Today, we’re talking about living your life (and business, for that matter) with a huge amount of integrity.
I’ve read that integrity happens when the outside appearance of your life matches your inner truth. I tell my 3 kids that integrity means that you’re doing the right thing, even if (or especially when) no one’s watching.
It’s the idea of making choices in every moment as if your life were the subject of a reality TV series and a camera were pointed at you at all times.
Wow, imagine that?
Now, ask yourself, what would you change about your behavior if that were true? In life, in your relationships, as it relates to your health, your clients, your job, the way you talk about other people when they’re not there, how you treat your children, your spouse, and how you treat yourself…
What would you change? What would you do differently? Better? And how would this affect the way people treat you or the results you got?
OK, but you might be wondering, “Why does this matter? What’s the big deal about living a life of integrity?”
Well, for one, you must know that every time you live your life OUT of integrity, you are actually chipping away at your self-confidence and self-esteem…
…because deep down inside, you know you’re doing these things and you know you could be doing a better job.
Here are some examples on the personal front of what it looks like to live in integrity:
- Keep your promises even if it takes extra effort.
- Go back to a store and pay for something you forgot to pay for.
- Never betray a friend’s trust even if you get in trouble.
- Do not gossip or talk badly about someone.
- Remain true to your spouse or partner.
- When in a serious relationship, don’t keep secrets from each other.
- Do not let someone else take the blame for something you did.
- If someone gives you confidential information, never tell anyone what you know.
- When it is obvious to you a relationship is over, don’t drag it out but discuss it openly.
- Washing your hands each time you go to the bathroom, even if the person you shake hands with next will never know whether you did wash them or not.
- Don’t lick the spoon you use to stir the pot and then put it back in (when you have guests).
At work or in your business, it means you:
- Go above and beyond to deliver results for those who put their trust you, beyond their expectations, even beyond your own.
- Don’t take shortcuts or use smoke-and-mirrors; provide real value.
- Treat clients with kindness, compassion and real love.
- If you say you’re going to do something, do it, even if the other party doesn’t hold up their end of the bargain.
- Take the high road, even if you never expect to see a certain client or vendor again.
- Don’t promise one thing and then do a bait and switch.
- Put extra effort into everything you do, even if they never realize it, because, energetically, they’ll feel it.
Yes, there are plenty of people who don’t act this way in life, or in business.
Let them.
Do it because it’s the right thing to do.
Because “good enough” is not good enough for you.
Because you’re different than the rest.
Living an integrous life makes you feel really, really good about yourself, which makes you much more confident. And I have long believed that those who approach life from a place of confidence have a much higher quality of life and produce much different results than those who do not.
They simply become more abundant and a magnet to riches.
Conversely, life is incredibly hard when you’re living outside of the confines of integrity. It’s messy. Relationships are a huge struggle. It’s as if there’s constant static and turbulence in your life.
Getting into integrity can require some of the bravest acts of courage that you will make in your life. You might have to come clean on some things, take responsibility for some circumstances and make some things right.
Moving toward integrity (this isn’t about being perfect – it’s just about movement) will absolutely change your life.
This is what happened to me.
I see you. ;)
Fabienne
P.S. This is an example of the kind of profoundly life-transforming lessons I’m teaching to the ridiculously cool charter members of Boldheart Self right now. They are raving! Want in? Stay tuned. I’ll be revealing a new free program in the next few weeks. xoxoxo
P.P.S. Go ahead and share this quote:
