“When it comes to our own behavior, we sometimes display an integrity gap between what we believe and how we behave.”
-Bob Stone, The Ethics Challenge
How do the words above resonate with you?
Pause here for a moment and free yourself from distractions:
Take a deep breath in... exhale slowly... deep breath in... exhale slowly... deep breath in... exhale slowly... calm your mind and be present...
What is your behavior revealing about your integrity? Think about that for a moment...
integrity /noun/
-the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.
-the state of being whole and undivided.
Integrity is the practice of being honest and showing a consistent and uncompromising adherence to strong moral and ethical principles and values. In ethics, integrity is regarded as the honesty and truthfulness or accuracy of one's actions. (Wikipedia)
“We live with Integrity when there is no separation between our feelings and our actions, our thoughts and our words.” -Human Angels
Integrity is everything! In the book Until Today: Daily Devotions for Spiritual Growth and Peace of Mind, Iyanla Vanzant describes the power of integrity this way:
Your integrity is the power that records, rewards, and restores your position in the universe of life.
When the thoughts, words, and actions you set forth in the universe do not honor the truth about you or the truth about the universe, integrity rewards you accordingly.
“Everything that happened had to happen. Everything that must happen cannot be stopped." -Wayne Dyer
Today’s Affirmation: from Iyanla Vanzant's Acts of Faith
I happen to be creating a better world.
What would you most like to change in the world? Sent some time with this question...
To help your creative process, consider these strategies as a guide.
6 Steps to Leading a Life of Integrity:
by Robert Taibbi, L.C.S.W. psychologytoday.com
Having integrity is a matter is bringing the inner you into your outer world
1. Find and define your sense of purpose: Ask questions about purpose and opportunity, and to keep them always simmering on the front burner of your life. Be willing to acknowledge and then explore your passions, callings, and motivations. Intentionally sort through and set priorities. Be willing to acknowledge and then explore your passions, callings, and motivations. Intentionally sort through and set priorities.
Question to ask yourself: What are you doing?
2. Sort out shoulds and wants: Consider your heart: This is where passion and sense of purpose come from... your wants and desires and bursts of excitement. Step away from the crowd and listen to your own inner voice. Each time you listen to and act upon these gut and heart impulses your brain becomes forever stronger.
Question to ask yourself: Why are you doing it?
3. Define your values and visions: Both values and visions are to be discovered and evolve. They require that you put them on the front burner and intentionally decide what you want those values and visions to be. The challenge here is shaping values into clear behavioral principles.
Question to ask yourself: How are you doing it?
4. Make clear decisions: Through the filter of your values, your sense of purpose, your gut instincts and desires you want to make clear decisions. That does not mean the decisions are easy. Take your time. Integrity requires that you avoid automatically falling into the easy or popular path.
Question to ask yourself: What are the rewards you are expecting?
5. Stay committed to what you believe: Be aware and diligent, about checking in with yourself. Have the courage in your convictions. Be willing to step up and speak up. This process gets easier with practice and you will find that what you feared rarely happens.
Question to ask yourself: What are the rewards you are receiving?
6. Stay open to change: Keep your ear close to those inner voices, and when your inner life changes, take the time to sort and sift and see what to keep and what to let go. Acknowledging and adapting to change is what keeps your inner and outer lives in alignment.
Question to ask yourself: What would you most like to change in yourself?
“Power in the hands of a person of integrity, it is of tremendous benefit; in the hands of a tyrant, it causes terrible destruction.” -John Maxwell
It's time to define your personal integrity...
What are you willing to do? Your choice...
Don’t miss your opportunity! Be intentional, encourage others to do the same and watch what happens.
You got this!
Coach Tavia
#selfcare, #dontquit, #youmatter, #honoryourself, #live, #bepositive, #ownyourpower, #ittakescourage, #commitment, #thinkforyourself, #believe, #trustyourself, #learnandgrow, #beconsistent, #selfawareness, #selfdiscovery, #responsibility, #accountability, #maximizeyourpotential, #shareyourgifts, #seizeopportunity, #becreative, #reflect, #reach, #stretch, #bepresent, #faith, #confidence, #dothework, #leadbyexample, #justdoit, #lifecoach, #leadershipcoach, #leadershipdevelopment
References:
6 Steps to Leading a Life of Integrity
Vanzant, Iyanla; Acts of Faith: Daily Meditations for People of Color. Atria, New York, NY 2020.
Vanzant, Iyanla; Until Today: Daily Devotions for Spiritual Growth and Peace of Mind. Atria, New York, NY 2020.
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