Live a Life of Integrity

Do you have Integrity? What does integrity mean, anyway? Even the most educated among us have some difficulty answering that question without a slight reflective pause. In other words, integrity isn’t something that’s easily defined. Yet all manner of respected leaders across the spectrum—clergy, businessmen and women, motivational speakers, mentors, and true leaders alike—lead with integrity as one of the foremost recognizable traits. Perhaps one of the best, most succinct definitions of integrity is from C.S Lewis, who said…

“Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.”

 

Integrity is a personal code of honor, most often captured or recognized by no one other than yourself. Therein lies the beauty of integrity. You see, integrity is, by design, something only you can define and only when you put it into actual practice. In other words, it’s not so much about what you say, but about what you do that matters most.

 

 

If who you are matches what you say, then your life will exude the tenets of integrity. The key is to speak less and just BE more. And when you speak, do so with compassion, sincerity, and truth. These elements will lay the groundwork for integrity to resonate throughout your life and be evidenced in all you do.

 

One of the most essential elements in business is trust. Trust begins with integrity. So what does integrity look like? Actually, positive examples—by design—are difficult to spot. It is less difficult to spot someone without a high degree of integrity. We all know at least one. They’re the ones who refuse to accept responsibility for their actions. These people are quick to accept accolades or rewards and even quicker at deflection or justification when things don’t go as planned.

 

Here are some ways you can build your integrity. Consider putting some of these principles into practice as you strive to become better and experience more of the richness of life and to positively affect others along the way…

 

Keep Your Promises – Do whatever you can to follow through. If you make a statement or a declaration, follow through. If you cannot, own up to it, apologize, and move on. Just don’t make it a habit or it too will become part of you and erode the very element of integrity you are trying to build.

 

Keep your Appointments – Before you make a commitment, consider whether or not you are realistically able to follow through. This one area alone affects so many things from leading affectively to personal health and fitness commitments you make to yourself. The value (and practice) of your time integrity creates expectations that will either accelerate or totally derail your reputation.

 

Pick up the Trash – I was walking down an empty hallway in my building one morning when I saw a tiny remnant of paper on the floor. It was so insignificant that I had considered just walking past it. After all, it was early and I wanted my coffee. I decided to stop and pick it up and made my way to the restroom to throw it away when one of our key leaders emerged from around the corner. She smiled and commented on how perceptive I was. As you can imagine, I was happy I decided to practice my integrity that morning, even when I didn’t think anyone would notice.

Evaluating Your Integrity

You can conduct a self-assessment of your integrity by asking yourself some fairly simple but straightforward questions.

1. Am I who I say I am?
2. Am I leading by example?
3. Am I honest and true to myself?
4. Am I willing to risk being wrong?
5. Do I take responsibility at all times?
6. Do I listen to the voice of truth that resides within me?
7. Do the decisions I make hold true to the values I embody?
8. Can I be trusted to keep my word when I make a promise or commitment?
9. Do I say what I believe or do I typically say what I expect others need to hear?
10. Do I make decisions based upon my beliefs and convictions or rather, as the situation dictates?

As with the concept of integrity, the questions above are a self-assessment, so be honest with yourself.

The Voice

 

There is a Voice inside of you
That whispers all day long,
“I feel that this is right for me,
I know that this is wrong.”
No teacher, preacher, parent, friend,
Or wise man can decide
What’s right for you—just listen to
That Voice that speaks inside.

~ Anonymous

Until next time…

~ G ~

“Wisdom is knowing what path to take. Integrity is...taking it.”  ~ Unknown

 

 

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The Spirit of Generosity

The Spirit of Generosity Lives on!

Want to produce a crop?  Grab some seeds, a comfortable chair, an umbrella, and a tall, cool glass of iced tea or lemonade.  Find a really nice plot of fertile land to set everything up.  Now kick back, sip on your drink and watch the crops grow!!  

Yeah I’m confused too.  I seem to have missed a step. 

Let’s review:

1.       Fertile land…check!

2.      Umbrella…check!

3.      Easy chair…check!

4.      Fresh drink…check!

Oh, wow!  The seeds are still in my pocket.  I can sit there all week waiting on something to come up out of the ground and nothing will ever happen if I don’t take action and plant those seeds! 

You’ll have to pardon the analogy, but it does bear a striking similarity to how we can sometimes feel about our own lives.  We expect something when we’ve given very little or nothing at all to the process.  Oftentimes, we may think we’ve given, and given generously, when in fact we haven’t. 

My first rule of generosity is to give joyously. 

Whatever it is you give, give with a pure heart.  All too often, the term “generosity” is associated with money or something of monetary value.  To address this aspect, I simply say, give what you can, when you can, as often as you can.  And give joyously.  If you loathe at writing the check, then you’re not giving joyously.  Find something you can support and believe in.  You’ll know it when you find it.  But don’t fall into the trap of waiting for it to come to you. 

It’s okay to expect a return…

Hold the presses!!  Some may be thinking, “Does this not conflict with what’s written in the previous paragraph?”  Absolutely not!  I get a lot of debate on this one, as you may imagine.  It’s all in the attitude of generosity that strikes the delicate balance between the arrogance and a humble belief that life has a way of recognizing the true value of the gift or service you provide and will repay you with abundance.  If you give with an “attitude” of malice or expectation of a return favor, then the attitude is all wrong and you’re not giving joyously in the first place.  It’s okay, however, to expect the quality of your life to be favored by your joyful giving.  That favor is what we see when we see successful people enjoying more success, charismatic people enjoying more friendships, generous people enjoying more…generosity and abundance! 

There are several things we can give generously that will not only enrich the lives of others, but will enrich our own lives as well.  The next time you think of generosity, before thinking about money, think of one of these elements. 

1.       Time

2.      Integrity

3.      Respect

4.      Passion


Then...

5.      Money

Time – Our most precious commodity, we’re often the most selfish with time, and rightly so.  We want to spend time wisely, but I would suggest most of us aren’t very good at it.  Given an outside perspective of each of our lives, there would no doubt be revelations on how we could rearrange our lives to provide just a bit more time to be generous with it.  True, all of us are allotted the same twenty-four hours.  But there are so many things we could do that would allow us to donate our time with simple adjustments.  If this speaks to you, think about being generous with some of your time.  If money is tight, consider giving your time to a worthy cause.

Integrity – People are drawn to integrity.  It’s something that must be proven over time (our first element), but one in which the value cannot be overstated.  Many a business has succeeded or failed because of the value of integrity.  The very structure of family and friendships are built on the foundation of integrity and everything it imbues.  If you choose to be generous with your time, bring along your highest standards of integrity. 

Respect – Don’t pre-judge!  Everyone deserves the benefit of respect, no matter what their lot in life.  Ever find yourself being more outwardly respectful of someone famous or higher in rank or status than you?  Why does that occur?  Why do we tend to expect people to earn our respect?  I say, smile at everyone, get to know them regardless of rank, status, or bloodline and you will become known as cheerful, charismatic, and personable.  You become the respected one.  The rewards tend to return back to you rather quickly on this one most of the time. 

Passion – My all-time favorite, this one strikes a chord within me that resonates stronger and louder the more I share it!  You can’t fake passion.  It’s way too transparent.  Your passion, or lack of it, precedes you in so many ways.  Discover your passion and share it with everyone!  If it’s truly a passion, you will not only bless those with whom you share it, you will be blessed as well.  People will often be intrigued with your passion.  An amazing thing happens when you share your passion.  You ignite the passions of others.  You shake them…some gently, others violently.  Your passion provides an awareness they'll actually be witnessing for the very first time.  If you haven’t already discovered your passion, I encourage you to.  It’s one of life’s greatest pleasures that is beyond my ability to put into words.  When you find it, share it generously.  Your path to success will become clear and your generosity will be rewarded beyond measure!

Money – I left money for last, even though money, or any of the elements, can be used at any time and under just about any circumstance.  Your generosity with money can go a long way, even if you aren’t able to give a lot.  Remember to give joyously and as generously as possible.  If you can only afford to give a set amount, then do so joyfully.  If you’re able to give more, then do that as well.  If you’re already giving, consider an increase.  When you do so, expect the quality of your joy to increase, knowing your generosity is making a difference toward the greater good.  Your generosity may be the difference-maker in someone’s life. 

The bottom line is to give of yourself and to do so generously!  The universal law of attraction will perpetuate and come back to you.  Give it a try and drop me a line on how you see the gift of generosity working in your life! 

Until next time!

- G -

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