Do you believe it is important to live your life with honor and integrity? Why or why not?

Question

Would life be different for everyone if we all acted in a manner consistent with honor and integrity? How?

Answer 1

If integrity is steadfast adherence to some kind of guiding principle or belief, and the refusal to veer from that course even when it means you might be embarrassed or otherwise uncomfortable...

In my own life, integrity is one of the *most* important guiding factors of my behavior and decisions and comments. Without it, I would not respect myself; maybe not even like myself. Living without honesty (to myself and others) is living without reality! I can have forays into dishonesty in the sense of playing a role or having an adventure. But I am always aware of the game, and that means I am being true to myself.

Others deserve my honesty as much as I do, and they deserve the real me -- or maybe I just prefer sharing the real me.

Honor isn't a word I connect with as readily. I believe I live my life with honor, now that I think about it. I can see how it goes along with integrity, but just isn't a concept I think much about.

Life for everyone would probably be immeasurably improved if we all were conscious of integrity and how good it makes us feel about ourselves... how comfortable in our own skin.

I often fantasize about a world where people treat each other with respect and, ok, honor. Where people have the *courage* to tell the truth when asked a question, and to be themselves in a crowd, say, rather than become a total jerk and expend so much energy putting up a front. I can't claim to have always lived as I've described and wanted. But I constantly strive for it, and wish others did, too, more than they seem to.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to know you could leave something belonging to you unlocked and unguarded... and it would not vanish? ... to know you could meet someone and learn much sooner who they really were, and if you had compatible interests, beliefs and experiences?... to know you could live your life free of rude jerks (and I'm being kind) who don't have the integrity to respect your time, your feelings, your thoughts, your belongings, your space...?

And isn't it a great feeling to *relax* and be your true self?? To know that whatever is true is ok, in some way? ... that there's no need to hide, and that hiding takes a lot more energy than a life of integrity?

What an improvement in life we'd experience if we all had that inner motivation to be the ultimate guide. Imagine people doing the right thing, not because they'd otherwise get *caught*, but because it's the right thing. Imagine someone thinking they *wouldn't* get caught... getting that bootleg movie online, say, filing a fraudulent insurance claim, or stealing from a store, yet they *don't* do it because it's wrong. Imagine a misguided teen knowing that having a buddy say it's alright to do something bad doesn't *make* it alright. Or standing up to peer pressure by not joining a gang or hate group or the others who pick on the "unusual" kid -- because of integrity standing guard where there's fear of rejection.

To have integrity could also mean to be whole, as in to have a healthy, comfortable mix of personality traits, interests, pastimes... to have balance in how you spend your time and your energy, in what you think about, and in your emotions.

If everyone had these things (and more that I'm failing to articulate), there would be little need to lash out at others in words or violence. We wouldn't have to put others down to feel good about ourselves. We wouldn't all be so "bored" and looking for superficial thrills and distractions to impress someone or feel momentarily happy. There would be less reason to distrust. Less fear would mean less over-reaction to words or events, and more reason and rationality. I could go on and on.

Yes, these things are critically important, and sadly, not as well appreciated as they could be.

Answer 2

Yes, I believe it's important because that was how I was raised. For me to do otherwise would be painful.

I you could imagine the thief or burglar with honor and integrity, then they would be a robin hood. Politicians would paint a more accurate picture of what is the real problem in our society so we can properly allocate the much needed funds to the right things. Finally, some people in Y!A would not use swear words or sell themselves or contemplate beating up losers.... Wait, I did say imagine right ... phew!

Answer 3

Of course it's important because a person dies the same way that they live. It is vital to set positive examples for others. If you leave positivity and honor for others to build from, major changes can take place in the world. People would have more respect for one another, and there would be no needless arguments and wars. It makes a huge difference when you live with integrity!

Answer 4

There is no why not! Naturally lif ewould be different if we all acted the same. To be or not to be?That is the question .

Answer 5

survey says...99.1%say yes .09% say no