The person of integrity can be trusted to do what is right because he answers first and foremost to his conscience.
He does not look to others to justify his actions.
He makes his decisions according to the firm, but not rigid, principles by which he lives.
It is this dedication to his principles that enables him to live a life of excellence and which sets him above the common man.
Without personal integrity, it would be impossible to truly live.
You will find that the lifestyle is not a passive lifestyle. It takes dedication and hard work. It takes self-discipline and perseverance.
There will be many times when it would be easier for you to relax your standards and let some of your principles slide, times when no one would know but yourself.
The only thing that will keep you on track during times like that is your personal integrity and dedication to the principles that you have made a firm decision to live by on your journey to live.
Thomas Jefferson explained how he dealt with such situations stating, “Whenever you are to do a thing, though it can never be known but to yourself, ask yourself how you would act were all the world looking at you, and act accordingly.”
Living with integrity has to be a 24/7 process, even when you are alone.
To do right only when others are watching or listening, and live another way when you are alone, is merely being hypocritical.
The intelligent person does not need the promise of Heaven to see the merit in good deeds.
Which do you think is more pure and more noble, doing a good deed in search of recognition and reward, or doing a good deed from your desire to truly help someone?
There is virtue in sincerity.
When you give of your time or money to help someone else, do it out of the goodness of your heart, not to position yourself for some selfish reason.
Give in order to help people, to help other beings, and to make our world a better place, not for personal gain. While there is nothing wrong with personal gain, there is a time and a place for everything.
Whatever you do, do it with a sincere heart and the correct attitude.
The energy you send out will come back to you.
ps/smoh
