Integrity means that your actions are consistent with your principles and there is purpose in your life. In order to live this way, you must first decide what core values you truly want. Next, assess if they are in alignment with how you spend your time. If they are, then you have the gift to pursue goals that are focused on desires that make other people interested in collaborating and assisting. If you stand confident in your conviction to have integrity, there won’t be any confusion about why you mingle with a certain class of people and why you act in a certain way. Many people have a hard time defining “integrity” so here is my definition.
The line between right and wrong does not resemble a different set of values at home versus at work or elsewhere, and the consequence of becoming more authentic will eventually prove to be a noticeable definition of your choices. Corporate executives are now learning that integrity is expected at all times, or they face a prison sentence that is much more extreme than it once was just twenty years ago. Corporate corruption has become much more punitive and severe, thank goodness. I remember feeling cheated when hundreds of thousands of American lives were financially ruined overnight due to a scandal involving savings and loan associations. At that time the corporate executives served a short prison sentence that compares to the prison sentence assigned to our infamous housekeeping diva that we know to have lied about a personal stock tip. Today’s standards of integrity are conforming to a much more stringent set of laws affecting everyone.
When your inner voice attempts to rationalize a fib, it creates an inconsistency to the Public Eye and that is a sign that a potential breaking point situation may occur. Relationships are stifled when there is no integrity or honesty with your words and actions. You could be trained to be a compulsive liar simply by accepting rationalized lies or letting your social surroundings encourage this habit. A lack of integrity has serious consequences.
Gossip is a violation of integrity, because it can be hurtful to another soul. The fact is that integrity requires respectful attention to your key roles and goals. It defines your level of attentiveness and compassion for others. Having integrity means you are discreet and regard the privacy of others. Discreet information is not shared with others because it is a statement that belongs to the other person. This may require statements such as, “I can’t say.” or “It’s not my place.” or “I’m not the source of that information.” or “I am not willing to repeat what someone else said.” If there have been times when you have gossiped about another person, then most likely you experienced a natural consequences from this and lost a friend or trust from others. This journey of discovery requires you to understand your level of integrity and accountability of your actions.
Goals that solve problems are not as exciting as goals that fulfill a dream! You can easily avoid the temptation to postpone a goal unless it interrupts a dream. For example, to loose weight is often a goal that is designed to improve one’s physical appearance. This reward might not be impressive or tangible because you can camouflage the goal with loose fitting garments and mask the blubber. If physical appearance related to a career goal, then it could be more motivating. You can resist the temptation to eat fattening foods if you imagined the attainment of a career where weight is very important. I remember talking to a guy who lost sixty pounds so he could be a fireman. That’s why we see actors invest in fitness trainers--they can afford to eat whatever they want but their career depends on their good looks. Impressing family and friends is not as satisfying as a terrific movie contract! They are fully motivated to fulfill a dream rather than to solve a problem. Unstoppable desires come from knowing your goals so lets take a moment to complete the Self-Assessment questionnaire and see what you want in life.
1.
What are my
character traits people see most often?
2.
What are the
traits people see in me that I don’t realize?
3.
What are the
inconsistent traits from interpretation of self?
4.
What are the
talents I don’t realize I have but others see these traits?
5.
What are my
hidden or concealed habits?
6.
What talents
do I want to develop?
7.
What
recreational activities do I enjoy the most?
8.
What are my
key roles in life? (Musician, pet owner, entrepreneur, artist, etc.)
9.
Who are my
best friends?
10.
What careers
(professions) would like to further investigate?
11.
I wish I
felt better about…
at home…__________________________________________________________
at work…__________________________________________________________
at school…_________________________________________________________
on vacation…_______________________________________________________
12.
Who are the
most humorous people I enjoy?
13.
How can I get
exposure to the kind of people I enjoy the most?
14.
I feel
intrigued with the success of these mentors because…