What is Integrity?
Posted on February 20, 2011 by Norman Yeager, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.
Personal integrity is the integration of the moral principles or ideals a person holds, the person’s mission, goals, and relationships.
Integrity is difficult to define. When it is defined it often takes other values like trust, honesty, and faithfulness to get a handle on it. For this discussion integrity is that value that ties all of life into a personal whole. Integrity has to do with the integration of personal values into everything a person is and does.
The moral principles or ideals a person holds as the guiding principles of life. From a Christian perspective these principles are usually found in the Bible. These are usually summed up what are called the two great commandments. Others will have principles based on their understandings from philosophers or from their observations of humanity. Whatever the source of our values they should be the underpinning of all we do in relationship to ourselves, our families, and our occupation. This is integrity.
The person’s values might be something like this acronym “faithful.” The values in this acronym are: fair, accountable, intentional, transparent, honest, forgiving, understanding, and listens. A review of these values reveals this person is very interested in relationships. The values also reveal this person wants to proactively face life. This person, however, is willing to be evaluated in light of his/her values and goals.
As this person establishes goals, they will reflect sensitivity to others. The goals may go in any direction from here, but should not stray from these values. This acronym does not preclude other values this person may hold. What it does mean is the person’s goals will be in harmony with who this person is in light of the values he or she holds.
An example of keeping the goals in harmony with a person’s principles can be found in the stories of those who have betrayed their country by spying for a foreign country or selling company secrets to a competitor. In these instances, financial gain is swapped for the value of loyalty to the country or company. If loyalty were high on the values list the person will probably experience internal disharmony because of the conflict of values. These situations demonstrate that integrity can be lost.
Values also come into play in inter-personal relationships. It is within the family structure that integrity can be truly tested. The family members are the first to see if a person is a person in integrity. It is in the family that values are shared and taught. It is the place where family members know if what is spoken is revealed in the life. If the life is not congruent with the spoken values lack of integrity is revealed and could cause extreme tension in the family unit. On the other hand, however, when the life is lived in harmony with proclaimed values, the family unit is strengthened and harmony is the result.
Personal integrity is the integration of the moral principles or ideals a person holds, the person’s mission, goals, and relationships.
