The Way of Integrity: Finding the Path to Your True Self

As Dante reaches the higher levels of purgatory, which relate to one’s purification from what Beck calls “errors of innocence,” he finds himself moving more quickly, feeling lighter and stronger every step of the way. Beck suggests that at this point, one’s focus should be on clearing out the last little errors that get in the way of our full integrity, aiming to gain a sense of “flow” where the practice of integrity becomes like second nature to us: “Eventually, it will put you in a steady, unusual combination of effort and ease: finding and following your integrity in every moment” (222).

The way to achieve this state of flow is to practice small, incremental changes in your life: “Repeatedly putting a little less time into what you don’t love, and a little more into what you do love, is your next step on the way of integrity” (225). Consistent practice has the potential to take those incremental changes and make them permanent parts of your approach to life.

Beck acknowledges that some readers might find this recommendation toward following the direction of one’s own desires rather self-centered but reminds them that love is not a zero-sum game.