The Integrity Flower exercise teaches us that when our outward behavior and actions don't match with the inner voice that guides us, there is struggle, and where there is struggle there is no peace. If you have a piece of paper and a pencil you could draw this out; otherwise, use your imagination. Imagine a flower with a large round center, completely surrounded by small round petals. The large center circle of the flower represents the deepest part of us, our center and core of our being. Some would call it our soul, spirit, or heart. It is the inner voice that guides us. This is the place where we intuitively know right from wrong. The small round circles or petals represent our outward behavior and actions, the act of doing.
Now take a self-inventory. How many of your actions are completely consistent with your innermost beliefs? By examining, and being brutally honest with yourself, you can continue to make adjustments. As your outside actions become more in harmony with your inside beliefs, struggle falls away, and peace remains. The goal here is to reduce struggle.
In the world today, so many people live their lives in struggle with high levels of stress and anxiety. Some of the external challenges can seem very difficult. However, it is your perception of these events that will determine the amount of internal struggle you experience. With practice, it becomes easier to keep your awareness focused on the now and the peace that exists there.