Integrity is not a conditional word. It doesn’t blow in the wind or change with the weather. It is your inner image of yourself, and if you look in there and see a man who won’t cheat, then you know he never will.
– John D. MacDonald

The other day I listened to a podcast interview with a couple who had given up everything they had to preserve their integrity. As a result of their actions they lost their jobs, friendships and even weakened their relationships with extended family members because they couldn’t continue to support something they knew wasn’t true.

Listening to their story got me thinking about integrity and wondering what I would be able to give up to maintain mine.

Not too long ago, I had to make a similarly difficult decision about my life. While I didn’t have nearly as much to loose as they did, I was still taking a bit of a risk. I still had something to loose, but in the end I realized that my integrity meant too much to me to continue living something I didn’t believe.

How important is integrity to you?

When I turn on the television it seems that integrity isn’t something that is valued in our society. On reality shows people lie, cheat and steal to get what they want. Gossip magazines are full of stories of infidelity and fighting and they seem to be the most popular things for people to read.

If you go by what you see on television and in magazines you would think that integrity isn’t important at all. What is valued instead is the ability to get whatever you want by any means. What is the end result of living that way though?

Sometimes it may seem to you that it may be easier to live life without integrity. Maybe there is a little lie that you could tell that would make life much easier than telling the truth. Maybe you’ll benefit financially or socially by associating yourself with a group that you know doesn’t reflect your values.

Why live with integrity?

It builds trust – When people realize that you live your life with integrity they will trust you. You will be seen as someone who is honest and keeps their word. People who are trusted can excel in business and excel in true lasting relationships.

It’s easier – There may be times when it seems like not having integrity is easier than maintaining it, but in reality when you look at your life it isn’t. The emotional consequences of not having maintaining your integrity can weigh you down.

It provides consistency – If you already know how you stand on issues you don’t have to worry about what you will do when presented with a difficult situation that challenges your integrity. If you already know what you stand for and that you are going stand up for it there is less wavering when these situations arise in your life.

Living my life with integrity has not always been easy, but it has made me a stronger better person. I know that if you make the commitment to live with integrity too, you’ll see the benefits.

Photo by Victor Bezrukov