No More Contradictions!

The Unexpected Power of Integrity

 When you hear the word ‘integrity’, what thoughts spring to mind? What virtues do you imagine? What images are conjured up? Because it’s a word that’s replete with the resonance of virtue.

 Goodness is about character - integrity, honesty, kindness, generosity, moral courage, and the like. More than anything else, it is about how we treat other people.

-      Dennis Prager

We tend to use the word as a positive attribute and a way of recognising the admirable qualities of honesty and trustworthiness. But integrity goes far beyond this cozy definition of an honest individual. And why is that important?

  Because everything is connected.

 It’s such a powerful concept that it’s worth pausing for a couple of moments to think about the implications. Everything is connected. That means that the way we do one thing is going to show up in every other area of our lives. Even if the connections are not obvious, they’re always there, exerting their influence and linking all the disparate and apparently unrelated areas of our lives. That’s why integrity is such a powerful concept.

 With integrity, you have nothing to fear, since you have nothing to hide.

With integrity, you will do the right thing, so you will have no guilt.

-      Zig Ziglar

Once you embrace the concept of integrity and apply the principle to all aspects of your life, you’ll find that things become much simpler. You don’t have to waste another ounce of energy pretending. You can be more open. You can clean up your behaviour. That can translate into saying what you mean. Or, if your thoughts aren’t helpful, better to practise the virtue of silence rather than say something you don’t mean. Your aim is to bring your thoughts, your feelings, your words and your deeds into alignment. No more contradictions. No more lies. No more pretending.

 It’s an extraordinarily powerful way to transform your life. You can start by freeing yourself from the old habit of trying to be all things to all people. You don’t have to wear the old, cracked, smiley mask that you used to disguise what you were thinking and feeling. You can begin to act in accordance with your values rather than in response to your needs for acceptance. Popularity loses its appeal if it’s based on anything that isn’t real. We may live in a time of surprisingly shallow reflexes – an understandable response to the cult of celebrity - but we need to recognise that superficiality degrades the quality of life and discourages us from seeking a deeper view of how the world really works. Integrity brings our lives into focus. It encourages an essential review of our behaviour to make sure that everything we do is beneficial for our health, our success, our relationships and our wellbeing.

 The foundation stones for a balanced success are honesty,

character, integrity, faith, love and loyalty.

-      Zig Ziglar

The underlying principle is to make our lives easier. We identify the contradictions and make a simple decision to eliminate them from our repertoire of responses. Life is largely made up of the habits that we deploy to get us through the day with as little effort as possible. By introducing integrity as a daily habit, a way of integrating all aspects of our life into a focused, cohesive set of behaviours, we take back control of destiny.

 It’s a serious issue. Those contradictions inevitably show up in the more vulnerable areas of our lives. They show up in the hidden cracks and weaknesses of our foundations. They corrode the stability of our lives and can wreak havoc on our best-laid plans and endeavours. They show up without warning and derail relationships, thwart our efforts and put the brakes on our progress even as we hit the gas pedal for maximum acceleration. Because everything is connected.

 So, this might be the perfect moment for you to take an inventory of the main areas of your life. Identify anything that might represent a contradiction or possible threat to any of your other activities. Clean up all areas of your life. Settle disputes. Make a pledge to renounce all gossip – both listening or repeating. Resolve to follow the principles of honesty, fairness and goodwill. Pick out any addictive behaviours and make a commitment to give them up. Right now. Develop an awareness of any thoughts, feelings or words that might contradict your life plan. Make a note of the principles that guide your life and put a copy on your computer screen. Keep a copy in your purse or wallet. Make sure that all your actions match up to your principles.

To give real service you must add something which cannot be bought

 or measured with money, and that is sincerity and integrity.

-      Douglas Adams

Is virtue its own reward? Perhaps. But the greater reward is an integrated system of thought, word, deed and action that will focus on the attainment of your goals and dreams and aspirations. It’s a smoother, easier pathway. And one that is free from the self-destructive behaviours that can so easily disrupt and damage your ability to achieve whatever you set your heart on. Ultimately, this is why we are all our most challenging enemy. It’s time to become your own truest friend.

 Greg Parry created The Wellness Foundation and the Cognitive Empowerment Programs specifically to help people master their stress, overcome their limitations and explore the power of their true potential.

 If you enjoy these blogs, you can imagine how much fun it is to have Greg in the room as an inspirational and highly perceptive speaker. If you’d like to invite Greg to talk to your company or organisation or event, feel free to get in touch.

 You can contact Greg and explore our websites at:

 www.thewellnessfoundation.eu

 www.cognitivepowerprogram.com

 If you’d like to see Greg and listen to his great ideas and suggestions for a more successful and empowered life, you can now find him on You Tube at:

 The Greg Parry Experience

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