INTEGRITY

If I could teach everyone only one value to live by, it would be integrity.

Integrity is crucial in all aspects of life: professional, personal, social and spiritual. Yet, so many people lack it. Integrity is doing the right thing, even when nobody’s watching. It means being true to yourself.

Integrity is a consistency between a person’s inner values and attitudes and their outward words and actions. The more consistent we are, the higher the degree of integrity we possess.

Those that live with the value of integrity are honest, trustworthy, fair, show respect, accept responsibility, and have courage. The best way to guard your integrity is to decide in advance that you will never sell out or surrender your integrity.

The road to integrity is not an easy one but it’s the only one worth traveling. Integrity is essential if we are going to become people who positively and powerfully impact others.

People who demonstrate integrity draw others to them because they are trustworthy and dependable. They act with honor and truthfulness. They treat people equally and take responsibility for their own feelings and actions.

A word of advice to those who are striving for a reputation of integrity: Avoid those who are not trustworthy. If someone is dishonest in any aspect of his or her life you can be guaranteed that they will be dishonest in many aspects of their life. It is important to realize that others pay attention to those you have chosen to associate with, and they will inevitably judge your character by the character of your friends.

So, surround yourself with people of integrity. That makes sense, doesn’t it?!

~Mary Beth Iannarella

GirlTalkMarlton.org

 “Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good, and kind, and brave, because he strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort. Remember Cedric Diggory.”

― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Unconditional Love & Acceptance

Unconditional love is something that can be difficult to explain to those who have never experienced it; but on the occasion that you have been fortunate enough to be on the receiving end of such an act of thoughtfulness, you are loved without restrictions or conditions. Loving unconditionally is one of the bravest things you will ever do.

Unconditional love means, “I love you no matter what happens,” not “no matter what you do to me.” Unconditional love does not mean “I love you if you hurt me.” You must love yourself unconditionally first. You are worthy.

Life is hard more often than we’d like it to be. Life is by nature, conditional. The idea that love might be unconditional sounds unrealistic. Is that even possible? Too often, the affection of others comes at a high price to even consider the possibility that love might be unconditional. It is a string-less gift of the heart. But it IS all around us!

Take a mother and child’s relationship. This is one of the most beautiful forms of unconditional love and sacrifice. As a mother, or parent, we sacrifice our own wants for the benefit of our child without thought for ourselves. This is love without conditions. This month will be 18 years that my mother has passed, I long for that feeling of unconditional love I felt from her.

If you have had a pet, especially a dog, they love their masters unconditionally. No matter if you get upset with them or don’t play with them when they want to play, the pets do not seem to mind, because they know that somewhere within, the master loves them.

In marriage or any committed relationship where there is unconditional love, there are hurdles. Remember to be accepting, love them with their flaws and imperfections. Forgiveness is also necessary to create a healthy long term relationship. Unconditional love is not petty. Love honor and cherish your partner who loves honors and cherishes you. By no way should you ever stay in an unhealthy or abusive relationship. Treat each other with kindness. And when you argue with your significant other, because you will-fight fair. 

How can we bring more unconditional love into our lives? The best way to receive it is to give it away.

Unconditional love is caring about the happiness of another person without any thought for what we might get for ourselves.  It could be as simple as smile or handshake or as complex as raising money for a specific cause. Whatever it is, we must recognize that we have the capacity to show unconditional love to others.

If you think carefully about those closest to you, there is likely at least one person in your life that understands and practices what it means to show unconditional love toward others. These people are out serving others. They aren’t waiting for the future to make a difference; they are making a difference today.

Unconditional love heals the broken, empowers the timid, affirms the hesitant, and elevates those who have been overlooked, forgotten, and silenced. There is a power that comes to those who show and to those who receive unconditional love. Those who show this love are released from being consumed with themselves. Those who receive this love are released from limitations others have placed on them. You have everything you need right now to show unconditional love toward someone else. It is within you, but you must first love yourself unconditionally.

To love unconditionally takes courage. It is hard, I know, especially when your heart has been broken. It takes courage to keep trying. But never give up! Don’t let another person ever define your sense of self-worth. You can change the world one person at a time.

My wish is for you to spread your unconditional love around the world, we need more of it.

 

Mary Beth Iannarella

Girl Talk Marlton/The Wishwall Foundation

“To be brave is to love someone unconditionally without expecting anything in return.” Madonna