How does your integrity (or lack of it) affect success?

What is the connection between integrity, joy and success?

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“Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that
nobody’s going to know whether you did it or not.”
~~Oprah Winfrey

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Integrity is one of those words that show up a lot as I work with my clients. What does it really mean? Dictionary.com says “it is adherence to moral and ethical principles or the state of being whole.” WendyWatkins.com enhanced version is the above, combined with deliberate actions that raise your Joy Factor.

For those of you that have a value of integrity, or it’s sprinkled amongst your resolutions, goals or theme for the year, here is a real world example that you may resonate with. You tell yourself you’re going to exercise 3 days a week after work. You also mention to your best friend that you are available to help her with her kids as she figures out how to work full-time and be a single-parent. And your commitment to completing one project per day at work is looming over you as the clock ticks away. How do you figure out what is most important? If integrity is at the top of your list, it is imperative to know what that means to you and how to honor it.

David Truman of the Living Love Fellowship offers an interesting perspective on integrity. Think of integrity as following your heart, a very important act of love for yourself and others. When you have a decision to make, consider that a fork in your road to joy; a place to choose what direction will bring you closer to internal gratification.

If you follow your heart, you are living in alignment with what you know and feel is true, which helps you to avoid behaviors that you know and feel are wrong. If you ignore your heart and are out of integrity, you will do something you feel bad about or you’re just not sure what to do. The results from this simple choice affect your self-image; if you are in alignment with your heart and in integrity, you think you are a good person. If you ignore your heart, you may think you are no good. The effects from this action or inaction will leave you feeling positive about yourself and open to being loved. You feel presentable, desiring to be seen and known, and can enter into relationships with confidence. Or, you can feel undeserving of love, so attention is hard to accept. If you think you are “bad”, you don’t want to be known or seen by others.

Imagine the different messages this gives to others; I am happy to be in relationship with you and you are welcome into my life. This will be most attractive to the people most important in your life. If you don’t want to be seen and prefer to be left alone because you didn’t follow your heart, then people may feel you are unreceptive to them and will feel shut out and disconnected from you. When your actions are aligned with integrity, people will feel your receptivity and openness and will want to spend time with you.

Increasing optimism is a driving factor to your success; it is essential to consider how this powerful characteristic shows up in your days. Here are five direct benefits integrity has that will affect your disposition, and in turn the results you accomplish:

1. When you follow your heart and do what you tell yourself you are going to do, your self-worth and self-confidence increases. This allows you to move towards your goals and objectives with increased ease.
2. Your energy level elevates and you operate in alignment with your values, goals and intentions. This is where work feels effortless.
3. Your increased confidence is enticing to others. This self-assurance will support you in attracting new customers, alliances and support from your colleagues.
4. Your clarity continues to increase about what is most important and you can shift accordingly to ensure you remain on your road to joy.
5. Your Joy Factor increases and you enjoy your delicious life.

Life is filled with choices and opportunities and having a road map with integrity as part of your compass will support you in moving towards your goals with increased optimism.

What is your definition of integrity and how does it support you in enjoying the achievements that you desire? Join the discussion with your comment below, and I look forward to hearing from you.