 Integrity
Matters -
Transforming How We All Live
By Iqbal Ali
Individuals, families, organizations and communities face unprecedented
crisis, as witnessed by personal, professional and corporate scandals,
crimes, misdeeds and other breaches of integrity. Fortunately, or
unfortunately, integrity begins and ends with the individual. There will
always be a few bad apples. However, each one of us has the potential to
take a leadership role in confronting our current reality, transforming how
we all live and fostering integrity in our homes, workplaces, communities
and nations.
But what exactly is integrity? There seems to be as many opinions as there
are individuals. The North American Encarta Dictionary defines integrity as
“the quality of possessing and steadfast adhering to high moral principles
or professional standards.” According to Oprah Winfrey, “Real integrity is
doing the right things, knowing that nobody’s going to know whether you did
it or not.” Benjamin Franklin states, “Honesty is the best policy.” Vincent
van Gogh, the famous nineteenth century artist asserts that “honesty is not
enough. Man’s aim must be the noble life devoted to the uprising of
humanity”. His Worship Donald Cousens, the Mayor of Markham states that
“Integrity is about treating others and yourself with respect. It is about
having strong, ethical, personal standards that are not up for debate and
that cannot be unduly influenced by others. Having integrity allows people
to make the right decisions in tough circumstances, knowing their choices
will make a positive difference.”
My study of great thinkers, philosophers and leaders has taught me that
integrity is an integral part of being human. It entails living our lives
based on two basic pillars:
- Doing Right: Acting in accordance with our
conscience and society’s norms about what is right;
- Doing Good: Making a positive impact on society
with our thoughts, words and actions.
Conducting our lives in harmony with these two pillars of integrity makes us
complete and brings deep personal satisfaction and meaning into our lives.
Doing right and doing good also enable us to fulfill our responsibility of
providing a valuable contribution to humanity and creation.
Doing right is an essential aspect of who we are. Hence, every time we are
honest, it gives us a deep sense of happiness and self-worth. Every time we
are dishonest, we lose a part of ourselves: we experience inner tension and
disharmony. This same principle applies to all aspects of doing right. The
more our life is aligned with “right” thoughts and actions, the greater the
sense of satisfaction and self-worth we experience.
Likewise, doing good for the sake of humanity is a primary function of being
human. How we live has a direct and indirect impact on humanity. All that we
think, say and do affects not only the lives of those around us, but also
future generations. This influence can be done consciously or unconsciously,
and it may be positive or negative. But like day follows night, our lives
surely leave permanent imprints on this world.
Doing good results in a better world for all of us. It is the legacy we
leave behind for our kids, our future generations, and all of creation. In
addition, when we honour this part of ourselves by serving others, we feel
good about ourselves; it brings joy, meaning and purpose into our lives.
Integrity is also the key to building our character and reputation - two
critical factors in achieving any success. Integrity determines how we are
perceived and judged, not only by our friends, colleagues and rest of
society, but more importantly, by ourselves. Living a life of integrity
assures us that when we look in the mirror each day, we will like what we
see. Here are a few suggestions to get you started:
Develop Your Personal Credo - Take the time to reflect on what
integrity means to you. Clearly define the principles and standards by which
you wish to lead your life. Read your personal credo each morning and make a
conscious effort to align your thoughts, words and actions with your credo.
Forgive and Forget - “To err is human.” We all make mistakes.
Forgive yourself for your imperfections and move forward with a clean slate.
Your future starts now.
Make Honesty Rule #1 - Being honest is the easiest way of
commencing your journey towards integrity. Begin the habit of keeping your
commitments - to yourself and others. Think twice before making any
commitments. Say what you mean, and do what you say.
Seek Opportunities to Give - Making a positive impact in the
lives of others is an important ingredient in leading a life of integrity.
There are numerous opportunities each day to make a difference. Get into the
habit of performing simple acts of kindness - at work, home and play. A few
words of praise, a pleasant smile or a helping hand goes a long way.
Lead by Example - Start acting like the extraordinary person
that you are. Your thoughts, words and actions have the capability of
yielding tremendous impact on those around you. Strive to become the type of
person you want your kids and the rest of the world to imitate. The future
begins with you.
Our time on Earth is a short passage in eternity. Whether we like it or not,
each one of us will leave our mark during this journey. Living a life of
integrity enables us to leave the world a better place for future
generations, and enhance our quality of life...physically and spiritually.
In conclusion, I leave you with an anonymous reflection:
“Build a better world,” said God and I answered, “How? The world is such a
vast place and so complicated now. And I am small and useless: There’s
nothing I can do.” But God, in all His wisdom said, “Just build a better
you.”
Iqbal (a.k.a. Iqbal Ali) is a Motivational Speaker, Work-Life Success
Coach & Author of three books: Life Matters, Performance Matters & Integrity
Matters. Visit
www.iqbalali.ca or call 403.208.4744 |
