Integrity

Does Integrity = Happiness? I believe it does.

I have always prided myself on my integrity and yet always known there is additional work I need to put in. The following traits are used to define a person as having integrity and since my main goal in life is to have integrity these are my goals going forward.

In this article you will get to know a bit about me and what I am working on. Take a look at yourself and see how you do.

1. Being Humble: Ok so this one I truly suck at. I am very confident and I have a strong personality however I only speak when I know the answer. If I don't know the answer I will say I don't know and I will find the answer. This year I plan on focusing on being humble. I will put myself in check with those around me and let them teach me things I didn't think I needed to learn. This is a major goal for me this year. I currently rate myself 5/10, let's see how I do at the end of 2023.
2. Find Joy in enriching others: This one I am ok at, I like to help people understand things, and I am willing to answer questions but, I don't go out of my way to do this. This has to change. I have to be willing to reach out to those unwilling to ask the question, and unwilling to raise their hand. Invite people in and break the wall I have put up for years. I currently rate myself as a 7/10.
3. True to themselves: Sometimes described as a bull in a china shop, I guess I believe I am a 10/10 here. I have always beat to my own drum and followed my own way. I am trying to become less of a bull but I refuse to let go of my passion and who I am.
4. They do not lie: This has gotten me in trouble, I am blunt. I refuse to lie and I refuse to tell half-truths. I do not lie. Again 10/10. This is a great trait however as I have been told many times it isn't what you say, it is how you say it. So this year I choose to learn how to tell the truth and be true to myself in a way that is easier to consume. Being straight forward and not afraid of confrontation is not a bad thing, but sometimes, you have to know your audience.
5. They have patience: FAIL I am still a work in progress. I do not have a lot of patience when it comes to being lazy or not wanting to do anything but wanting someone to do it for me and also children, my patience is limited to being able to give them back when they make me crazy! This is something I have done a lot of work on over the years. I can be patient with people that genuinely don't know. I am willing to help anyone but people who take advantage of my kindness, being a women or assuming I am uneducated well that is where I FAIL. I have no patience for people who misrepresent themselves, lie, or take credit for my work. I have come a long way in patience but still have a way to go. Currently 5/10.
6. They give credit where credit is due: This one is simple, I do! However, see above where that can be perceived badly when someone takes credit for my work.
7. They don't argue rudely: umm this is hard because to me rude is an emotion and not a fact-based word so how do you measure that? I am perceived as being rude sometimes; I get too excited and can't keep my mouth shut. I interrupt when the statement is so completely wrong I just can't hold back, this is all bad and is something I definitely need to work on. Currently a 4/10.
8. Are Planners and stick to deadlines and schedules: Yep another good one, I am always early and like to plan everything so it is "done right". I am not good at chaos. Currently 9/10 - always room for improvement.
9. They do what they say and say what they do: Again another one I am very good at, I do what I say and say what I do always. This may not be a good thing at times but it is a fact for me. Currently 9/10.
10. They give second chances: Ok this one I am far too good at. I give too many chances. I get angry and upset when betrayed but that goes away quickly and I am always willing to accept an apology.
11. They don't name call: Well not in public I don't. Now my own voices and when I am talking to friends umm yep very different so yeah I guess I am not very good at this. It is my way of letting out frustration, not a good trait. Something else to work on. 4/10.
12. They own their mistakes: This one has taken me some time to be good at. For the longest time, I thought mistakes were a sign of failure. It is a sign of learning. No one is ever going to be perfect and no one should ever want to stop learning. It has taken me almost 25 years of my professional career to truly understand this but I am not very good at it, but again always room for improvement. 8/10.

Taking time to learn about yourself and what is most important to you is something everyone should do. Take stock of yourself and adjust accordingly. I do not at all strive to be perfect but I do strive every day to be better than yesterday.