Last week, we discussed the importance of being truthful with ourselves. That is absolutely necessary if you want to succeed in life, to make positive changes. The internal process of being truthful is a life skill to master… it should be at the top of your list of personal priorities, it’s so important. Start there.
Number two on the list is living with integrity. This is simply the externalization of being truthful with yourself. It means reflecting the truth inside in every action and every statement you make. It means your observable actions are consistent with your internal beliefs.
It sounds easy. I mean, all you have to do is say and do what you believe is right. Yet it can be quite a challenge sometimes.
Often we compromise our integrity because we don’t want to hurt someone, because we are trying to protect someone’s feelings. We tell them what they want to hear rather than what we believe. Sometimes this might even be the right thing to do. But we’re not coming from integrity when we do this.
Other times, we know the outcome is appropriate and so we allow ourselves to justify doing the wrong thing so long as it’s for ‘the right reason’. A good example of this is the story of Robin Hood, in which the ‘hero’ steals from people in order to give to the poor. While his motives might be pure, his actions are immoral by any moral code that doesn’t allow theft. If stealing is wrong, then the motives don’t matter. You must make a choice… is stealing always wrong? Only then can you judge his actions, and only then can you know whether you could do the same and still be true to yourself.
But if, for the most part, the way we live is reflective of what we believe, then we are living with integrity.
Here’s an interesting question to ask yourself: which comes first, being truthful with yourself or acting with integrity?
I have found, over the years, that there is a lot of truth to the adage: actions speak louder than words. I believe that our actions and choices tell us more of the truth about ourselves than our conscious thoughts do. Not always; sometimes, we take an action in an effort to do the right thing, but it is misinterpreted or otherwise backfires. But if we observe our behavior over time, we find out who we really are. Our actions are the doorway to the truth about ourselves.
In other words, living from truth means acknowledging that how you behave is more reflective of what you believe than what you think is right or wrong. And that means that to change your behaviors, you need to change your beliefs. And that means we need a way to unlock and examine and modify those beliefs, if we ever hope to be fundamentally different than we are.
But that’s for another issue.
Other news
- Rea-dy, let’s go! Cheerleading Causes Majority of Female Athlete Injuries
- The future of college subsistence: N Korea ‘develops special noodle’
- Yet another divide created in the minds of the fearful: Strife over shots: Should our kids play together?
Quote for the week
If my hands are fully occupied in holding on to something, I can neither give nor receive. - Dorothee Solle
From the editor
It’s been over a month since it occurred, and still many people have not heard about it: Randy Pausch passed away.
Who is Randy Pausch? He’s the professor who made The Last Lecture (a series of lectures at Carnegie Mellon University) famous. When he found out he was terminally ill, he gave a lecture that inspired people all over the world. It was his last chance to share with his children the values and viewpoints he wanted them to take into their lives. He also wrote a book, The Last Lecture
After spending 6 months changing the world, Randy died in late July. Thankfully, his message of hope, inspiration, and jubilation will live on.
Healthy thoughts,
Jeff
