How to Stop Bailing Water Out of Your Integrity Boat and Relax
Photo by Boxed Water Is Better on Unsplash
Acting with integrity can include the simple practice of “doing what works.”
I like to think of integrity as a boat; either it works or it doesn’t. There is no moral judgment involved. It’s not about right or wrong or good or bad. If the boat’s got you, then you can relax, knowing you are being held. You can be highly productive and get from one point to another. Or you can use the opportunity to enjoy just being on the water. (Wow... maybe even take a nap.)
However, If your boat has a hole, you’ve got to spend time and energy bailing out water. This does not allow for getting very far very fast. It certainly doesn’t provide a relaxing environment in which to just be. And eventually, you’ll have to figure out how to plug the hole. This is where acknowledging our mistakes and cleaning things up comes in handy.
A while back, my husband, Craig, mentioned that I must really enjoy fixing things. A few years ago, we engaged a fabulous company, HOMEPOINT, who are essential partners in maintaining the integrity of our home. At some point, we had two guys here working on things all day, and I had fun geeking out with them.
My answer to Craig:
“I used to think I liked to fix things. Now I realize I just like to have things work.”
It doesn’t have to be me that does the fixing. I can see how this relates closely to my core value of EXCELLENCE. When your actions are consistent with your deeply rooted core, then you are acting with integrity. You are being true to who you are, and to what you expect from yourself and others.
The thing I have to watch out for is thinking I have cornered the market on doing the right thing the right way.
How do you define “doing the right thing?” It seems like there is more value in asking ourselves the question than in the answer itself. And as I’m now well into my sixth decade of living on planet Earth, I notice my answer has changed over time. For me, at this point, it boils down to…
Being true to oneself...
...And being accountable for our impact on others in the process. When we are true to our core selves, we no longer suffer. This can, in turn, reduce the suffering of those around us. When we take accountability for having our actions be in integrity with our core values, things just work.
For more about how to define your core values and to explore what integrity means to you, please visit our website. Oh, and here’s a list of my core values:
Love
Excellence
Fairness
Appreciation
Honesty
Authenticity
Enjoy this day my friend,
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Fundamental #19: FIX PROBLEMS AT THE SOURCE
Address issues by discovering the root cause rather than focusing on the symptoms or the consequences. Continuously seek improvement by developing long-term solutions.
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