Integrity

The word, "integrity", is an important word to contemplate. In my work as an Information Security Professional, when I talk about integrity to my customers, we are talking about data integrity. For example: Can we trust the integrity of the information stored in the database after a malicious hacker has penetrated the perimeter defenses? If not, how do we validate integrity?

In this sense, integrity is one of the three pillars of Information Security (Confidentiality, and Availability being the other two). But what I'd like to write about today does not concern data integrity. Rather, I am writing about Personal Integrity.

Personal integrity may be one of the most important concepts a man or woman can contemplate. Unfortunately, I often see, what I judge to be, a lack of integrity in our modern society. Our thoughts, words, and deeds do not always assist us in maintaining personal integrity. In deed, it seems at times that others do not even expect to find integrity with our statements. Perhaps even more grave is that the lack of awareness of an integrity deficit and the lack of a conscious intention of who we desire to be, leads to whimsical decisions, and destinations as random as the resting place for leaves blown in the wind.

In severe circumstances we may find the lack of integrity leading to broken hearts, broken dreams, or loved ones lost. I believe those dire circumstances can be avoided by taking charge of our thoughts, words, and deeds, on a much more casual level. I think that every little thing we think, say, or do, moves us, if even only slightly, in one direction or the other.

Immediate consequences may be deemed inconsequential. For example, consider the person who tells their friend that they will call them tomorrow, but no call is made. This seems to be a small oversight. I would argue that the person who committed to making the call, should take a look at their history of actions, to see if there is a pattern. How many times might person A say that they will call person B, and not follow through, before person B gets the message that person A is not dependable? Worse still, might person B not infer that they are not important to person A?

Some might argue that person B should just get over it. And no doubt they should. But, this isn't about person B. This is about person A. Perhaps person A is so used to their words having no integrity in the world, that impacts who they are.

If person A says one thing, and does another, when dealing with person B, and it isn't an isolated incident, how far might we have to go to find the roots of this issue?

Assume for a moment that person B isn't the only one who has been waiting for a phone call. Perhaps persons C through Z have similar tales to tell. Maybe person D can take this even farther. Perhaps there is a long list of little things that people could complain about - but they don't. To hell with the whole alphabet - this isn't about them. This is only about person A.

The real question for person A is this: Do you ever tell yourself things - and then not follow through? Have you ever said you wouldn't eat any desert, and then sit down on the couch to watch TV with a bowl of ice-cream? Have you ever told yourself that you were going to exercise at least three times per week, and then find "more important" things to do every day of the week? Are you out of integrity with yourself?

If you are out of integrity with yourself, the only easily noticeable symptoms may be that you are out of integrity with the friends and family around you. And, I might add - you just might be lucky to be able to see that. For some people, they show up for everyone in their lives, except themselves. They continually put others ahead of themselves to their own detriment. What is that about? Hey - if the airplane is crashing and you need to help someone sitting next to you... put your own oxygen mask on first!

I challenge my readers to find the little things that they say they are going to do and then don't. I challenge you to find them - and then make amends. No one wants to hear "I'm sorry". Some folks use those words so frequently, they should have them tattooed on their foreheads. If you are out of integrity with someone else - find out what you need to do to get back in integrity with them. If you are out of integrity with yourself. Figure out a way to get back in integrity with yourself.

Step by step, we walk the thousand mile road. You are either walking towards your destination, or not. If you are having an integrity deficit in your life, try this exercise:

1. Decide where you want to end up in your life (this is a big deal in and of itself).

2. Come up with something you will need to do to get there. (e.g. a short term goal)

3. Evaluate the short term goal, and break it into parts, if need be, that can be accomplished in one week.

4. Tell a close friend what your well defined goal is, and when you will have accomplished it. (hint: a well defined goal has something about it that makes it obvious whether it has been accomplished or not.)

5. Meet again with your friend, a week later, or group of friends if you made this even more public (which is a really good idea). Report on your success or failure.

6. Discuss the results, then set another goal for the following week. Invite your friend to set their own personal goal.

7. Invite more people into your "circle of success", and continue to live the life you intend.

Good luck - My own personal goal is to exercise at least three times per week - for at least one half hour per day. Ideally, I would like to exercise at least 30 minutes, every day. But, I don't want to set myself up for failure. It is important to set goals that you CAN reach. Otherwise, you end up beating yourself up every week. Knowing ones limitations is important too. I know there will be days when I will not be able to exercise - but there should be no week that I cannot exercise at least three days.

I'm off to the elliptical machine now. Feel free to chime in here and let me know how your personal goals are doing.

Yours in Integrity,

Ken

Helping Wall Street Journal Readers Understand

This morning, I posted a comment on the Wall Street Journal's Website. The post said it was posted in the PM - perhaps there is a time zone setting I'm expected to manage.

My comments were in response to a poll question asking if we should implement a VAT tax.

Anyway...

Here is my post, for your edification and enjoyment:

Certainly, our economy and our situation is a complex one, with many factors playing into it. I do not pretend to know all of the factors, but one thing is clear. I have read the Constitution of The United States of America (several times). It isn't too long of a read, and if you haven't read it yet - what are you waiting for? I believe, at the core of our National problem, lie terrible injustices done to the agreed upon meaning of the words within our Constitution. Ultimately, the interpretation of the Constitution has been left in the hands of the Supreme Court. Much like, at one time, priests were the sole instruments of interpretation for the Bible. However, the Constitution is in plain English, and can be understood by anyone with a head on their shoulders. The simple fact is that our National Government has passed beyond the boundaries established by the enumerated powers established in the Constitution. In my humble opinion, any reasonable person would only deny such a clear fact for fear of having to fix the problem. I have not done the research to establish when this first happened - it was a long time before I was born. But abuses as easy to spot as obviously incorrect interpretations of what has become known as the "General Welfare" clause, and the "Interstate Commerce" clause are to blame for much of our current situation. I do not believe that everyone's taxes would necessarily decrease, if we went back to our Constitutional roots. It is quite possible that State taxes would increase as National taxes decreased dramatically. And there will always be corruption and waste, because we are imperfect creatures. However, keeping the taxation and spending more local, increases our ability to be fruitfully vigilant. Keeping the majority of the power local also helps to manage corruption. Our founding fathers knew this, and that gnosis drove the creation of the Constitution. We have stepped out of the boundaries they established to help us avoid tyranny, and we are slipping towards that which they feared the most. We need to start with Constitutional education. We the People need to understand what we were given in the Constitution, and why. Ultimately, we will need Supreme Court Justices who are willing to make an honest interpretation of the Constitution, and overturn decisions that polluted our freedom for the sake of expanding National power. And, we will need State governments who are ready to pick up the slack left behind, from the dismantling of National programs that just should never have been. This is the only American solution to our Economic woes. This is the only true way we can cut spending in a meaningful way. Yours in Liberty, Ken Walling, CISSP, GREM

The Mayan Calendar - marking the consciousness of creation

I recently watched a very interesting video about the Mayan Calendar. It seems not everyone believes that doomsday is set to arrive in 2012. I rented the DVD through Netflix, but afterward found the video available on the web (see the above link).

The production quality is poor; and, when I first started watching it I thought, "Oh boy, what kind of crap did I rent this time?" I always give everything I rent a fair chance though. In this case, I'm glad I did. The speaker, Ian Xel Lungold, was a decent public speaker, and had some very interesting ideas to share.

Perhaps least interesting, but worthy of note, is that the above linked video doesn't even talk about 2012. The "event", which is about a transition of consciousness, is set to occur in 2011. But don't worry - this 2011 eventuality doesn't involve cars and RVs flying over lava-filled chasms.

The Video in a Nutshell:
The Ancient Mayans apparently used numerous calendars (it seems even more than were presented in this video). While our calendar marks the movement of objects in space, specifically the 365 1/4 day trip the Earth takes around the Sun every year, the Mayans seem to have been more interested in tracking the evolution of consciousness. The cycles of time used by the Mayans track the aspects of creation, and the daily intentions that permeate reality.

Some of the more practical information in the video revolves around differentiating the Mind from the Self (or Soul). When analyzing the Mind simply as one of the many tools we have picked up along this road of evolving consciousness, we can easily see its short-comings. Most notably, a 33 thoughts per second speed limit.

The reality of information overload, and the stress that it causes, is explained in a way that was at once new to me and somehow familiar. While the notion of time as a constant holds firm throughout this video, the belief espoused therein is that creation is happening faster and faster. Perhaps put more plainly: Creation is presenting more and more of itself in smaller quantities of time. This presents more and more choices for us to consider in our daily lives. If we choose to consider these choices with our Minds, we will be using a tool that is operating at 33 thoughts per second. The effect is akin to attempting to drink water from a fire-hose. The actual effect is stress, which if unresolved leads to the Fight or Flight response.

The "Fight or Flight" response and the Mind's choice of "unconsciousness" when overwhelmed are also discussed. The video takes a loose definition of unconsciousness, which includes ways to avoid being conscious of things which are causing us stress. These include all manner of addictions (alcohol, drugs, sex, food, etc.) including the routine use of television to avoid having to "think" about reality, as well as the ultimate evasion, suicide.

There is a wealth of information on this subject, here, which I haven't yet explored. I'm not blessing all of this information as the word of God; but, I am saying it is worth investigating for yourself. Even if you decide your opinions and beliefs don't align with this presentation; I think you will find that it will enhance your own consciousness.

Here is a link to that site's Learning Lab. You will find many links to videos along the left side-bar.

Enjoy!

PB&J with the crusts cut off

How much can you tell about a person by the way they make a peanut butter and jelly (PB&J) sandwich?

I heard someone on some news station refer to the "sandwich generation". Who is that? I immediately thought, "Doesn't everyone eat sandwiches?". So, he was probably talking about me.

I just finished a PB&J sandwich for lunch today. It is funny where the mind can go to while performing every-day tasks. For instance, as I made my PB&J I was having some peanut butter issues. My wife purchased some more 'natural' style of peanut butter, which has all of the oil at the top when you buy it. It is no doubt a healthier choice, because of the sweat you break while trying to mix the whole thing up upon first entry into the jar.

I didn't get to this jar when it was first opened, and the first mixing was less than thorough. Now, more than half way through the jar, there is no oil to be found. The peanut butter is practically the consistency of near-set concrete.

As I worked the butter-knife with the same energy needed to swing a broad sword, I thought back to a comment a High school friend once made while we were watching "The Wall". "That has got to be the driest sandwich anyone has ever made", he said as we watched the young "Pink" enjoy his after-school sandwich. I think I topped that one today. I know I topped that one today - and it wasn't for a lack of jelly!

Ordinarily, I am a stress tester of bread. My personal goal when making a PB&J is to put enough peanut butter on it to ensure I'll feel the weight of it in my belly. As far as jelly is concerned, it has always been my belief that the goal of jelly application is to put as much on as possible without causing a bread-rupture or jelly loss during consumption. Surely that must say something about who I am.

What about people who don't eat PB&J? Or what about people who refuse to eat the crust of the bread? How about people who only eat PB&J that has been prepared for them by someone else?

I think there is a great deal we can learn about ourselves, and our fellow man (woman) through the analysis of PB&J tendencies.

What do you think?

Gun Control

In his Commonplace book, Thomas Jefferson quoted Cesare, Marquis of Beccaria.

"Laws that forbid the carrying of arms ... disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes ... Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man."

Today we can hear debates that continue to degrade our liberties. There are some who would not stop until The United States of America was a prison. Much to their dismay, perhaps it will only be then that they realize that drugs, and homicide are even uncontrollable in prisons. If we cannot even prevent drugs and homicide under the strictest of monitored and restricted circumstances of prison, how can we hope to stop them in a free public?

We must examine our methods. A new approach is required. If you live in America, you must have heard the phrase: "Guns don't kill people, people kill people." It is true. It is our human condition that must change if we are to stop violent crime. I know of an organization that is changing the world one man at a time. You can check out The Mankind Project at their website: www.mkp.org.

If We Could Go Back In Time

I woke early this morning from a dream, and could not fall back asleep. In the dream I had somehow gone back in time. I found myself in an alternate reality - perhaps a parallel dimension for those of you who are science fiction fans and understand such things.

In any event, I realized that I had gone back in time. I told a few people about this. They were amazed when I was able to guess their names. I explained that I had met them before, and that I knew quite a bit about them.

The power of knowing what was to come was a bit intoxicating. I had opportunities to change so much in my life. The dream gave me options to change most, if not all of the most important things in my life today. For a few moments I had delusions of grandeur.

When I encountered a work colleague in a different way than I had in the real world, the gravity of the situation hit me. The friendly meeting that I had known would never take place, and from the first moment in this reality I knew that the relationship would forever be different than I had known it. I had an opportunity to have the upper hand, but at once realized that was not my desire.

I thought long and hard about my first thoughts to change so much in my life. I realized that I was were I am today because of every decision that I have made up until this point. With very few exceptions, I found that my decisions were made upon my values, my principles, my hopes, and my dreams. I came to the conclusion that I needed to tread very carefully in this new world, or I might end up with a whole slew of unplanned consequences.

Then I woke up. It wasn't the "wake up and roll over" sort of waking. I was fully alert, and full of energy. I thought about the dream.

While the dream of going back and changing the past might seem enchanting, it is truly a "grass is always greener on the other side" scenario. The pleasant reality is that the power to change tomorrow lies not in yesterday, but today. If we want things to be different tomorrow, we need only plant the proper seeds to enable that change today. We should not dwell on yesterday. We should examine yesterday only long enough to identify those things that brought us into places we now find unacceptable. As soon as we identify the behavior(s) to be avoided, we should firmly plant ourselves in the present moment. It is the present moment that we breath in. Only in the present moment are we agents of change. Only in the present moment do we have choice.

Some people spend all of their "present moments" dwelling on the past and fretting over things that didn't turn out the way they wanted them to. Such people will not find happiness until they release their judgments about past events and awaken into the moment of their current breath and the freedom to act that it brings.

Some people spend all of their "present moments" dreaming about the future and how great things will be in some later time. Such people will not find happiness until they stop planning and start planting. The future will only be different than the past, if in this present moment you choose to act in a way that will generate the change you want to see.

I am writing this as much for myself as I am writing this for you. The God of my heart knows that I am not perfect. Seeing a path out of the woods is truly different than walking that path. I have walked this path, and I have walked in circles in deep dark thickets. If I can shine some light on good soil, I am blessed. No one is perfect, yet the best of us don't stop seeking. I believe the "key" is in the moment we call "now".

At the risk of being a little "wordy"...

While the notion of perfection is only a construct of the mind, and cannot be reached in the physical world, the moderated drive towards that divine principle transforms the present moment.

Don't forget to breathe! Breathe deep like an unbound smile.

Sincerely,

Metajunkie

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back?

Everyone should be familiar with they saying "One Step Forward, Two Steps Back". I assume that most of us have felt that, at some time or another, this is how are lives are operating. But are they? Is this phrase a reality or an ill conceived mantra?

While not a catchy a phrase, I argue here that a more accurate and possibly mentally healthier phrase would be: "One Step Forward, and I can see my next two steps more clearly now." Or perhaps, "One step at a time", is a short and sweet recognition of reality.

Certainly, after we take a step forward on any adventure or undertaking the next steps become more clear. And, as our idea moves from the unseen into our physical reality, additional constraints that were not imagined may appear. But when they do, is this really two steps back? I don't think so. In fact, I think many of us are too quick to proclaim disheartening things. Some of these phrases seem to pop out of our mouths before we even take a moment to think about what we are about to say.

Before blindly pronouncing negative comments into your life, I urge you to take a good look at your current circumstances. Are your words in alignment with your idea of what your reality should be? If everything that came out of your mouth was like a wish from a genie, would you better guard what you say? The road may be longer than it first appeared, but you have none the less started the journey and have one step behind you.

It may seem like just a foolish game with words, but what we think and what we say impact our realities. This fact has been taught by many of the great wisdom teachings of the world. Some say that ultimately it is thought that shapes our physical reality from the quantum field into our Newtonian space. For others this is pure fantasy. As with most things, the truth most likely lies somewhere in the middle ground. It is clear enough that everyone isn't magically popping things into and out of existence with every whim. Yet, too, I have seen perpetually miserable people reinforcing their current state of affairs, as well as positive-thinkers perpetuating prosperity. If we all have the ability to create with our thoughts and words, perhaps there is some sort of averaging effect.

Even many of the self-proclaimed realists understand that there is something to all of this. Many successful athletes, for example, meditate on, or visualize winning. If our ideas are only in our heads and have no bearing on the physical reality that surounds us, why would such individuals choose to spend time in meditation that could otherwise go towards physical training or some other physically necessary pursuit?

We can see the Judeo-Christian emphasis on the power of the words we speak in The Book of Proverbs:

"From the fruitage of a man's mouth his belly will be satisfied; he will be satisfied even with the produce of his lips.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and he that is loving it will eat its fruitage." (Proverbs 18:20-21)

In the above quotes from Proverbs, we see that there is some power ascribed to a man's words. If the writers of this Proverb aren't talking about words coming forth from one's mouth, I'm not sure what else they could be talking about. While some scriptures can be argued to have different meanings, this one seems to be pretty cut and dry, even if puzzling to the uninitiated.

If we are willing to concede the similarity of something being in your heart to being on or in your mind, we could also look at Jesus' assertion in the Gospel of Matthew for a notion of the alignment of thought and spoken word:

"...For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." (Matthew 12:34)

But, in the twelfth chapter of Matthew, Jesus is saying more than just what is in your heart will come out of your mouth. You need to read the whole chapter, but at least the verses that follow 30. To paraphrase, and try to sum up Jesus' teaching here we have to read and re-read these sections to piece it all together.

Jesus says that "the blasphemy against the spirit will not be forgiven." He then goes on to provide an example regarding the difference between speaking a word against the Son of man and speaking against the holy spirit, the former being forgiven, and the latter - not so much.

What exactly is the spirit? What is the holy spirit? I've been "educated" in what these things are - but from a tradition of "because I said so", not from scripture. If God is a personal God, and The Holy Spirit is a part of God, then it too must be of some sort of personal nature.

Let us continue to try and piece this all together. Jesus also says in this part of Matthew that we can either "make the tree and its fruit fine or make the tree rotten and its fruit rotten." That sounds like free will. But then he says, "Offspring of vipers, how can YOU speak good things, when YOU are wicked?" Now, that sounds like pre-determination. But the core of the message seems to be: "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." I don't think the message has as much to do with free will versus predestination, as much as it is about what we speak about, we bring about. There does seem to be a choice here though. Each of us has a choice regarding the tree that Jesus speaks of, and its fruit. Somehow, this all has to do with what we say and what we do.

"I tell you that every unprofitable saying that men speak, they will render an account concerning it on Judgement Day; for by your words you will be declared righteous, and by your words you will be condemned." (Matthew 12:36)

It would seem that we can get away with saying an awful lot of things, yet speaking against the holy spirit is unforgivable. There must be a good reason for this. I was taught to fear God, and out of this fear there came a "respect". This seemed to all be based upon the Law of God. But, Jesus makes no bones about breaking "the Law". In fact Chapter 12 starts with an account him defending his disciples for plucking and eating heads of grain on the sabbath. So, I don't think that Jesus is telling us we had better not speak against the Holy Spirit because he said so, or that it is a new law. There must be some practical reason for it.

He is saying blasphemy against the spirit will not be forgiven. He is telling us that we can make a tree and its fruit good. He is telling us that what is in our hearts we will speak. Then he says, "The good man out of his good treasure sends out good things, whereas the wicked man out of his wicked treasure sends out wicked things." So this isn't just about what we are saying (although it is all clearly connected), it is also about the things we are sending out into the world. What is in our hearts, and what we are speaking, becomes real in the things we send out of us into this world. So, it would seem that Jesus is saying that what we speak about, we bring about.

Approximately five-hundred years before Jesus came to Earth, the Buddha gave us Four Noble Truths, and an Eight-Fold Path to lead to enlightenment and the end of suffering. I personally find many similarities between what I've learned Jesus has said, and what the Buddha proclaimed. I have also seen perversions in the form of Religions both by so called Christians and so called Buddhists. No one is perfect, including your's truly. But, that doesn't mean we shouldn't strive for perfection. It doesn't mean that we shouldn't work towards a greater understanding of the seen and unseen.

Very briefly, the Four Noble Truths can be summarized as:

1. To the unenlightened mind, the experience of life is characterized by discontent.
2. Dissatisfaction with life arises from desiring to have what cannot be had, or desiring to avoid what cannot be avoided.
3. Because causes always generate results, and effects always follow causes, it is possible to overcome the discontented life orientation.
4. The way to overcome dissatisfaction with life is to follow The Eight-fold Path.

The Eight-fold Path can be briefly outlined as follows:

1. Proper View
2. Proper Thought
3. Proper Speech
4. Proper Action
5. Proper Livelihood
6. Proper Effort
7. Proper Mindfulness
8. Proper Concentration

Each of these items could be entire chapters in a book, if not entire books in and of themselves. But you should notice that we can see what some refer to as "the three secrets" in the eight-fold path. The three secrets are the alignment of your "thoughts", "words", and "deeds" to effectuate the change you want to see in the world.

All of this talk about the power of thoughts and words may seem trivial to some of you. The idea that what you are saying can impact your existence and your happiness may be more than you are willing to consider at this stage in your life. But I offer for your consideration the man who starts out only having one beer a day, until one day he finds that a good portion of his life has passed him by in an alcoholic haze. I offer for your consideration the little girl who wanted to learn to dance, but put off dance lessons one day at a time until one day she found herself an old woman who never learned to dance. The thoughts each of these individuals had, set the stage for the play that became their lives.

Our lives are created by us - moment by moment. In all of those moments we are thinking. In some of those moments we are pronouncing words. In others we are performing actions. All of these accumulated moments can be witnessed as our current state of being. Are you where you want to be? Are you able to consciously respond to the events in your life (i.e. responsible), or are you seemingly at the whim of the world? How many thoughts contradict your desires? How many spoken words proclaim the truth that is yours?

What do you think? What do you say?

Happy Holidays!