Carter’s definition of integrity has much more meaning than just being honest. Her definitions consists of three parts: “discerning what is right and what is wrong; acting on what you have discerned, even at personal cost; and saying openly that you are acting on your understanding of right and wrong.” (pg. 1) According to her definition, integrity requires a person to be more than truthful but also requires one to follow up the honesty with actions and to fulfill the commitments that we have made.
In my opinion, integrity involves a significant amount of discernment with choosing when to express our truthful words and when to exercise omission. There is a time and place for both; times when we would need to truthful as to our partners and times when we may choose to withhold comments as not to hurt the feelings of others. This includes examining what is right and what is wrong to what lies behind our decision and actions. Regardless of the choice that we have make, one must maintain to the commitments that they have made. Upholding our commitments is what makes the difference between honesty and integrity. Have you heard the term, “Actions prove louder than words”? Honesty is a verbal display of truthfulness, but integrity puts our honesty into play. Integrity is an open display of our honesty.
Hi Mandy,
ReplyDeleteYour focus on action is key in Carter's definition of integrity; to have integrity means to act with integrity. It means people must engage in reflection to decide what is "right" and "wrong" before taking action. Your post reminds me that in our fast-paced world, where we barely have time for ourselves and loved-ones, integrity is often sacrificed, as people refuse to take the time needed to discern "right" from "wrong."
What are your thoughts about transferring Carter's ideas into daily practice? While I think many people would agree that we all need integrity, I'm not sure those same people take the time to practice integrity. Where do we begin? Also, it's easy to look at big events, like infidelity, and see the integrity issues, but what about the little things that make up our lives? I'd argue that for most people, the real test of integrity is in the fine details of our life.
Thanks for your ideas.
Take care,
Lauren
Hi Mandy:
ReplyDeleteGreat key point about action and integrity!!! How can we take our core value "integrity" and translate it into the find of action that drives for positive change? How do we come together and present the principles to earn the trust of the purity motive of integrity and of course the action being a principle enlightenment of it!!
Thank you for your reading!! Daye
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ReplyDeleteMandy,
ReplyDeleteYous said What I was trying to say in my blog. I chose a different question than you I chose "How can you achieve integrity?" but what you said still works. Hollow words carry now integrity at all, action is key. You must follow through with your commitments and be honest to achieve integrity. I believe to recognize ones own integrity shows great maturity but then again someone with great integrity is very humble as well. Thank you for your time
Hello Mandy!
ReplyDeleteI was able to understand the author’s definition about integrity much better after reading your blog. You have done a great job defining integrity and explaining why it is different from honesty. There are many times that a person with integrity is not going to be honest, but staying loyal to their choice makes them have integrity.
Thank you for sharing your ideas!
Natalia
Hi, Mandy,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, I believe that in order to have integrity you must be a critical thinkers. I believe that many of us are just going through each day because it is routine. We are creatures of habit. I don’t think that many of use put much thought into our daily lives to live with the thought of integrity. I like that what you said that “Honesty is a verbal display of truthfulness, but integrity puts our honesty into play. Integrity is an open display of our honesty.” One must live an honest and truthful life to have integrity and to always not only worry about their wants and needs but the goodness of others.
Michelle M