Peace in My Heart, Dear Creator –
I sat and watched a dazzling dawn display this morning, starting with scattered clouds and undertones of deep violet, then growing to a small glow of deep, fiery red on the horizon, and extending finally to a bright, radiant orange in the eastern sky.
It felt like a long time to sit and just watch. It felt slow, and at times uncomfortable, to not be jumping to some other thing or things, like we so often do. I could envision people I know, and so many others, who would simply look out once, say “Wow,” and then move on; or, they would check back periodically, seeing different stages, but would feel the need to move and busy themselves – that the sunrise’s transformation was too slow, not edited to fit within a half-minute commercial spot.
I was mentioning Integrity yesterday. As I consider what it means to live one’s Integrity, I find myself at a basic question – What about what other people think?
We are raised and programmed, to an extent, to be very conscious of what others think, and to gain and maintain the approval of others – parents, other adults, teachers, coaches, bosses, friends, co-workers, domestic partners and mates.
At the same time, we realize that what all these individuals think and believe is different, and sometimes at direct odds with what others think and believe.
We tend to take on more personas in our different roles, trying to somehow fit in with all the different situations and people in our life.
When we try to get along with everybody in our life, and feel the responsibility to make them happy, how we show up in the world becomes increasingly complicated, and less authentic.
Here is Today’s Prompt:
Dear One, it can seem a small, easy thing – to say, “Oh, I could never say that at work;” or, about friends, “They would never understand.”
Notice how often in your day you censor yourself and modify your behavior to please people and avoid conflict.
It can be shocking how often we do so.
To the contrary, when we embrace and live our Integrity, we can actually gain a deep sense of peace and freedom.
The practice of living from our Integrity frees us from duplicity, and opens us to simple Peace. Please guide me, Dear Spirits!
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