Integrity – Do You Have It?
Thomas Paine once said, “character is much easier kept than recovered.” I’m no angel… and I have definitely done things that I regret… but I learned from them and grew up. It took more than just growing up for me to understand the importance of authenticity and honesty.
Courage and Confidence. With confidence came courage. Deciding to be the person I was and not who others expected me to be (or should I say who I thought I should be), was when my confidence began to rise. When you stop worrying about societal pressures and embrace who you are as an individual, happiness naturally comes your way. It’s almost amusing to watch the reaction of others when you aren’t afraid to be who you are.
Please don’t mistake this for “trying to be different.”
The thought of that repulses me. I never tried to be different. In many ways, I wasn’t different from everyone else. I simply decided to be myself. In becoming comfortable and confident in myself, it not only took courage but gave me more courage. It was, and is invigorating!
Imagine a life where you no longer try to please others. Imagine a life filled with genuine friendships and genuine laughter… Imagine being happy every day!
It sounds great doesn’t it? It’s real. I feel that way every day. My life isn’t perfect. I have my ups and downs like everyone else. The difference… Even through them, I am happy. I am happy with decisions I make every day, happy with the friendships I have, happy to embrace everything that’s to come… most of all, happy that I can look myself in the mirror every day knowing that I have my integrity. My friends aren’t false, my laughter isn’t forced, my happiness is not fake. It’s all authentic. I don’t need or expect compliments from the world because with or without them, my greatest compliment comes from within, when each day, I go to bed with a clear conscious knowing I made it through another day where my actions were in line with my values.
Do you know anyone whose actions are more in line with personal gain than their values? Do you think they are true friends or do you question their motives?
