The character trait you’re missing.

After working for ten straight days, Dean ditched electronics and drove to a local park. He needed a break from the constant texts, meetings, and emails. While for safety purposes, he brought his phone, he put the phone in his trunk. He even turned off podcasts and music to take in the sounds along the drive. As the city sounds dissipated, Dean rejoiced with changing views of concrete buildings to lush greenery. With the windows down, his arm laid on the door, receiving sun for the first time in weeks.

He kept reaching for it, only to realize it wasn’t there. Dean realized how much his phone seemed to control him as opposed to the other way around. With the fresh air, new ideas started popping into his head. His creative juices emerged, giving renewed life.

Dean hit the parking lot, realizing the simple drive did wonders. He grabbed his pack with water and some snacks, picked a trail, and started walking. With few around, the wind whispered gentle energetic waves soothing his tired brain. After an hour, he suddenly stopped. His lips quenched with thirst; he drank some water. Dean realized how dehydrated his body has been over recent weeks. He wondered what else was severely malnourished when water is an essential nutrient.

He looked up and noticed the large tree in front of him. Dean reached and touched the bark on this solid, tall, oak tree. Unbeknown to most, the tree looks barely alive, yet he could feel the strength and poise. This tree had depth in its roots and stood tall with poise and demeanor.

How can I be like an oak tree?

Grow in integrity the way the wind cannot sway an oak tree.

Among all the busyness, Dean realized he lost his own ways. His own integrity to his being was compromised.

Your integrity is being true to the character you want to show up daily as. If your personal integrity is not in place, it can’t be in place for anyone you’re around either, no matter how many hours you work.

“Integrity is choosing your thoughts and actions based on values rather than personal gains. – Unknown”

How can we act with more personal integrity?

If your integrity was as strong as an oak tree, what would that look like? How can you bring more of that into your life?

Lora Polowczuk
Chief Energy Officer