INTEGRITY…To have or not to have?
How many words do we speak each day that we don’t even give thought to what is the “Root” of the word? We are so comfortable and familiar with the words that we use that we very rarely challenge ourselves to expand our vocabulary by using a synonym. The spark that ignited me to write this came from reading a devotional today that dealt with “Integrity”. A word that we use all the time when we want to describe someone who we respect, trust, would be comfortable leaving our small children with. Yes, Integrity. But how do you define it? What image does it create for you? Whose face do you see when you hear the word? How does the word apply to you? Would others who know you use the word to describe you? Here’s the origin of the word and the definition that came up when I did a Google search on it:
***INTEGRITY is the quality of being HONEST and consistently adhering to strong MORAL and ETHICAL principles. It also refers to the state of being WHOLE, UNDIVIDED, or structurally SOUND.
It further went to say that the term comes from the Latin word integer, which literally translates to "whole" or "complete". It also dealt with:
Key Pillars of Integrity:
- Moral Consistency
- Honesty & Trustworthiness
- Wholeness
And to cap it off, the different contexts in which it can be associated with:
- Personal Integrity
- Professional/Artistic Integrity
- Structural/Data Integrity
****Google Search: Integrity meaning
That’s a lot more than you and I think about when we hear or use the word “Integrity”!
I want to challenge and leave you with this. Do your own “deep dive” into one or more of these areas to reacquaint yourself with the word. Also, think about those who you consider to be people of “Integrity”. Ask yourself, in your eyes, what makes them someone you would say has “Integrity”?
I just think it would benefit us at times to be thoughtful about the words that we use, and how we use (and apply them) to people or things!
Thank you for taking the time to read this post and give some thought to this topic! God Bless
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