I've been thinking a lot about integrity recently. I know what feels like integrity to me, I feel it strongly in my heart when I'm not living in it fully. I thought it was the same for everyone. That it's a universal way of being. That if you strip off enough layers of bullshit that anyone will know what actions, thoughts or words have integrity.

But, I am finding that even though I have a strict integral structure that I live by, not everyone will see my way as the "correct" way. And I'm not even talking about people who have vastly different belief structures. I'm talking about the distinct differences between similar minds. I'm talking about two decent, law abiding, kind, loving people who are in a relationship and have very different perspectives of what integrity includes.

It's throwing me, I'll be honest, and I don't want to attach myself to my structure so much that I rule out the possibility that what I thought was universal, isn't. I'm not sure where I stand with my ideals about integrity with others at this point.

I only know that I have to always leave myself open to other ways of being. That I can't be stubborn with my structure. The only thing I do know is that I'm doing the best that I know how to do at this time, and that my structure will inevitably change. As long as I'm on the path of learning about my self and the universal flow, I am moving forward in my evolution.

This has taught me about my own stringent beliefs creating an underlying judgement of others. And that in relationships it is very important to remember that everyone has a different outlook, even when, on paper, they seem similar. Does it serve me to question my partners belief structure to validate my own?

What I have seen is how divisive it is. I have found that it's more important to connect than to divide.

So my focus has become more about exploration and curiosity of life experience. Trying to understand and connect with the unique way people see the world. And trying to work within that perspective instead of pushing to make theirs more like my own.

Integrity and Relationships

The Lovely Journey