Stop – replay – stop – replay. My index finger hovered hearing David R. Hawkins, author, physician, scientist, say, “Integrity is the new mark of success in the world. For many decades and generations it was title, riches, money, and position.”

Bing – struck a chord with me. Yes, for decades we’ve lived a paradigm of acquisition – amassing possessions, power, dollars, and titles. Depending on your life philosophy this acquisition could be neutral.

On a micro level as I look on past phases of my life I see that integrity took a hit when I was focused elsewhere. Either I was focused on actions or goals that weren’t fully in integrity with who I am. Or I was not intentional with my actions – hadn’t thought through the impact on me and the world.

Integrity encompasses our choices every second of every day. Integrity determines the feel, the direction, the tenor of our life. Relationship, job, and career are the big ones. Then there is food/alcohol/all that I put in my body, how I spend my time, and the focus of my conversations. What is the cost when our actions are not fully in integrity with who we are?

It feels that we are in a dark night of the soul; we being societies, countries, and institutions. Worldwide, witness tens of active military conflicts, hunger and upheaval following natural disasters, and the disarray of finance, education, politics, religions, families, and health care.

A hallmark of the dark night is opportunity. Hmm, opportunity around integrity. For each of us to live more intentional integrity; where might that take us on a micro and macro level?