Creative Director: Integration
I Create: Creative Director of my Life
In terms of creating your life, what do I mean by Integration?
The Dictionary definition:
Integration: an act or instance of combining into an integral whole.
Or in relation to Psychology: the organization of the constituent elements of the personality into a coordinated, harmonious whole.
If we want something in our life to change, we have to do the work to make little adjustments or improvements in habit, all along the way. Not something like a New Year’s resolution that people make and then forget about or do away with before the end of January.
Integration is adding those elements and habits into your life. Adding them in such a way that they become integral to how you operate.
I think of this like good posture. We all know we should have proper posture and sit and stand up straight. But sometimes, unconsciously, we revert to habits of slumping over or sinking into the curve of a chair. We know we need to sit better, but until we do something about it, like little reminders, or being aware when we do it so we can correct it, then nothing is going to improve. You integrate a new habit. Maybe you start by setting a timer and when the timer goes off, you know you have to check yourself for posture. Or there’s the association game where you pick a specific task, like each time you look at the clock or pick up your car keys – something that you would do a fair amount during the day. You say to yourself, every time I pick up my car keys, I’ll set an intention to check my posture. And then, every time you pick up or hold your car keys, you think of that intention and correct your posture. Before you know it, the habit starts to integrate, and more often than not, you are doing the thing you want, not the unconscious thing you would revert to.
Another thing I’ve done, since many of the things I want to integrate are mindset based, is write affirmations or intentions in my day planner very day. I write the same things daily, and it starts me off in the right frame of mind. This one is a start, but unless I had small reminders throughout the day, this one can be easy to do each morning and then go on with your day and forget. Sometimes, I have forgotten to feel gratitude. I’ve noticed there are many things I might tend to be slightly annoying about. I have been learning to catch myself and find the good thing in the situation. Annoyance can remind me of areas that I need more patience. And then I can be grateful that I have this awareness and can do something about it.
The real keys are: reminders, including natural, intentional reminders, not based on an alarm. And consistency and repetition.
Integrating our habit or spiritual practices or deep breathing, Pilates movements, etc, mean that we are consistently on a positive trajectory. And positive trajectory means consistent improvement, which means a good life.
Merry Christmas!
Until next week,
Devon