Don’t Ever Underestimate the Value of Integrity

Image courtesy of guardian.co.uk

When describing morality, the word integrity is derived from the Latin word “Integritas” meaning completeness or soundness.

Integrity is an inner quality reflecting our behavior, reliability, or consistency in our actions according to our values and principles. Integrity can also refer to honesty when we associate it with ethics.  Either way, having integrity means we lack inner conflict and our actions consistent with what we believe. In my opinion, integrity is a personal attribute that defines us, and yes a virtue.

We hear people say, “Integrity is what you do, or say, when no one is looking.” This is true but I guarantee you people are looking! Us humans are far more transparent than we would like to think.

The world thrives on news of corruption and those who have fallen from grace. It appears one of the most valuable of human virtues has little to no value in our society. We cannot present ourselves as having integrity if our actions are completely inconsistent. To possess inner completeness or soundness, we need to “know our inner-self” and that means also holding ourselves accountable for our own authenticity.

If we do not value our own integrity, the bad news is, the alternative is hypocrisy. People are not fools and very intuitive. If we are not genuine in our motives and actions, the flipside is dishonor and lack of respect. It is simple, hypocrisy reflects deception, a fraud, a masquerade.  Who wants to be viewed as an imposter? One can reflect lack of integrity in friendships, intimate relationships, and business dealings - sadly, if integrity lacks in either, it will lack in all.

With everything, there is cause and effect. We only have one life. Once exposed as insincere or dishonest, integrity then becomes elusive, even if you think you are the only one looking. ~ Kym L. Pasqualini

Friends who love our imperfections

Chances are it may only happen once when we least expect it - someone enters our lives bringing along genuine light and unconditional love. 

One who accepts our flaws without any judgment of our past, providing us a glimpse of the wonderful person we sometimes miss in our reflection. Someone who encourages us with hand extended - to begin the journey to become who we were meant to be. 

Those are the friends to be appreciated until eternity. ~ Written by Kym L. Pasqualini

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

As a child, I would lay in the field transfixed on a star. Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star - I wished to be in a faraway place or a different planet. 

Tonight I find myself looking at a star reflecting on my wishes. Now my wish is not to go to a planet - not even far away. 

Maybe just another town - where I can find my first dose of serenity in years, find people full of love and warmth, people who love the simple things. Life may not be perfect but for me a place where . . . innocence, wonder and wishes still exist would be. ~ Written by Kym L. Pasqualini

Realizations of the Heart

Us humans we are always failing to follow our own hearts but also letting our hearts get away from us.

What is more tragic, sometimes years later, we find ourselves reflecting back, and realize it wasn't only our own heart we let get away. Written by Kym L. Pasqualini

Human Authenticity

Considering "authenticity" in life and those relationships built behind our computer screens, how many people do you consider REAL . . . I mean really authentic? 

Sadly, far too many people have motivations dictated by fear, only telling others what they think they want to hear. Sneaking around within multiple personas that inevitably become intertwined - and quickly they forget TRUTH wins out each and every time.

Despite potential implication, they choose only to reveal the fabricated version they wish others to perceive. Well, here is a little reminder to all of the Human Forgeries - there is absolutely NO HONOR in trying to deceive. ~ Written by Kym L. Pasqualini

Reflections and Karma

I reflect back on my life and sometimes contemplate why certain things have happened. I have wondered about Karma and thought about how decisions I have made contributed to a sequence of events. Early on, I concluded, the most valuable thing about any experience is the many lessons to be gleaned from each.

During difficult times especially, I think there comes a time when we wonder why we must endure certain experiences that create change, stress, and suffering. Is it our Karma? 

I cannot possibly change one experience I have had during my lifetime, good or bad, to be me. I am okay with that. I know my own intentions. I also concluded that not all suffering is necessarily Karma induced.  When someone does something that is malicious and creates suffering in another person's life, we do not have to wish bad Karma on them (not that we have any control on the “what goes around comes around” in the universe anyway), and our personal suffering caused by someone else, is not necessarily our Karma. We may be merely acting as a "conduit" so to speak.

Fact is, we cannot change anything that happened in the past, but we have a choice to let the experience make or break us. I should have a Master’s in this "life education" but at times during re-testing, I have failed miserably. Realizing, during those most difficult times, when I focus on the "why" things happen; it becomes clear, I am misdirecting the energy needed to maneuver through the storm.

I believe bad Karma is created by intent. The best response to malicious attacks that can knock us down at times, is never let actions of another person harden our heart, never lower ourselves to the level of exercising intent to hurt another, including wishing bad Karma upon them. We all possess this wonderful freedom of choice. We do not have to create bad karma for ourselves with bad intentions.

My own experience tells me the best thing to do, is focus on our own climb back up! As I said, we do not have to wish for bad Karma or take negative action to create it, for it is a rule of the Universe. What goes around does come back around, whether we like it or not.

When we see what appears to be a Karmic event happening in the life of someone who has intentionally hurt us, we can sit back, relax, and focus on our rebuild. Based upon “cause and effect” we can rest assured everyone at one time or another receives a reminder to respect the Rules of the Universe.