Integrity…as a Heartfelt Response

We are coming to a crossroad in our lives when we’ll have to decide whether or not we’re going to live for our own personal gain or for the gain of humanity. It is with each of us that Integrity must begin in order to bring harmony and balance to this planet. – John-Roger

This article by John-Roger was first published in 1986 in Integrity: The Magazine for the International Integrity Program.

Integrity is having the courage to go with the truth as you know it as a heartfelt response, with care and consideration for others. When you come into that “place,” everything that you do is done with a sense of completeness and honesty and nowness and truth. You are in alignment with your Self and integrated with your own inner reality. You’ll find that people notice the honesty in your expression. They will also find themselves wanting to be with you, because your mere presence uplifts those around you. To be a person of Integrity, you will come to the realization that you will not compromise yourself or the truth within you any longer.

How can you tell if a person is living a life of Integrity? I have found two landmarks that are always present: courtesy and consideration. Isn’t it amazing how we were told these things on our mothers’ and fathers’ knees? They taught us to be courteous to our elders and to be considerate to our fellow man. And yet, even though we know better, we don’t always do better. For the favors of another person, many a man has surrendered one of his most precious possessions- his Integrity. Once it is given away, the struggle to regain it can be a long and tiring one.

Watch carefully that you do not sell yourself short or out. Whatever you are tempted to sell yourself to or for is not as valuable as you are. It can be easy to give in to despair, give up to mistakes, and give out resentment. The real challenge is to be strong enough to cast away despair and conquer the desire to stop trying. So, build those things inside yourself which are solid and cannot be shaken.

Another word for Integrity is loving. When you are truly loving yourself and your fellow human beings, you simply won’t deceive or hurt yourself or them. You simply won’t. When you are present in your loving nature, you will be honest, and you will find that the honesty does not hurt anyone intentionally. It can only be valuable to them, because honesty and loving are always valuable. And as you realize that there is no reason to hide what is true for you, you find yourself living a life of Integrity, a life of loving. In so doing, you open yourself to an inner experience of loving and freedom that transcends words.

Integrity is inside of you and has always been there. Inside of you there is room for everyone- for every country, every culture, every other religion and belief. There is room for everyone and there is no need for conflict. When you first become aware of it, it may shake you. You may have to go against some of the things you’ve believed in before and some of the things you said. You may have to own your truth. And when you do, you will step into and claim your own Integrity. As more of us do this, our world will improve.

Personal Integrity . . . can make a real difference, it begins with you!

Baruch Bashan (which means, the blessings already are)