Transformation Through Integrity | Sam Horton

FOR EPISODE LINKS & MORE INFO VISIT: https://samhorton.co/blog/ep33

In this solo episode of Soul Led Creative Women, Sam Horton delves deep into the concept of integrity, sharing its transformative power in her personal and professional life. She defines integrity as the alignment of one’s actions with their core values and true self, even when faced with challenges. 

What if embracing integrity could lead you to a life of greater creativity, purpose, and empowerment?

Sam recounts how integrity guided her through significant life transitions, such as leaving an unfulfilling marriage and stepping into her identity as an artist and mentor.

Sam highlights the role of creativity in fostering integrity, describing how her art practice became a sanctuary during turbulent times. She explains how living with integrity leads to empowerment, creative growth, and spiritual alignment.

Through her reflections, Sam offers practical advice for listeners to embrace integrity, trust their intuition, and cultivate authenticity in their lives.

Key takeaways:

• Definition of Integrity
• Integrity in Action
• Creativity as a Tool
• Sam's Personal Journey
• The Transformative Power of Claiming Your Integrity
• Steps to Embrace Integrity
• Intuition and Integrity
• Benefits of Integrity
• Integrity as a lifelong commitment

FOR EPISODE LINKS & MORE INFO VISIT: https://samhorton.co/blog/ep33

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Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction
• 1:08 Integrity as a guiding principle for personal transformation
• 2:13 What is integrity?
• 3:04 Integrity as a guiding force in marriage breakdown
• 3:47 How do you connect with your integrity?
• 4:45 Having a conversation with your soul
• 5:16 Checking in with your integrity through creativity
• 6:50 How does integrity transform lives?
• 8:06 How to you embrace more integrity in your life?
• 9:48 Final thoughts

Transcript

Sam Horton: 0:48

Welcome back to Soul-Led, creative Women. In this solo episode, I'm diving deep into integrity. What is integrity, why is it important and how do we live with more integrity? So, first of all, integrity is not just another buzzword, in my opinion. I believe it should be a guiding principle that shapes our actions, decisions and, ultimately, the lives we live. For me, integrity became the thread that wove my journey from corporate achievement and success and unfulfilling marriage and commitments to art, creative exploration and truly purpose-driven work in service to others. It was through aligning my personal values with my actions that I found the courage to live more authentically and to turn my life upside down. And to turn my life upside down, embrace the unknown and claim a career that truly resonated with my soul. And today I encourage women to embody integrity in every facet of their lives, as I believe this is the foundation for deeply personal and unique creative and spiritual transformation.

Sam Horton: 2:13

So what is integrity? Integrity, to me, is living in alignment with your true self. It means making choices based on your values and staying true to who you are, even when it feels uncomfortable or challenging. Integrity is about owning the non-negotiables, even when it's hard, if a path, a decision or a situation causes you to compromise your core values. It is simply not worth it, as it will shift you out of alignment with your true self. Integrity is about building enough trust in your deep truth and your very wise inner knowing so that you can really hold your shape no matter what is thrown your way. And in my own journey, integrity was really the force that guided me through the painful and messy ending of my marriage. It helped me to stay true, to stay firm and to be really empowered in my decisions, even though they were met with distaste, rejection and, quite frankly, disrespect on the other side. Integrity really helped me to find the patience to command a healthy relationship with my ex-husband you know, with boundaries and from a distance, but after all, he was the father of my child, right? So it did take time to cultivate a relationship that was healthy, but eventually we did get to a peaceful place and I think my daughter has benefited as a result.

Sam Horton: 3:47

So how do you connect with your integrity? For me, creativity and connecting with my creative essence and expressing myself creatively really helps me keep my integrity in check to this day. It provides a way for me to check in and get honest with myself so that I can honor my core values and find the courage to step into my authentic power. I mean, you might think that going through a marriage breakdown would be hugely time and energy consuming, and it really was. But painting helped me so much through this time mentally, emotionally and spiritually and so much so that I really prioritized it and it became like a really essential part of my routine within all the chaos of the marriage breakdown. Honestly, I'm not sure I would have found the strength to actually go through with it all if I hadn't had my creative practice to lean on.

Sam Horton: 4:45

To me, art making, writing or truly any creative practice is a conversation with your soul, and it certainly was for me at that very dark time, and it's both consciously and subconsciously. You know, we don't always see the effects immediately, and I really believe that creativity helps you check in with yourself and remember who you really are at your core. It helps you unlock the parts of yourself that are really difficult to express with logic or words, and this makes the creative process a perfect conduit for claiming your integrity. When I paint, I try to trust my intuition and honor the creative flow that emerges from within, and often this approach has many layers and many surprises. Following my curiosity and leaning into play and exploration is a key component of this, and showing up with this vulnerability and for the process itself, you know, rather than the outcome is how I honor my unique voice and express my truth, free from the pressures of comparison or expectations, and I really believe that the same can be true for you, and I really believe that the same can be true for you. Many of the women I mentor struggle with perfectionism, self-doubt or the fear of being judged, you know, both spiritually and creatively, and I really encourage them to let go of these barriers through simple play and the joy found in creative activities designed to gently uncover their inner truth. The impact can be subtle to start with, but you know, please know that there is creative magic brewing behind the scenes every time you show up for yourself in this way.

Sam Horton: 6:49

So how does integrity transform lives, then? When we live with integrity, we create a life that feels expansive and aligned with our true purpose. My personal journey was transformed when I embraced integrity as the core of my decisions. I moved from burnout and disconnection to a life full of creative energy and spiritual growth. I felt more empowered to take risks, trust my intuition and live in alignment with my deepest values. I've seen the same transformation in the women I mentor. When they embrace their integrity, they claim their power, experience personal healing and unlock their creative potential. Integrity allows you to show up as your authentic self, free from the fear of judgment or external validation, and when you honor your truth, you empower others to do the same.

Sam Horton: 7:44

Living with integrity isn't always easy, but it is always worth it. It requires courage, commitment and an ongoing practice of self-reflection, but the rewards are immeasurable you feel more connected to yourself, more aligned with your purpose and more empowered to navigate life's challenges. So how do you embrace integrity in your life? So I would definitely say starting with identifying your core values, you know, by reflecting on what is most important to you and what guides your decisions and what do you want to prioritize in your life, and then looking at how you can align your actions with your values. You know, start making those choices that reflect your values, and this may mean setting boundaries, you know, saying no to things that don't serve you or creating space for things that really nurture your soul. When you honor your values and act with authenticity, you'll start to notice how your life shifts.

Sam Horton: 8:43

The next thing I would suggest is trust your intuition. Integrity requires you to trust yourself. It requires you to tune into your inner voice and follow what feels true, even if it goes against the grain and even if it's hard. I recommend creating from a place of authenticity, and that's whether it's in your art or in your life. You know, let go of the need for external validation and create your life from a place of honesty. Your unique voice and expression are really powerful.

Sam Horton: 9:17

I believe in creating personal rituals and a personal sanctuary.

Sam Horton: 9:22

You know, design these rituals and spaces to really nurture you and help you connect to your truth, and this is anything that you're drawn to that makes you feel joy.

Sam Horton: 9:32

You know, whether it's through your daily meditation, creating an art practice or surrounding yourself with items that hold meaning, you know, cultivating a sanctuary, both physically and mentally, can help you stay grounded in your values and maintain alignment with your authentic self. As I said before, living with integrity is not always easy, but it is always worth it. It's a lifelong practice of staying true to who you are and honoring your values. If you feel disconnected from your truth or uncertain about your next steps, I encourage you to pause and reflect on what matters most to you, what values guide you and what does living with integrity look like for you. As you begin to align your actions with your truth, you'll experience more freedom, more creativity and more empowerment. I believe integrity is the foundation for personal, spiritual and creative growth, and it really allows you to step into your power, express your unique gifts and live a life that feels fulfilling and true.