One concept I’ve only briefly touched on is integration.  On the surface level, when we integrate anything it becomes a part of who we are.  That’s the simple way to look at it.  The reality is integration looks at the multitude of options out there and considers the realities that exist based on experience.  When we integrate, we understand the layers of experience.  When it comes to personal integration in doing the work of self, I recently heard another concept.  Integration deals with the concept of two conflicting beliefs, one subconscious, one conscious and I’m adding the caveat that it’s something we face as we grow/age.  For example parent tells us we are unworthy as a child so we unconsciously look for ways to solidify that belief even if we, on the surface, are telling ourselves we are worth it.  We will self-sabotage to prove the unconscious belief.  We aren’t actively seeking to do so, it’s just the naturally engrained response we have developed over time to information we received during our most formative years.    

In this regard, the act of integration is taking that conscious positive belief and transmuting, transforming, and putting that to the subconscious so actions come from that place rather than negative beliefs.  This way our engrained reactions and behaviors support (prove) the positive belief or replace the negative all together.  There is knowing and there is KNOWING, and we are talking about the capital variety here.  Unless we adopt the belief behind the feeling, the emotion and underlying behavior never really sinks in to become the habit.  New beliefs require new actions and new actions require new habits.  New habits happen when we start to understand the old ways, thoughts, patterns, and beliefs no longer serve or are outright destructive.  Then we peel away the layers and see where all of that came from.  That in itself can be exhausting and take some time.  But doing the work of integration is evolutionary and, my friends, we are meant to evolve.  Growth only comes from new and I do mean new including thoughts, behaviors, and beliefs.  Life is messy, healing is messy, but it is ever so beautiful on the other side.

The power of integration is the reclamation of identity, purpose, and power in our lives.  Evolving means changing the patterns of those that came before us and doing things in a new way, with new belief and intention.  There is nothing more empowering than traveling our own paths and making our own decisions based on who we are.  We only know who we are when we accept that identity and BELIEVE it, and most importantly, act on it.  We aren’t meant to live without follow through and we aren’t meant to live carrying what we were told to be when we know we are meant for something more.  The conscious thoughts we have about ourselves, those things directly opposed to what our core is telling us are the thoughts we need to make our reality.  Have enough faith to work on building belief in who we are and practice what scares us until it feels natural.  What feels natural becomes habit and then we shift into that reality.  Become what we know we can become.