Integrity means a lot of things to a lot of people. I define it as: Doing what you say you are going to do. Small example. Someone invites you to a party. You RSVP that you are going. Three hours before the party, something comes up. It is now inconvenient to go to the party. Do you stay home and take care of the minor emergency, or do you press on and go to the party, because that is what you said you are going to do?
Another aspect of integrity is that your public persona and your private persona are consistent. I.e., you are not a hypocrite. When I spoke at my mother's funeral 23 years ago, I noted that she could not abide hypocrites. She didn't expect others to live by her standards, but whatever standards you professed in public you should also live. She tried hard to live by that standard, and taught me the same, sometimes painfully. I am grateful.
At the same time, if someone had told her, "I'm a flake. I don't keep my commitments," she might have respected that he was not a hypocrite, but she still would not have respected him or wanted to associate with him.
I am married to a man with absolute integrity and I am deeply grateful. He claims no woman has ever come on to him, but it is a combination of sensing they have no chance and him being oblivious.
I’m not sure I could possibly agree with this post more. My younger brother represents the guy who never no shows or breaks a commitment no matter what. Our half brother represents the guy who always has stuff magically come up to prevent him from fulfilling obligations. Guess who is more successful?
Another aspect of integrity is that your public persona and your private persona are consistent. I.e., you are not a hypocrite. When I spoke at my mother's funeral 23 years ago, I noted that she could not abide hypocrites. She didn't expect others to live by her standards, but whatever standards you professed in public you should also live. She tried hard to live by that standard, and taught me the same, sometimes painfully. I am grateful.
At the same time, if someone had told her, "I'm a flake. I don't keep my commitments," she might have respected that he was not a hypocrite, but she still would not have respected him or wanted to associate with him.
Loved it. It is refreshing to know there are others that share this view. You can always limit what you agree to do, but do what you agree to do.
I am married to a man with absolute integrity and I am deeply grateful. He claims no woman has ever come on to him, but it is a combination of sensing they have no chance and him being oblivious.
Just made my 11 year old son read this!
I’m not sure I could possibly agree with this post more. My younger brother represents the guy who never no shows or breaks a commitment no matter what. Our half brother represents the guy who always has stuff magically come up to prevent him from fulfilling obligations. Guess who is more successful?