What is integrity and how important is it in today’s world? According to the Cambridge Dictionary, integrity is defined as the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles that you refuse to change. C.S. Lewis says it is doing the right thing, even if no one is looking.

I think it also has to do with treating others the way we want to be treated. I want to be surrounded by people who are truthful, trustworthy, and upright in all their dealings with others.

What about the second part of the definition: moral principles? Remember the seven deadly vices: vanity, jealousy, anger, laziness, greed, gluttony, and lust. Do you avoid these and expect others to as well? What about your religion? What does it say about integrity and morality?

Here is the way I look at integrity:

• Do the right thing even if no one is watching and even if it is not easy.
• Stay true to your personal values. Your word must mean something.
• Be consistent; don’t allow yourself to be compromised.
• Don’t allow others to push you in a direction that makes you uncomfortable.
• Do not ask people to do something they don’t want.
• Be honest and truthful.
• Be accountable for your words and actions.
• Do not hate others because they are different in some way.
• Don’t let money, possessions or power be more important that people.
• Let your actions and how you treat others speak for who you are and what you believe.
• Integrity touches all aspects of our lives. It is a choice to be made every minute of every day.
• Surround yourself with people of integrity. Expect it of others without exception.

Sometimes I look at the world today and ask why integrity doesn’t seem important to people. I get tired of hearing excuses for bad behavior and wonder if I am living in the wrong time. But then I realized, most in the world are good people who want to do right. Unfortunately, it is the others who seem to get all the attention.

All we can do is to be the best we can be and not compromise our values. Let’s not make excuses or close our eyes to the immoral behavior of others. Let’s support the high integrity and high moral people of the world.

Choose to be a light!