Portrait of Integrity

a reminder to everyone, especially myself...

In order to restore integrity, we need to have a clear ideal of what it looks like. Here is a general portrait of a person with integrity. Like a jigsaw puzzle, it is made up of hundreds of little things we do or say on a daily basis. The picture is incomplete, wherever any piece is missing. Integrity may also be liken to a brick house. We need to build it one brick at a time. Each of the following habits and attitude represent a brick.

• Keep your word and promises
• Back up your word with action
• Be honest with people
• Accept people as they are
• Treat people with respect and candor
• Let others know where you stand and how your feel
• Speak the truth in love and with sincerity
• Be mindful of what your own actions and thoughts
• Make sure that your actions and words do not harm others
• Be genuine, transparent in relating to people
• Be humble and vulnerable towards people
• Be true to your convictions, values and beliefs
• Be true to your callings and ideals
• Do the right thing even when no one is watching
• Do your very best in whatever your do
• Do what is right regardless of the cost
• Have the courage to be different
• Have the courage to stand up for what you believe
• Have the courage to obey the dictates of your conscience
• Live up to your own ethical standards
• Practice what you preach consistently
• Admit the gap between your actual self and ideal self
• Admit your own mistakes and failures
• Accept your self and your limitations
• Assume responsibility for your own actions
• Don't compromise your core values
• Don't use people as instruments
• Don't manipulate and mislead others
• Don't betray your friends
• Don't hide the truths from your friends
• Don't hide behind the façade of pious platitudes and rituals
• Don't let others down in order to save your own neck
• Don't lie in order to get out of difficulties
• Don't tell white lies to make you look good
• Don't make promises which you cannot keep
• Don't exaggerate or bluff in order to get your way
• Don't bend with the wind in order to play safe
• Don't promise anything which you cannot deliver
• Don't claim to believe what you do not
• Don't pretend to be what you are not

(i got this from a recent ehem! seminar-workshop. i'm sorry i was not able to get the name of the author, my sincerest thanks to you and i hope you don't mind my posting it here...) :)