Moment With Betty

Integrity and honesty are cornerstones of a strong spiritual and moral life. It requires consistent efforts to align your words and actions with a defined set of core values.  In a world where cutting corners and compromising values seem common, choosing integrity sets you apart. Mind you, it is not about telling the truth but about living truthfully, consistently and aligning your actions with your beliefs and values. 

One may ask why integrity and honesty matter. Truly, they matter because they build trust in relationships at home, work, church and even community. In fact they safeguard your reputation, credibility which is earned over time but can also be lost in an instant.  More importantly, they bring inner peace. I mean , you don’t have to live with the weight of hidden lies or double standards. Integrity and honesty are truly crucial elements in developing strong trust and relationships. So, to build a life of integrity and honesty, you need to take time to drill and discover who you are ,what you stand for and examine your core values such as truth, fairness, respect and accountability. 

You have to  be consistent in public and private, meaning that you have to behave the same when no one is watching as when everyone is. Speak the truth always in love and with kindness and respect and don’t be harsh, even when it is difficult. Keep to your promises whether it is about showing up on time for meetings or events , taking responsibilities for your actions  and being reliable and live integrity.  Unfortunately, in this day and age,  we see fewer and fewer people  living a life of integrity  especially , among  leaders in business, communities, government and sadly, even  in some churches.  Trust me, integrity  does not happen naturally, it takes deliberate choices to do what is right rather than do what is easy or convenient. Therefore, building or living a life of integrity and honesty involves being true to yourself, treating people with respect, owning your mistakes ,making amends and surrounding yourself with people of integrity and also  choosing friends and mentors who inspire truthfulness and upright living. Remember the saying which says that , a man is described by the friends he keeps. So, be conscious of the kind of friends you keep because peer pressure can compromise your values. Telling the truth may seem costly at first but believe me, it pays off in the long run. 

Looking at integrity and honesty from  the spiritual point of view, scripture tells us that for people of faith, integrity reflects God’s character and  calls believers to walk in truth and righteousness. It  also said that when we practice honesty, we mirror divine qualities thereby, making our lives a testimony of faith. 

Psalm 25: 21, says’’ Let integrity and upright preserve me, for l wait for you’’ When we live a life of integrity and honesty, we gain self respect and confidence because we have no guilt . More so, we have a positive influence on our family, colleagues and community. Therefore building a life of integrity and honesty is a daily commitment. It involves a series of small choices that add up to a strong trustworthy character. No one says that it is easy but, it is worth  it. Trust me,  when your words and actions consistently reflect the truth, you will enjoy inner peace and  have healthy and open communication.