INTEGRITY – A WAY OF LIFE

Tuchi Palmieri has well said “integrity is the first chapter in the wisdom book of a human life”. In fact, it
forms the building block of ethical conduct and competency. However, embracing integrity as the power
source to lead your life can be done only after understanding the true meaning of integrity.
INTEGRITY – A CHOICE
Integrity is our choice of right courses in the life. In simple language, it is doing the right thing all the
times and in all circumstances, whether or not anymore is watching. It takes lot of courage to do the
right, no matter what the consequences will be. LORD RAM is a fine example in such direction as he lived
his whole life with utmost integrity and had chosen difficult right courses over easy unethical ways and
means.
Building integrity in your life:
Integrity is a treasure in our life which no one will ever be able to forcefully take away from us.
There are different codes of ethics which helps in building and getting sense of what feels right
and wrong in any given circumstances to adjust our senses accordingly.
Examine past & choices Without regretting we should think about our mistakes acknowledge
them and do our best to change for the better future. It helps in developing forgiveness in us.
Just like we forgive others for their mistakes, we shouldn’t forget to forgive ourselves.
“A real sign of progress is when we no longer punish ourselves for our imperfections.”
Set up morals, principles and codes that will lead towards a happy, satisfying and righteous life
and a better world together. Also, there should always be willingness to upgrade our code
when we gain experience in life. It is normal to adjust mental reasoning and figuring out type of
values we want to live by. In his autobiography, Mahatma Gandhi has described how he grow
through experience with each successive up and downs in life that built his character.
Fostering self esteem and sheer believe in ourselves can make us live up to challenges and live
with integrity by doing difficult things. We may stumble but eventually win in this battle. One
should set realistic expectations for oneself and allow to fall short sometimes. A 15 years old
girl named as Malala was attempted by terrorists because she wanted to study and raised her
voice. She didn’t lose hope in her vision and became the youngest noble laurite.
Be persistent but patient not only with oneself but also with other people in one’s life. We
must give credit to ourselves when we act with integrity and acknowledge when we don’t, but
don’t give up goals and purpose when we slip or fail. Mahatma Gandhi’s immense faith and
strict adherence to integrity taught us to act with courage and never left the path of integrity.
He strode like a titan in front of barriers obstacles like the mighty foreign powers, internal
pressure and criticism.
INTEGRITY IS EVERYTHING.
We live in a world where “the end justifies the means” has become an acceptable school of
thought. Non integrity may provide instant gratification in the moment but it will never last.
The person loose the most valuable quality of being trusted.