“To believe in something, and not to live it, is dishonest.” ~ Gandhi
Integrity. It’s the fiber that holds things together. It is our cells’ plasma membrane, which is essential to our health. Concrete and steel are rated by it to gauge the strength of structures. Plants thrive due to it, and because we have socially agreed upon it, we have unspoken civil accountability because of it.
Yet, repeatedly we witness situations that lack integrity. It has taken a downturn, as witnessed by the disrespect shown to those from differing cultures, races, or gender and those with opinions not in line with ours. It can also be seen in how we handle life’s challenges and situations.
While integrity can differ according to social and spiritual standards, the unwavering key is that it adheres to society’s norm that does not create harm but maintains harmony: having strong moral principles.
It is also the cornerstone of maturity.
The media is quick to highlight any who fail to exhibit it. As a result, we repeatedly witness politicians, celebrities, peace officers, and others acting without it.
These exhibited behaviors tear at the foundation that integrity is based on; honesty and ethics.
With repeated examples thrust in front of us, we are now witnessing a shift in what is accepted. As a result, the fiber of morality is being compromised.
Without integrity, society is potentially doomed.
Rudolf Steiner muses, “Truthfulness, uprightness, and honesty are the creative force, while mendacity, deceitfulness, and dishonestly are destructive forces.”
Integrity is to do the right thing when no one is watching.
It is effortless when we align our actions with our values for the betterment of the whole. It happens when we put principle above ego. Maturity is awakened when we balance our convictions with the ability to see the larger picture. It comes with knowing that our actions are laying the foundation for a better society.
Those with integrity do not shout to the world to be looked at or honored. Instead, they do the right thing because the fiber makes them who they are. They inform the cashier she has given too much change or return a found wallet with the contents intact. They are the ones to put aside their discomfort to aid another, standing up for the correct principles.
With the demise of good public examples, we can still monitor ourselves daily with a moral code of conduct. When the rest of the world seems to have lost its bearings, we can keep on track by asking ourselves these questions.
Did you follow through with a promise or a commitment you made?
Do you consider how your actions will impact others before you act?
Do you understand others who may not have the same emotional or physical resources?
Have you been honest with yourself and with others?
Do you walk your talk, doing what you advise others?
Do you admit you were wrong or apologize for a mistake?
Do you hold yourself accountable for your life instead of blaming others?
Integrity is an essential denominator in society. But, as with all actions, it begins with the individual. We must become that person to create a world we want to live in.
It only takes letting go of the negative images and examples we have grown so accustomed to and, in their place, filling them with kindness, goodness, and gratitude toward each other.
It simply takes making integrity the foundation of our thoughts and actions. Are you willing to take that extra moment to do the right thing?
When the history of our times is written, will we be remembered as the generation that turned our backs in a moment of global crisis or will it be recorded that we did the right thing?”
Nelson Mandela
