder or awe of exploring a new park or a lake for the first time? Perhaps you can’t recall a time without worry, and that is okay. But even if your childhood was stressful, there are still many ways to know if that awe existed. Try listening to your dreams and keeping a dream journal. Write often and free associate. The themes that arise are often reflections of those childhood states of being. They may seem lost, but they are a fundamental part of the experiences that make you who you are today.
Lessons from our Buzzing Past
Think about a simple lesson from your past. Do you intentionally go to pick up a beautiful flying creature, painted in shades of black and yellow, that meanders upon the flowers of your garden? Of course not, because you’ve learned that a bee’s sting hurts. At one time, a bee was a subject of innocent curiosity, a marvel to be explored. But after one encounter, our consciousness divided from its curiosity and learned a painful lesson.
We likely built a wall of fear from this event. At least, we learned a valuable lesson: be careful about what we touch. Our path to integrity is about consciously mending those walls and choosing to see the world not only through the lens of what could hurt us, but also with the curiosity and grace of that former curious self. And please, don’t go and pick up bees. Maybe just admire them as an integral part of our collective experience.
May the Peace of Grace Fall Upon Thee
We Fall into Consciousness, But integrity is the Path to Rise Again
Biblically, we fall into consciousness—a process akin to a child learning that a bee can sting. As children, we believe we can fly, and our dreams often reflect this superpower. This sense of wonder and limitless possibility is a core part of childhood, but at some point, that belief begins to fade as we learn to navigate the world. Integrity, then, is our path to recover that wholeness. It helps us mend the divide that occurred when we lost our innocence, allowing us to be a whole, undivided part of the world once more. Our internal landscape acts as a reflection of the outer world and the lessons we undertook to navigate its environment; yet, by healing the division within, we reconnect with the world with a grace that is our birthright.
Soaring to Wholeness
The peace of grace finds those who can let go, and live with the simple truth of letting your Yes mean Yes, and your No mean No. While you might have an idea of how your day will unfold, the most beautiful moments are often unexpected. The buzzing sense of wonder you felt as a child marveling at a vast tree is not lost. It’s a dormant part of you, a place of wholeness awaits to be rediscovered.
Integrity lies in this place—the space where your soul, spirit, mind, and body move as one, healing the divisions within. When you embrace this inner unity, you create the conditions for your spiritual purpose to unfold. As the saying goes, E Pluribus Unum—out of many, one. From that oneness, a passion can ignite, and a strength of will can ground you in the journey to be undertaken. It won’t be easy, but the growth it fosters will be worth the work. May you be guided on this journey as you learn to envision your dreams and move confidently in their direction. I thank you for reading.
More from Dr. Thomas Maples
Find me on Psychology Today
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- How to Find Spiritual Grounding: Healing a Fractured Soul through Integrity
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- Finding Grace in the Messy: Catholic Wisdom and the Psychology of Intentional Parenting
- Mustard Seed Faith: Overcoming Fear and Stepping into the Unknown
