INTEGRITY MONTH: DAY 17: “…one of the best feelings there is is the accomplishing of something that’s difficult. It’s something that’s yours. It’s something no one can take away from you. And it’s brave too, very brave. Determination means courage, and courage means you’re a real person. And it doesn’t have to be the most earth shattering act either. It could be telling yourself you’re going to walk a mile and then going out and walking it. Or telling yourself I’m not going to chew gum for a week and then keeping your word to yourself. This is called dignity. It helps your self-respect…” ― Don Robertson
We can only begin to have integrity by following through with what we say we will do. It begins there. And by doing only those things that are integral to our beliefs.
I can tell when I am not living into the vision I have of myself in this world. I am a very healthy eater. From time to time I have an urge to eat something that I shouldn’t. This is usually in a social setting where I feel inclined to “go along” with what is happening. I am sometimes reluctant to seem rigid with my self-imposed dietary restrictions. Even though they nurture me and keep me healthy, sometimes I just want to pig-out on bad food.
So I do. And pay prices every time. So, I have learned to weigh what this brings to my life. The funny thing is that I always feel dishonest about it. That is one of the worst prices. I feel like a fraud. Probably because I am a fraud, I guess. Ugh!
So, I love when I honor what my internal goals are. No one is ever going to know what I do or whether I do most of what I work on. Except me. I am the recipient of all the good feelings or the bad, depending on what I do or don’t do.
And how I do or don’t do it. That is another key piece. I don’t believe the word he is using is correct. The quote states that it is called “dignity,” but I believe the word is integrity. And we do develop self-respect by behaving in ways that show we do respect our internal beliefs and sense of what is right and wrong. It is a personal thing, and only we can give ourselves this gift and only we can take it away. It is a precious one, that is for sure.
Dolphin Hug 