I listened to a podcast recently where the host talked about personal integrity in a way I had never considered. I’ve been pondering it ever since. Here’s some food for thought.
What is personal integrity?
I’ve always thought of personal integrity as doing the right thing and acting in alignment with my values. So, I’d know that if I talked about someone behind his or her back, I wasn’t acting with integrity. If I wasn’t honest with someone or said something intentionally hurtful, that wasn’t acting with integrity. If I said I’d do something and didn’t follow through, that was not acting with integrity. These all illustrate integrity in how I relate to those around me and while this is important, it’s not whole story.
There’s a broader perspective.
I had never considered the concept that acting with integrity also means being true and kind to myself.
- Do I hold myself up against the same standards that I hold out to the world?
- Do I talk behind my own back with negative self-talk, doubt and unkind words?
- Where am I not being totally honest with myself about things in my life?
- How many times have I committed to doing something for myself but failed to do it?
Having integrity means to honor your purpose, stay aligned with your values when interacting with YOU, and show up everyday to live the life you are meant to live. This broader definition of personal integrity is powerful!
Are you living with personal integrity?
What’s your level of personal integrity today? What are you doing really well? Where can you make improvements? Are you honoring yourself as a fellow human being who has unique, powerful gifts and purpose to bring to the world? Are you showing up for your life fully?
