June 16, 2024 • 15 mins
Welcome to another episode of Contemplative Living with David Bennett, where we delve into the principles that help us lead more connected and authentic lives. In this episode, David shares a personal story about integrity and explores its significance as a guiding star in our daily decisions.
Join us as we discuss the pressures and challenges that test our integrity in various aspects of life, from work to relationships. David emphasizes the importance of staying true to ourselves and our values, even when faced with temptations and societal expectations.
Discover how to balance logical thinking with heartfelt intuition, and learn the power of aligning your actions with your core beliefs. David also talks about vanquishing negative emotions like desire, envy, and greed to return to a state of integrity, promoting honesty, humility, kindness, and generosity.
Through cultivating a disciplined mind and a compassionate heart, we can achieve harmony and navigate life's complexities with authenticity. David encourages us to build upon our strengths and merge our integrity with our spiritual focus, creating a solid foundation for making decisions and connecting with the world around us.
Tune in to find inspiration and practical advice on living a life grounded in integrity, love, and compassion. Namaste.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Hello, welcome back to Contemplative Living. You know, we're trying to bring
concepts into our everyday life
of how to live better and how to live more connected to who we really are.
And today's topic is one that's really close to my heart. It's integrity.
You know, when I worked in the corporate world and I was a manager and assistant director,
(00:26):
director one time we used to they used
to post things in the cafeteria you know with and they used to nominate you
know certain employees for different categories like you know most respectful
or something like that you know and one day i go up in the cafeteria and i see
my face on one of of the posters,
(00:47):
and underneath it says integrity.
And so my co-workers, you know, voted me to be integrity.
And I was really humbled by that and quite taken back, actually.
I wasn't quite expecting that because I always believed that I would be,
(01:10):
you know, myself, true to myself, Be authentic.
And that's how I tried to conduct myself. Well, apparently, it came across as
being authentic and full of integrity.
So, it reminds me of something that Spirit once said to me.
(01:33):
Spirit once said, being means following your true self.
And being at this moment and following to wherever it may lead.
And so Spirit was really talking about, you know, being connected to our true
self at this moment, wherever it may lead us in life.
(01:57):
And that is integrity, following your true self. And that's what we're going
to talk about. So let's get to it.
Welcome. Now creating a life of peace. This is Contemplative Living with David Bennett. it.
Contemplations and Reflections to Help with Spiritual Living.
(02:22):
This podcast is made possible by DharmaTalks.com.
All right, so we're talking about integrity this morning.
And I like to think of it as is a guiding star, but, you know,
(02:44):
How many concessions can we make before we lose ourselves?
This is, in today's world, you know, we're constantly, everything is being thrown at us all the time.
We're often faced with decisions that test our integrity.
You know, how many concessions are we willing to make before sacrificing our
(03:08):
true selves? Is it worth compromising our values for acceptance and for success?
Each concession chips away at the core of who we really are.
And it leaves us wondering where that line should be drawn.
You know, in relationships, at work, in society, the pressures to conform can be overwhelming.
(03:33):
And we may find ourselves bending to meet others' expectations or going against
our own instincts, you know, to avoid conflict.
But how far can we bend? How far can we bend before we break?
It's important to reflect on our choices.
Reflect on our choices and consider if they align with our beliefs and our goals, with our ideals.
(04:00):
Ideals integrity is a wonderful ideal because it's about staying true to ourselves,
even when faced with challenges
and temptations so with integrity we act with no alternative motives and we
(04:21):
only want to be honest and true to our own wholeness integrity is not just a
word It's not just a word that we toss around.
It's not something that we take lightly. It's a principle.
It's a principle that guides every action.
It guides us in decisions.
(04:43):
And when we operate with integrity...
There are no hidden agendas. There's no selfish motives driving our behavior.
You know, we simply strive to be authentic and genuine in everything that we do.
It is that guiding star. It leads us.
(05:05):
It helps us when we need to make those critical decisions. You know,
we can lean into our integrity and allow it to give us the strength that we
need to be true to ourselves.
Think about it with your head, but navigate by your heart.
(05:25):
I love this saying. This is another one of Spirit's sayings.
And when it comes to making decisions, we often rely heavily on our logical
thinking and our reasoning skills, right?
However, there are times when following your heart may lead you to the right decision.
(05:46):
Your head can help you to analyze the situation. That's without saying.
And it can help us to weigh the pros and cons. but
ultimately it's your heart
that guides you towards what feels right and
integrity is about staying true to yourselves and your values so it requires
(06:07):
not only thinking about what's right or wrong but also feeling it feeling it
deep within your core so when faced with a challenging
decision take a moment take a
moment to quiet the noise quiet the you know the noise of logic and allow your
(06:28):
intuition a lot of your intuition to speak and trust that inner voice because
that inner voice knows what's really best for you.
Now, vanquish from the heart and mind all the monsters of desire,
(06:49):
envy, maliciousness, and greed, and return to integrity.
You know, those monsters of desire, envy, maliciousness, and greed,
they often lurk in the shadows of our hearts and minds, clouding our judgment,
and leading us astray from the path of integrity.
(07:11):
But what if we vanquish those demons once and for all?
What if we were to cast aside the temptations that threaten or corrupt our souls?
Instead, let's embrace honesty, humility, kindness, and generosity.
(07:32):
Returning to integrity is not an easy task, no, but it requires courage.
It requires self-awareness and a willingness to confront our own weakness.
As we strive toward wholeness and authenticity in both thought and action,
we begin to see the beauty that lies within ourselves.
(07:53):
We discover that true fulfillment comes not from external validation or material possessions,
but from living in harmony with our values, with that guiding star.
So developing an honest, disciplined mind that is balanced with the heart,
(08:15):
it brings us into wholeness. So, integrity is not just about being truthful to our actions.
It's also about aligning our thoughts and values with our behaviors.
It requires us to be conscious of our choices and always act in accordance,
(08:36):
in accordance with what we believe is right.
You know, true integrity goes beyond the mind.
It involves balancing it with the heart. And this means allowing ourselves to be vulnerable.
To be vulnerable and compassionate and empathic towards others.
(09:00):
When we integrate these qualities into our character, we become not only honest
and disciplined individuals, but also kind-hearted and understanding ones.
So by cultivating both honesty and empathy within ourselves,
we can achieve a sense of harmony between our rational, our rationality, and our emotions.
(09:27):
And a balance allows us to navigate, you know, the challenges that life throws at us all the time.
So let's build upon what you have and merge your integrity with your spiritual focus.
It's important to recognize our strengths and capabilities and continually to build upon them.
(09:51):
And by merging our integrity with our spiritual force or our spiritual focus,
we create a solid foundation.
A foundation that guides us in making decisions, a focus that guides us in aligning
with our beliefs, with our values.
(10:14):
Integrity is the inner compass, that inner compass that keeps us on track when
faced with challenges or temptations.
It requires honesty, authenticity, and consistency.
Consistency is key.
And we want to do, because we want consistency in all aspects of our life.
(10:38):
So when we're following that compass, when we integrate this virtue with our
spiritual beliefs, we deepen our connection.
We deepen that connection to ourselves and our connection to the world around us.
So understanding integrity and strong moral principles come from a mind that
(11:06):
works in concert with divine unity you know this is a profound concept and it needs a little more.
Introspection and when we align our thoughts and actions with a higher power
we tap into an endless source of guidance and wisdom.
(11:27):
Integrity is not just about doing the right thing when no one's watching.
It's about living in harmony, living in harmony with our inner truth,
with our inner truth and values.
By connecting to divine unity, we're reminded of our interconnectedness,
our interconnectedness with all living beings, leading us to make decisions
(11:50):
that benefit not not only ourselves, but also the greater good.
So when faced with challenges or temptations, tuning into our divine nature
can provide clarity, can provide strength and help us to stay true,
(12:10):
stay true to our beliefs.
It's through that alignment that integrity becomes a natural extension,
a natural expression of who we are.
We're grounded in love. We're grounded in compassion and authenticity.
So let's bring that into our being.
(12:31):
I hope that we can continue to seek that connection,
connection with our divine nature, so that we can develop a way of living where
we are connected to ourselves and the world around us,
and we can stay true to our values and navigate life's complexities You know,
(12:54):
and continue to strive to embody integrity in our thoughts,
in our words, and especially in our actions.
I hope you have a blessed week. Namaste.
Thank you for listening today to Contemplative Living with David Bennett.
(13:14):
Please be sure to subscribe, listen, and share with your friends wherever you
listen to your podcasts. Podcasts. You can find us on YouTube,
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and the Podbean app.
You can find the links to these on David's website, dharmatalks.com,
on the Contemplative Living page. Have a blessed week.
Hello, welcome back to Contemplative Living. You know, we're trying to bring
concepts into our everyday life
of how to live better and how to live more connected to who we really are.
And today's topic is one that's really close to my heart. It's integrity.
You know, when I worked in the corporate world and I was a manager and assistant director,
(00:26):
director one time we used to they used
to post things in the cafeteria you know with and they used to nominate you
know certain employees for different categories like you know most respectful
or something like that you know and one day i go up in the cafeteria and i see
my face on one of of the posters,
(00:47):
and underneath it says integrity.
And so my co-workers, you know, voted me to be integrity.
And I was really humbled by that and quite taken back, actually.
I wasn't quite expecting that because I always believed that I would be,
(01:10):
you know, myself, true to myself, Be authentic.
And that's how I tried to conduct myself. Well, apparently, it came across as
being authentic and full of integrity.
So, it reminds me of something that Spirit once said to me.
(01:33):
Spirit once said, being means following your true self.
And being at this moment and following to wherever it may lead.
And so Spirit was really talking about, you know, being connected to our true
self at this moment, wherever it may lead us in life.
(01:57):
And that is integrity, following your true self. And that's what we're going
to talk about. So let's get to it.
Welcome. Now creating a life of peace. This is Contemplative Living with David Bennett. it.
Contemplations and Reflections to Help with Spiritual Living.
(02:22):
This podcast is made possible by DharmaTalks.com.
All right, so we're talking about integrity this morning.
And I like to think of it as is a guiding star, but, you know,
(02:44):
How many concessions can we make before we lose ourselves?
This is, in today's world, you know, we're constantly, everything is being thrown at us all the time.
We're often faced with decisions that test our integrity.
You know, how many concessions are we willing to make before sacrificing our
(03:08):
true selves? Is it worth compromising our values for acceptance and for success?
Each concession chips away at the core of who we really are.
And it leaves us wondering where that line should be drawn.
You know, in relationships, at work, in society, the pressures to conform can be overwhelming.
(03:33):
And we may find ourselves bending to meet others' expectations or going against
our own instincts, you know, to avoid conflict.
But how far can we bend? How far can we bend before we break?
It's important to reflect on our choices.
Reflect on our choices and consider if they align with our beliefs and our goals, with our ideals.
(04:00):
Ideals integrity is a wonderful ideal because it's about staying true to ourselves,
even when faced with challenges
and temptations so with integrity we act with no alternative motives and we
(04:21):
only want to be honest and true to our own wholeness integrity is not just a
word It's not just a word that we toss around.
It's not something that we take lightly. It's a principle.
It's a principle that guides every action.
It guides us in decisions.
(04:43):
And when we operate with integrity...
There are no hidden agendas. There's no selfish motives driving our behavior.
You know, we simply strive to be authentic and genuine in everything that we do.
It is that guiding star. It leads us.
(05:05):
It helps us when we need to make those critical decisions. You know,
we can lean into our integrity and allow it to give us the strength that we
need to be true to ourselves.
Think about it with your head, but navigate by your heart.
(05:25):
I love this saying. This is another one of Spirit's sayings.
And when it comes to making decisions, we often rely heavily on our logical
thinking and our reasoning skills, right?
However, there are times when following your heart may lead you to the right decision.
(05:46):
Your head can help you to analyze the situation. That's without saying.
And it can help us to weigh the pros and cons. but
ultimately it's your heart
that guides you towards what feels right and
integrity is about staying true to yourselves and your values so it requires
(06:07):
not only thinking about what's right or wrong but also feeling it feeling it
deep within your core so when faced with a challenging
decision take a moment take a
moment to quiet the noise quiet the you know the noise of logic and allow your
(06:28):
intuition a lot of your intuition to speak and trust that inner voice because
that inner voice knows what's really best for you.
Now, vanquish from the heart and mind all the monsters of desire,
(06:49):
envy, maliciousness, and greed, and return to integrity.
You know, those monsters of desire, envy, maliciousness, and greed,
they often lurk in the shadows of our hearts and minds, clouding our judgment,
and leading us astray from the path of integrity.
(07:11):
But what if we vanquish those demons once and for all?
What if we were to cast aside the temptations that threaten or corrupt our souls?
Instead, let's embrace honesty, humility, kindness, and generosity.
(07:32):
Returning to integrity is not an easy task, no, but it requires courage.
It requires self-awareness and a willingness to confront our own weakness.
As we strive toward wholeness and authenticity in both thought and action,
we begin to see the beauty that lies within ourselves.
(07:53):
We discover that true fulfillment comes not from external validation or material possessions,
but from living in harmony with our values, with that guiding star.
So developing an honest, disciplined mind that is balanced with the heart,
(08:15):
it brings us into wholeness. So, integrity is not just about being truthful to our actions.
It's also about aligning our thoughts and values with our behaviors.
It requires us to be conscious of our choices and always act in accordance,
(08:36):
in accordance with what we believe is right.
You know, true integrity goes beyond the mind.
It involves balancing it with the heart. And this means allowing ourselves to be vulnerable.
To be vulnerable and compassionate and empathic towards others.
(09:00):
When we integrate these qualities into our character, we become not only honest
and disciplined individuals, but also kind-hearted and understanding ones.
So by cultivating both honesty and empathy within ourselves,
we can achieve a sense of harmony between our rational, our rationality, and our emotions.
(09:27):
And a balance allows us to navigate, you know, the challenges that life throws at us all the time.
So let's build upon what you have and merge your integrity with your spiritual focus.
It's important to recognize our strengths and capabilities and continually to build upon them.
(09:51):
And by merging our integrity with our spiritual force or our spiritual focus,
we create a solid foundation.
A foundation that guides us in making decisions, a focus that guides us in aligning
with our beliefs, with our values.
(10:14):
Integrity is the inner compass, that inner compass that keeps us on track when
faced with challenges or temptations.
It requires honesty, authenticity, and consistency.
Consistency is key.
And we want to do, because we want consistency in all aspects of our life.
(10:38):
So when we're following that compass, when we integrate this virtue with our
spiritual beliefs, we deepen our connection.
We deepen that connection to ourselves and our connection to the world around us.
So understanding integrity and strong moral principles come from a mind that
(11:06):
works in concert with divine unity you know this is a profound concept and it needs a little more.
Introspection and when we align our thoughts and actions with a higher power
we tap into an endless source of guidance and wisdom.
(11:27):
Integrity is not just about doing the right thing when no one's watching.
It's about living in harmony, living in harmony with our inner truth,
with our inner truth and values.
By connecting to divine unity, we're reminded of our interconnectedness,
our interconnectedness with all living beings, leading us to make decisions
(11:50):
that benefit not not only ourselves, but also the greater good.
So when faced with challenges or temptations, tuning into our divine nature
can provide clarity, can provide strength and help us to stay true,
(12:10):
stay true to our beliefs.
It's through that alignment that integrity becomes a natural extension,
a natural expression of who we are.
We're grounded in love. We're grounded in compassion and authenticity.
So let's bring that into our being.
(12:31):
I hope that we can continue to seek that connection,
connection with our divine nature, so that we can develop a way of living where
we are connected to ourselves and the world around us,
and we can stay true to our values and navigate life's complexities You know,
(12:54):
and continue to strive to embody integrity in our thoughts,
in our words, and especially in our actions.
I hope you have a blessed week. Namaste.
Thank you for listening today to Contemplative Living with David Bennett.
(13:14):
Please be sure to subscribe, listen, and share with your friends wherever you
listen to your podcasts. Podcasts. You can find us on YouTube,
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and the Podbean app.
You can find the links to these on David's website, dharmatalks.com,
on the Contemplative Living page. Have a blessed week.
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