The Real Reason You Don’t Feel Good
Here’s what you need to know about the law of integrity
As originally published in Change Your Mind Change Your Life on Medium.com.
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We all know what it’s like to feel bad. For many of us, it’s a familiar, however fleeting, part of everyday life. And while most of us naturally prefer to feel good, those uncomfortable emotions often carry deeper significance. Beneath every bad feeling lies an important message, waiting to be heard.
One powerful lens through which to understand these emotional signals is the Law of Integrity, a spiritual principle articulated by Dan Millman in his book “The Laws of Spirit”. This law governs the degree to which our external actions align with our inner truth. To live in integrity is to live truthfully, consistently, and consciously. It means allowing the genuine expression of our internal reality to guide our choices, words, and behaviours. And when we stray from that alignment, our emotions alert us, quietly or loudly, that something is out of sync.
What Is the Law of Integrity?The Law of Integrity is not simply a moral guideline — it is a spiritual law, as real and as unyielding as gravity. When our actions are aligned with our inner truth, life tends to flow with greater ease, clarity, and purpose. But when greed, envy, or manipulation drive our behaviour, we fall out of alignment with this law. And in doing so, we trigger inevitable consequences, woven into the very fabric of the universe.
We might deceive others for a time, but we cannot deceive the deeper laws that govern life. In breaking spiritual law, the act itself becomes the punishment, setting in motion subtle yet powerful forces. These forces ripple outward, shaping our experiences in ways we may not immediately recognise, but from which we cannot escape, any more than we can escape the law of gravity.
Bullying is a clear example. Whether it’s children on a playground or adults in positions of power, bullying often masks a desire to appear strong, confident, or superior. But the effort always backfires. The bully may temporarily dominate, but they never truly feel better. Instead, their actions expose the very fear, insecurity, and pain they’re trying to hide. In trying to project strength, they reveal the absence of it.
Integrity Is Energy in MotionEvery thought and action carries energy. When our motives are pure, that energy uplifts. When they are tainted by fear, ego, or selfish desire, that energy contaminates. The motives and intent behind our actions make a vast difference in the lives of both givers and receivers, because we give the currency of the self.
If our giving comes from a desire to appear generous rather than to truly serve, it leaves an energetic residue. The Law of Integrity responds not to the image we present, but to the energy we emit. And so, we must ask ourselves regularly: Are we acting from alignment or ego? Are we presenting a mask or our true face?
Know Thyself: The Root of All IntegritySocrates said it simply: “Know thyself.” Shakespeare added the second part: “And to thy own self be true.” These are not just poetic lines but spiritual instructions. If we do not know who we are, our values, our truth, our deepest voice, we cannot live in integrity. Integrity begins with inner awareness. It is the result of knowing who we are and then having the courage to live it.
I think cultivating that self-awareness has become increasingly difficult. Social media often clouds our perception, presenting curated versions of life that appear flawless. When we’re constantly exposed to these filtered realities, it can trigger self-doubt and an unconscious need to project perfection in our own lives. But as Theodore Roosevelt wisely said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.”
Because we are all unique, each of us carrying our own story, struggles, and strengths. And comparison is inherently flawed as it depends entirely on perspective. A box may seem small next to a larger one, yet large beside a smaller one. So which is it? Small or large? The answer lies not in the object, but in the lens.
When we betray our truth, we feel it. We lose inner peace, clarity, and direction. Our relationships suffer. Our energy feels fractured. But when we speak and act in alignment with who we are, there is power and clarity. We become trustworthy to ourselves, to others, and to the universe. That trust is the foundation of a meaningful and integrated life.
We Lead by Example, Not WordsChildren have never been good at listening to their parents, but they never fail to imitate them. The same is true for all of us. We all learn by imitation, whether we’re conscious of it or not. The Law of Integrity reminds us that our lives are always speaking, always teaching. We touch others not so much by what we say but by how we live.
To walk in integrity is to become a living lesson, a mirror of possibility. Our presence teaches more than our opinions ever could. This is especially powerful in leadership, parenting, and service. The vibration of integrity is unmistakable. It doesn’t have to announce itself. It simply is.
Living the Law of IntegrityTo live this law is to practice daily self-honesty. We reflect, we course-correct, and we align. We recognise that shortcuts taken at the expense of truth always cost more in the long run. There is no bypassing the law. There is no escaping its reach.
When we honour the Law of Integrity, we move in harmony with the deepest forces of the universe. And in that harmony, life flows, not without challenges, but with meaning, alignment, and peace.
Wherever you are in your journey, always remember that YOU ARE ENOUGH.
