(To see the entire post, click on the title of the post.)
We are advised to ask ourselves great questions when making decisions in life.
One guru in time management and life recommends we ask "is this the right thing to do?"
"What would Jesus do?" might be asked by another.
Some people, who typically don't get what they want out of life, ask "what can I do to be more comfortable?" (Or various versions: "...get relief, escape", "have it not be so hard", "not feel so deprived", "not feel I am missing out".)
But is there a question that might be a better master question to ask repeatedly all day every day?
Methinks the best question would be "what is in integrity for me to do right now?"
It is a clear, hard criterion.
If life is run by integrity, how can it be less than great?
If life is run by comfort, escape, what feels good right now (the unthinking version, that is), how can it turn out well? (And we will actually ending up feeling bad, not good.)
IT WORKS AND HAS CRUCIAL, LIFE CREATING BENEFITS
Isaac Asimov definitively (in the definite manner people in integrity speak) states this as a benefit of integrity:
"Integrity not only simplifies your life by making it easy to come to a decision, but it may keep you out of trouble."
It is a great criterion and perhaps the most valuable thing you can do in your life.
WHAT IS INTEGRITY
Integrity is not a moral concept, though some have usurped it as such.
It is a reality concept. As such it is subject to the rules of science, as it must correspond to what an objective observer would conclude while establishing the facts and the reasoning that makes something provably true.
You either are doing integrity or you are not being integrous, period. One or the other. There is no "kinda".
Integrity is, methinks, a principle of workability in life. If you are integrous, you will get a better result in life.
Integrity is beyond honesty.
Integrity is wholeness, soundness, doing what is in alignment with what is best for the person.
When one truly reaches integrity as a "way of being", one has finished and completely formulated a thoroughly thought out detailed and defined philosophy of life. Indeed, the purpose of a philosophy of life is to have it guide one to do what works for the greatest good.
In the real world, it shows up ultimately in happiness and good results in life. If one is not happy and/or is not producing good results and emotional well-being in life that is a sure sign that a person is living his/her life not being in integrity (or what we call being "out of integrity").
An integrous person: (use this as a checklist or put a % next to each or an "out of integrity" remark like "pretty much" - an out of integrity person sets up escapes and exits from honoring his word.)
__ Stands by his word
__ Does what he agreed to do
__ with others
__ with himself
__ And does it to completion of the promised result.
__ Produces (appropriately) desired results in life.
Integrity is having a sense of honor and acting on that honor - honor my word, my promises, my God given life (not dishonoring it by distractions, escape, relief, etc.) - integrity is basically "honor". Are you a man/woman of honor? (Mostly no, most likely - but you can tell by looking at the results in your life.)
SO, WHEN I ASK THIS...
When I ask "what is in integrity for me to do right now?", I am asking if I am doing what I know I should do and I do it, period. I don't let discomfort or seeking blissful comfort or escape from anxiety prevail. I do what is in integrity even if it doesn't feel so great and I'd like to do something else. I do it even if I am anxious and need to run away from the feeling and any task associated with it.
If I find myself not able to live in integrity, due to my lack of self control, I immediately and deeply correct and do what it takes to develop my self control, for a man who is out of control is not "in integrity", period. He must correct it, period - and right away, as the very first thing in life to do. As Job #1!
OPERATING IN INTEGRITY, THIS WOULD SHOW UP
Indeed, if one wants to operate in life in integrity, one is always seeking and acting to make things whole (and wholly functional), always correcting what doesn't work, never leaving gaps, "problems" and open loops to get in the way of functioning well in life.
If one is living in integrity:
One would not allow continuing lack of emotional well-being, continued ongoing anxiety.
One would not allow anything less than very good physical well-being and health.
One would not tolerate any negative effects one has on loved ones.
Is what you are doing now in integrity with the whole of what you said you wanted in life?
The fact is that "anyone can have integrity, regardless of how small and unimportant a role he may play in the world…". (Asimov). Will you do that, instead of having to be perfect or better or "right" in life?
If God gave you this life (or no matter how you got it, even if by luck), is it in integrity to waste it with distractions no matter how much you like them? Does it serve and fulfill the highest purpose of you as a human - to be happy, to make others happy?
Integrity is an absolute. It shows up in your life or it doesn't and it always shows up in real life. You are not whole if you are not whole. You are not whole if you don't act in alignment with your best good. You are not whole if their is lack of workability in your life.
I highly recommend you run your life on that one criterion: "what is in integrity for me to do right now?", asked every moment every day. (Post it everywhere so you can force it to "top of the mind? [I put it on 6 3x5 cards, spread out from the bathroom mirror, bedside, to places I sit, in front of the TV (it's related!).]
Is your integrity fully installed and governing your life or will you do what is necessary to fully understand it and fully implement it into your life? Will you complete the process to the point of actually getting the result or will you again fall short due to lack of integrity?
_________________________
_________________________
One might put this in one's Reminders Notebook and read it every day until installed:
"What is in integrity for me to do here? The key question to ask myself in life. I know what I should do and I do it. Comfort as a way to avoid doing something is not a good reason. It is not in integrity with the whole of what I say I want in life."
Oh, I guess I better get going, for I have been sluffing off too much in life when I feel tired or have anxious thoughts. That doesn't work, so I think I will stop it right now and act strictly based on what I know is workable and good in life and not do what does not meet that criteria!
In fact, I think I will do a week of only doing what I know is good, just to see if I can do it. No ice cream, no amusing myself with email or whatever while I could be doing something of high value. No excuses...
And I think I'll feel better rather than that I am missing out on "comforts" or calming anxious thoughts...
_______________________
To the highly anxious person who needs relief from anxiety and needs to escape from anxious thoughts:
Being out of integrity is a major cause of high anxiety!!!!
Your anxiety will plummet when you begin to strictly do what makes you and/or what you do whole and consistent with what you want in life!
No comments:
Post a Comment