Integrity: [/ɪnˈtɛgrɪti/]

                           Integrity: [/ɪnˈtɛgrɪti/]

Synonyms:

Honest, Uprightness, Probity, Rectitude, Honour, Upstanding ,Good character, High moral principled ,Righteousness, Morality, Nobility, High-mindedness, Noble mindedness, Fairness, Scrupulousness, Sincerity, Truthfulness, Trustworthiness.

The antonyms of which are –

Betrayer, A cheat, Chicanery, Corrupt, Criminal, Deceitful, Fraudulent, Treachery, Trickster, Mendacity, Cunning, Crooked, A double dealer, Faithless, Fickle , Flimflam, False,  An infidel, guile, Insidious, Slyness, A racketeer, A sly person, Swindler, Perfidiousness, Hanky-panky (seem very British huh?)...and a whole lot of words including most recent ones like Sharp practice (commonly used in professional circles) and 419, if you know what I mean.

My favourite definition of integrity, defines the word thus:

“The state of being sound, unimpaired and in perfect condition”

I on the other hand translate this, to being an individual who strives to attain wholeness in entirety. This is because a person of integrity often possesses a certain solid-wholeness to his or her character so that there seem to be no dis-connect between their internal selves and what others see on the outside.

I’d draw on a comment my primary school English teacher used to say to provide an analogy: “A full bottle is never easily blown by the wind but an empty bottle topples right off the wall!” it was his way of saying humpty-dumpty would have been fixed if he wasn't hollow...lol

I can think of several reasons why finding persons of integrity seem so difficult a feat these days:

·         We live in an image driven society

There is a high level of admiration for what is on the outside as compared to what is on the inside.

P.R.O has become very easy as compared to what it should be! These days we manage impressions rather than build strength of character.

·         The quick fix mentality

No body wants to pass through the school of hard knocks any more! Society is no more interested in the long windy way to success and attainment as long as you fit in, dress, act and spend like a star its all good.

Breaking new!

Most of life’s greatest and important challenges are not easily influenced by quick fixes.

·         The blame game

Societies seem to have endorsed the ‘blame game’ from politics down to simply raising the next generation. As such, terms like self acceptance, self determination, and personal responsibility have been rolled under the carpet in accordance with the fad of our times. As long as there is room for cheap publicity and there is some one to blame (hurray) you can feel free to play the long suffering victim and become a Star.

 In other cases, no body wishes to honourably take responsible so it becomes the classic case of ‘Mr. nobody’.

Integrity involves making the personal choice to be consistent, committed to being principled and morally upright. It also entails speaking your truth, being honourably true to one self and those around you even if it is hard.

your gist mate,

Shy