When we think of integration in terms of our lives, it is helpful to apply systems thinking. Although it is not a one-for-one correlation, the absence of integration will almost always lead to disintegration. Disintegration, to varying degrees, will lead to destructive results in our society today. To gain more "progressive freedom", we've seen the destruction of those things that in the past kept us integrated (although not always fairly or unprejudiced). Things like the church, civic clubs, even more basic elements like; the family, our ethnic/racial community, and yes even our gender. Under the guise of ever-expanding individual freedom, how do you remove barriers to it? I would say it depends.
A material system will only function in an integrated manner if it is ordered around the physical laws (or truths), and integrated to optimally perform its intended function. Violate the first, destructive potential is nearly certain. Second, if not ordered around the intended function, a range of unintended consequences can ensue. So questions about our current societal course abound, do we really believe suspending long-held truths is productive? Is the destruction of integrating structures worth the unintended consequences?
A concept called Liquid Modernity has been used to describe this new state of society. Liquid Modernity is sociologist Zygmunt Bauman's term for the present condition of the world as contrasted with the "solid" modernity that preceded it. In this state, the passage from "solid" to "liquid" modernity created new and unprecedented challenge’s for the lives of individuals that has created chaos for societies, as well as individuals. There is emerging evidence that this lack of connection to our intended purpose is leading to stress, disconnection and loneliness.
These societal questions for many, if not all, of us are beyond our sphere of control. So what about the answers in our own lives? Our own families? The answers could lead to us living a life that is outside the accepted norms of this new order. So what! The real goal and purpose for us all should be to answer these for ourselves, because an individual who answers well will be the building block of an integrated community, not to be tricked by liquid modernity into believing that maximizing individual happiness should be the goal of life. The nihilism that Postmodernity pushes is neither valuing proven truths nor helping us achieve our intended function (purpose) in life and work. By embracing integration and applying the REPO Model, as we discussed in a previous post, we can bring this order into our life and work. We can move our life into an integrated whole that is not as much about us an an autonomous individual, but about us in the context of a solid state of being and belonging.
