Tuesday, April 10, 2012

I

‘WHAT ARE WORDS?’

I is for INTEGRITY {a concept of consistency of actions, values, methods, measures, principles, expectations, and outcomes. In ethics, integrity is regarded as the honesty and truthfulness or accuracy of one’s actions. Can be regarded as the opposite of hypocrisy.}

INTEGRITY. We demand it from others. We think we want to have it. We believe it is easy to achieve. We tend to misunderstand it. Having integrity basically means that we are consistent in our thoughts, words and actions and that we are not hypocrites. It does not necessarily mean that our thoughts, words and actions are good.

Throughout my life, my thoughts, words and actions have changed. Many of the circumstances I have witnessed in life have caused me to turn completely in another direction. I hope this does not mean I lack INTEGRITY. But, rather that I am teachable. I am able to see the error of my ways and make a course correction. I believe that life is like a great university. There are lessons to be learned and unlearned. We are granted time, that most precious commodity, in which to perfect ourselves. It’s all a preparation for the ‘next great adventure’. As we find our way through this life, it is our responsibility to remain consistent to the truths that we learn. To maintain INTEGRITY to those truths. To live consistent with our values and principles. It sounds like it should be easy. It’s not always so.

{definitions courtesy of Wikipedia or Wiktionary}

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30 comments:

  1. Good choice of word for today's challenge! :) Integrity means different things to different people (which is why it will always be inconsistent), but you seem to have hit the nail on the head with your explanation!

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  2. Great I-word. I think integrity is the most important quality to teach our kids, but it is a really difficult concept to explain.

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  3. Great I word...gosh integrity is so important to me; a lot of I words were just couldn't pin point ONE that made me say 'ahhh, this is IT!' but you did and I value people wih integrity. I see it as a trust issue as well...

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  4. Nice post that word used to be very important and mean so much especially in the workplace until my last job. They sure didn't set a good example and is actually a few of my letters coming up this month

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  5. Great choice! You're right, integrity is elusive, but we know it when we see it in others and feel it within ourselves. I think personal growth enhances one's integrity.

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  6. hmmm never thought of integrity being possible if one's actions were not at least purposed to be good--interesting post

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  7. I've always thought of integrity as doing the right thing, even when no one's watching, but I like your descriptions too.

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  8. Ain't that the truth. We think we have it, but there are times when we don't.

    Play off the Page

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  9. I strive to be a man of integrity. I trust that I have been able to live in such a way that I will be remembered as a man who loved God, my family, the church, and the word and walked with integrity. Good word!

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  10. I agree. The things I believed when I was younger are not the same today. I am no longer as naive as I once was.

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  11. So agree with your piece on Integrity. So important, and there is such a dearth of it in our lives today. But, like you say, it starts with us. Thanks for your post. Following you as well from the A-Z.

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  12. I'm confused. This is a real tough one. We all want to have integrity but if we alter our views to please the company we're in then we can't have it, can we? And if we don't then we're likely to upset the company we're in and we still won't have it.
    Told you I was confused.
    A to Z of Nostalgia

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  13. When you find people with integrity, I say hold on to them. They're the ones you want along on this trip. Thanks for the lovely "i" word today, and thanks for letting me visit the beach this morning. It's cold and rainy here!

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  14. I love teaching the YW about integrity. It's got a lovely broad meaning that still applies. Good choice.

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  15. I love your word "I" and I loved your post too.

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  16. Yup, good one.

    As long as we are teachable, we're able to grow. That's the key. Life long learner.

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  17. It's consistency, almost like a code we stick to.

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  18. Integrity: having your YES be YES and your NO stay NO. Sadly, in politics, integrity seems an illusion spun to win elections, Roland

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  19. Integrity, to be that which you say you are. To be consistent. What a great word. And I totally agree with what Roland said!

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  20. So, so, so love this. You are very wise. It isn't easy and sometimes I think we don't even know we are going against ourselves until we get smacked in the face. (not literally) :-) I used to not listen to my gut, I actually don't think I could even hear it but now that I can...I try hard to listen..so that I do what is right for me. Awesome post!

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  21. You're the second integrity post I've seen today. I love the way you discussed it. I try to have integrity; as a writer, it can be hard to write what is true to me rather than what I think others want to read.

    Erin

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  22. Great post today for the challenge!!

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  23. There is very little integrity left in the world today. Those that think they have it are just fooling themselves. But it is a good word and a reminder that maybe with a few changes, it no longer has to be that way.

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  24. I really like your theory that life is like a university. It shows that you believe in personal growth which I think is a sign of wisdom. Great post.

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  25. I like your line "I believe life is like a big university". I think that as our knowledge changes,our views of what integrity is changes

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  26. Great post. I like that you deal with integrity as a concept to be explored rather than a buzz word.

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  27. In my opinion, the single greatest representation of "Integrity" in motion pictures was provided by Lee Marvin, playing the title character in 'MONTE WALSH' (1970).

    Anyone who wants to see the personification of "Integrity" should look no further than the original portrayal of 'Monte Walsh'.

    ~ D-FensDogg
    'Loyal American Underground'

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  28. What a great choice in words and I'd say you defined it perfectly. :)
    Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

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