Stay Strong and Free with Integrity
Integrity has two basic meanings
The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles
The state of being whole and undivided
Honesty is keeping your promises to yourself and to others who rely on you. If you promise that you will do something, then following through and doing it speaks of your integrity.
What are your strong moral principles? Often we trundle through our lives without thinking about this yet they are an integral part of your being. They contribute to you feeling fulfilled and whole.
A good example of parental integrity might be delivering an apology to your child when you’ve gone too far in your reactions. Not only is this something he or she deserves but it's also a sign of integrity.
One of the noblest behaviours you can engage in is to hold back on pushing the criticism or blame button. Instead, give someone the benefit of the doubt before rushing to judgment or negatively filling in the blanks yourself.
Showing compassion and sympathy/empathy towards others also is an act of integrity. Volunteers and those who practice random acts of kindness anonymously have this by the bucket full.
We have all met the rare good boss with integrity, who makes a constant effort to appreciate their staff’s contribution and to give them credit for a job well done.
In situations where there is a major power imbalance such as consultants, bosses, police, head teachers and so on, make no mistake: The one with power who apologizes to the one with less power is showing bona fide integrity. Saying to a client, patient or student, “Thanks for waiting; I'm sure you’re probably busy” speaks volumes about respect, integrity and valuing others time and effort.
Luckily, Integrity is a behaviour-based virtue which we can cultivate over time. For me it’s simply doing the right thing even when it is not convenient to you and/or will be acknowledged by others.
We can continue on neglecting our integrity and as a result feel guilty, weak and trapped by half-truths or set a goal to show more integrity in everyday life and as a result come into our own uplifting experience of strength and freedom.
Mandy
