The Universal Value Of Integrity
'Integrity is doing the right thing, even if nobody is watching'. -C.S. Lewis, British writer.
I wanted to start this essay with this quote, which is the main idea of this whole selection. This definition is about what integrity really means.
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, integrity is the quality of being honest and fair. My definition for this Universal Value will be: Integrity means doing the right thing at all times and in all circumstances, whether or not anyone is watching. It takes courage to do the right thing, no matter what the consequences will be. We live in a world where integrity isn't valued enough. We live in a world where 'the end justifies the means' has become an acceptable belief for far too many. By doing this, the person committing the act of dishonesty excuses himself by thinking they had a perfectly valid reason since the end result justified their lack of integrity.
Dishonesty may provide instant gratification at the moment, but it will never last too long. There are a lot of people without integrity who are successful and who win without ever getting caught, which creates a false perception of the path to success that one should follow. Each of these people could have gained the result they wanted, but that momentary result comes at an incredibly high price with a lot of bad consequences. Those people have lost their ability to be trusted as a person of integrity. Instead, they get a reputation of a dishonest and corrupt person, which will not help to his future life The value of the trust others have in you goes beyond anything that can be measured because it comes along with limitless opportunities and endless possibilities. Integrity oversteps boundaries, such as race, sex, culture, age and era. It is a quality accepted and valued in each and every country in the world. And it can be used in any aspect of our lives, such as school, work, family, Church, even when we are buying groceries in the supermarket!
There is no formula for obtaining integrity. All depends on the type of person and how he or she behaves with people around And just as it can be gained at any age, it can be lost too. Those little actions we do every day are the ones that will determine what type of people we are. If we are not doing the things right, then we must change our behaviors and actions.
A word of advice to those who are trying to gain a reputation of integrity: Avoid those who are not trustworthy. If someone is dishonest in any aspect of his life you can be guaranteed that he will be dishonest in many other aspects. You cannot dismiss even those little acts of dishonesty, such as taking two magazines when he just paid one, copying complete articles for a personal essay, telling his mother he didn't drink last night, etc.It is important to realize that others pay attention to those you have chosen to associate and be with, and they will inevitably judge your character by the character of your friends and people that surround you. If we surround ourselves with people who are dishonest, then we'll surely find ourselves accepting their behavior, and then adopting it. So, if you want to build a reputation as a person of integrity then surround yourself with people of integrity. Maybe you will find it difficult, but they are hidden really close to you, just pay some attention.
As I mentioned before, integrity, as all values, has to be practiced every time and everywhere. Doing actions of good will lead you to the path of integrity and becoming a better person with more confidence. The best part is that they can be little actions, like giving a ride to your grandmother to the bingo, take out the trash when your parents didn't ask, or just helping your little brother to do a math problem for his homework. As I previously said, the advantages of being a person with integrity are countless.
One big example could be how workers who are well known as people with integrity and can demonstrate it, are more likely to be hired faster than those who don't. Companies all over the world consider this universal value as the most important in good leader. Why? Because a person who has integrity lives his or her own values in relationships with coworkers, customers, and chiefs. And they can also draw others to them because they are trustworthy and dependable.Another important thing to have in mind is attitude. Any successful person will tell you cannot progress further in your career with a negative attitude. Having the correct attitude will determine how far you progress will be in your professional and personal life. Viewing the world and your situations with an empathetic outlook will help you enormously in achieving your goals and became a person with integrity. Attitude and integrity are the key of success in any aspect of our lives. They lead us to do everything with a sense of wanting to do it. You could the chore or job you hate the most, but if you do it with a positive attitude it won't be that bad. And even you could gain or Jeam something good from doing it.
Both tools have the power to change our thinking in a matter of seconds. The big Golden Rule, and the most important thing you need to remember is: treating others the way you want to be treated. Practicing this golden rule ensures you a state of self-confidence and surely better relationships with the ones around you. The golden rule is a reflection of respect for others.In conclusion, integrity is the universal value that will help us to become good men and women and restore mankind, who has been forgotten in these times of hate and despair, where a drop of integrity could be the answer to save us of our self-destruction. It is our time to wake up and do something, before it is too late As Mahatma Gandhi once said: 'Be the change you wish to see in the world.' Let's all get united to transform this world ours for good. Let's build a society where everyone can speak out without being afraid. Where good ideas can be appreciated Where freedom and dignity can be part of every human being. Where we can finally see each other as partners, and no as opponents. Where everyone can feel as part of something much bigger. And where peace can reign above us and our actions.Do it for you. Do it for your children. Do it for your country. Do it for your world
