Integrity, loyalty, authenticity, and love

BY TARA MYSHRALL

We have all heard the rumblings that this year will go down in the history books as a year filled with intense uncertainty. There is so much on the go that some feel like we are chained to a tree without the flexibility to move from its shading overhang and others feel that this is a time of awakening and reconnecting to the possibilities of expansion.
Through these times of intense uncertainty, I need something to bring me back to my home, to the warmth of knowing, releasing and being. I come back to my values to redirect me and align with my true beliefs. They help me determine the side of the line I would stand on when things get complicated. My core values are love, authenticity, integrity, and loyalty.
Love
Love is so important because we have to love ourselves first. We have to learn to love ALL OF OURSELVES with unwavering, unconditional love. Once we love ourselves deeply, we will interact with others, and love others without expectation. “Am I coming from a place of love?” is the most powerful question that snaps me back to my values.

Come from a place of love and spread love to all those we meet, the person making your coffee deserves the same respect as the CEO guiding a company. Offering a little dose of love to brighten the day of all those you come in contact with changes your interactions.

Authenticity
This is a huge buzzword right now. We watch the world through the lens of the phone and get caught up in the touch ups, clothes, the perfect lighting, words and presentation. All the likes and posturing can leave us feeling like we are sinking in thick quicksand when we are not acknowledging our inner voice and our deep desire to play full out. We are no longer jumping into adventure and trying something new. We are following the crowd and betting on others because we are too terrified to bet on ourselves.

Our authentic selves, our souls they are cracking at the seam to allow light to penetrate every crevice of the available space and shine powerful and strong. Our soul needs to be unleashed. It is not the perfection we project that will save us, it is just being our authentic selves

Integrity
“My word is the only thing that I will take to my grave.” I heard this from my father growing up and that really stuck. The money, the house, the car none of it is going with us. I am not vain enough to think that the world will know when I part this plane, however the people that I interact with, the ones that I work with and love, they will remember that I loved myself and them enough to be true to my word.

Loyalty
I used to believe loyalty to others meant never quitting on them. I was loyal to a fault. Now I know that I must be loyal to myself first. I need to be loyal to the person I am and the person I want to become and only then can I extend loyalty to others.

For many people, that takes time. And, sometimes, you might need help to figure this out, be it from trusted friends, family or professionals. A big part of this is being loyal to my intuition and trusting it to guide me to the right people who will support me. Loyalty also means no longer compromising myself for others comfort.

I challenge you this weekend to spend some time coming up with your values. Sit with yourself for a while and see what comes up.

Take the time to reflect and to dream and to feel into the person that you are and the person you have not yet become.