Finding Peace In Integrity
Updated: Oct 5
The Way of Integrity by Martha Beck was one of the greatest influences on me when I needed to make significant changes in my life. It gave me the courage to do so.
In her book, Martha explains that living in integrity isn’t about being self-righteous; it’s about living as our truest selves. The dictionary defines integrity as “the state of being whole and undivided.” When we relax into who we truly are, we become more aware of what’s happening within us, in our lives, and all around us.
That awareness may lead to necessary changes, because it often requires us to let go of the things that pull us away from our integrity—things that keep us from acknowledging what we know, deep in our souls, to be true. This can be challenging because it may mean leaving behind certain people, cultural expectations, or societal norms. It may even mean spending some time on our own.
But don’t be afraid; that loneliness won’t last forever. Sometimes, solitude is simply the space we need to move in the right direction. Once we begin moving forward, we often find kindred spirits—people who are also creating paths of their own. This journey not only leads us to fellow travelers, but also guides us toward a greater purpose, or what Martha calls Finding Your Own North Star, another book of hers that I highly recommend.
But don’t be afraid; that loneliness won’t last forever. Sometimes, solitude is simply the space we need to move in the right direction. Once we begin moving forward, we often find kindred spirits—people who are also creating paths of their own. This journey not only leads us to fellow travelers, but also guides us toward a greater purpose, or what Martha calls Finding Your Own North Star, another book of hers that I highly recommend.
Leaving everything familiar behind may require a leap of faith, but once we begin moving forward, we start to see new possibilities—things we couldn’t see before.
This is the path to true freedom and to the life we were meant to live, if we’re brave enough to follow it. Martha says, “We were meant to live in peace.” I agree. Although I’m still finding my way home to the peace I long for, I can’t wait to discover what awaits me when I arrive.
I hope you, too, find your way home—and experience the peace waiting for you at the end of the journey. It may be a long road, but when we reach our destination, I believe we’ll find the light we’ve been searching for all along.
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