The Karma of Integrity

Integrity– Noun — described in the dictionary as the quality of being honest and having strong moral principle;

Synonyms: honesty, uprightness, probity, rectitude,  honorableness, upstanding, good character, principle(s), ethics, morals,  righteousness, morality, nobility, high-mindedness, right-mindedness, noble-mindedness, virtue, decency, fairness, scrupulousness, sincerity, truthfulness, trustworthiness

Example:”I never doubted his integrity”

There are people whom you have known or met who have a powerful quality to them; they know themselves, they seem comfortable in their own skin. They may be shy or outgoing, but in either case they don’t appear to be flustered or thrown off balance in a fundamental way very easily, and even when they are, they regain their equilibrium quickly and continue on. They are the same person across many situations.

The quality that you are seeing in such people is integrity.

We live in a world where integrity isn’t talked about nearly enough. We live in a world where “the end justifies the means” has become an acceptable school of thought for far too many. Sales people overpromise and under deliver, all in the name of making their quota for the month. Applicants exaggerate in job interviews because they desperately need a job.  Customer service agents try to cover up their mistakes so as to not lose the client.

However integrity both at professional and personal level is important and goes hand in hand with trust building and reputation. As the famous Warren Buffet quotes “Lose money and I will forgive you. Lose even a shred of reputation and I will be ruthless. …… Wealth can always be recreated, but reputation takes a lifetime to build and often only a moment to destroy.”

Ethics is important! However today society is is losing sight of ethical basics and is a complete loss on any or none whatsoever integrity models to follow. Do what is Right and the consequences will follow. Very often our character is judged by the people we associate with so avoid associating with unethical and not trustworthy people, the ones who have a dark reputation.

You might do a million good things which will slowly build your reputation and your sheer goodwill will spread your work like wildfire. But one mistake, falling out of trust or a question mark on your integrity will mar your entire life’s work that you put in to build your business or character. Many cases in history and present times are glaring examples where though after long but individuals, organisations, political parties, etc. have gone downhill due to integrity issues. What goes around eventually does come around.

Success will come and go but Integrity will stay. You need to take the stairs as there are no elevators to success. Karma takes its own course. Doing things right when everyone’s watching is efficiency but doing what is right when no one’s looking is called integrity. Teach the kids about this very important value of Integrity so our world attains peace amidst this war of egos and downfall of integrity.

So are you ready to hold on to your Integrity come what may?

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