Anxiety & integrity: keeping promises to ourselves

In The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, the chapter on Integrity lets us examine how to act with integrity by doing what we say we’ll do. Making authentic, honest changes is often uncomfortable and meets resistance. And yet, when we let go of unfulfilling work, habits, and relationships, we let in more space for expression and creative freedom. [30.10.24.]

Summary on Integrity

Integrity means holding to our values and moral principles, especially when life pulls us in different directions. Julia Cameron in The Artist’s Way sees integrity as essential to reconnecting with our true selves and our creative desires. By honestly examining our lives, we can identify where we’ve compromised our values and find the courage to return to an authentic path.

Start small: uncover hidden dreams and explore past joys.

Ask yourself:

1) What skill would I love to learn?

2) Which childhood hobbies brought me joy?

3) What would I do if nothing held me back?

Reconnecting with these can guide us towards living with more integrity.

3 quotes on Integrity

Act boldly: “It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that things are difficult." Seneca

Inner knowing: “My principles are shaped by my inner knowing, not by my external circumstances. I bring to the changing flow of life events an inner steadiness, an inner compass. I am whole and unified in body, mind and spirit. My integrity is natural.” Julia Cameron

Powerfully proactive: “It is all too easy as an artist to allow the shape of our career to be dictated to us by others. We can so easily wait to be chosen. Such passivity invites despair. To remain healthy and vital, artists must stay proactive in their own behalf.” Julia Cameron

Ways to act with Integrity

Find core values: write down 3 core values that you want to live by. Then consciously see what you can do each day to honour these values.

Let go of what drains you: releasing relationships, routines or roles that don’t serve you helps to create space for genuine inspiration and creativity.

Instincts: give yourself silent moments to connect to your instincts, guidance and inner intuition. This can be in the form of writing, meditating, praying, walking tech-free. You’ll start to hear your inner voice (rather than societal expectations).

Tiny steps: often we expect ourselves to change overnight or to make big leaps and bounds. And yet, for most busy people, small incremental changes are the more sustainable option. Let yourself get better at a skill slowly (rather than pressurising yourself to be good the first time. Allow for mistakes, faults and “being bad” at first).

Vulnerabilities: during the morning pages (daily journaling practice where you write in a stream-of-consciousness way), express your vulnerabilities and fears. This will allow you to illuminate your shadow self and explore this so you can proactively challenge fears (rather than repressing and ignoring fears, which allow them to grow bigger and stronger).

Rituals: Morning pages (daily uncensored writing) and artist dates (weekly artistic dates) allow you to stay connected to your creative voice. Explore other restorative and energising rituals to keep you inspired, playful and curious.

Guidance: Stay connected to your source—whether you call it God, the Universe, or Source Energy. Use a personal affirmation like, “I am meant to create and share my gifts.” Often, we hold back our creativity, prioritizing responsibilities and others first. Trusting in a higher good helps us believe that nurturing our creativity is valuable and supported.

Personal reflections on Integrity

I’ve been doing The Artist’s Way for the past year. I write the morning pages and take artist dates loosely (because life can get busy). I dip in and out of the book and use concepts like Integrity as a basis of inspiration for the month. This November, I’m focusing on how I can act with Integrity every day (doing at least 1 thing I said I’d do by making it stupidly small and simple, building self-trust gradually).

“Acting with Integrity” (doing what you’ll say you’ll do) is a basic self-help concept. Of course, a catchy phrase is often harder to integrate into daily life where 1,000 things need to be done.

Taking tiny steps has been key. Long to-do lists overwhelm me, and by the day’s end, I’m usually drained, leaving little room for creativity. With a 16-month-old, my creative time is now unpredictable and messy, interrupted constantly. But staying creative as a mother is essential; it fills my emotional cup (keeping resentment at bay).

Even in busy times, we must honour our creative selves—writing, painting, or finding inspiration renews us. For me, acting with integrity means focusing on what matters, balancing busy tasks, must-dos, and creative play. Life will always be hectic, but it’s my job to make space for creativity so I don’t look back with regret, saying, “I got the laundry done but missed my purpose.” Prioritizing creativity is up to me, finding resourceful ways to make my dreams a reality. Please also remember to be kind to yourself when acting with integrity because not everything will be 100% perfect each day (and that’s ok).

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