What if definitions for value-words, like Integrity, were simple? Not easy, just
easy to understand. What if Integrity
generally meant “an alignment of word and action?” However, while many of us are taught the
importance of keeping one’s word (doing what I said I would do) and honest
disclosure (saying/admitting what I have done), what if there is a third, even
more important, skill to living out Integrity? A skill that addresses the question “What
do I do when I fail?” called "How-to Return to Integrity."
In the Navy, the term for ships that maintain their purpose
of keeping passengers dry is called “watertight integrity.” When no leaks exist, the promise is kept; any
undesired leak, unchecked, could threaten the ship and represents a loss of
watertight integrity. If humans refused
to take repair or emergency equipment onto ships and only traveled on vessels
guaranteed to never leak (think Titanic) there would be no ocean travel.
Sadly many men live under social rules that don’t align with
the reality of being human, like: “just
don’t fail,” “failure is not an option,” or “there is no failure when everyone
wins.” The result of these expectations
for men can lead them to believe any mistake is placed into some permanent
record as a failure. From this
perspective, even if the final outcome is successful, errors are corrected, and
the mistake is fixed, the result is still counted as a failure. Is it any wonder why some men work so hard to
hide or downplay failures?
Path to Freedom
With God there is another option to the Pass/Fail measure
for success: Integrity.
In the real world, humans are not perfect. Rather than expecting people to be something
‘other’ than what they are, under the concept of Integrity the focus would be on creating a plan to repair, and
mitigate damage from, failures that will happen.
This concept is NOT about enabling failure, it is about not
allowing failure to define the outcome.
It is still important to only commit to obligations one plans to
fulfill, and honestly admit to things done in the past. This “Return to
Integrity” skill takes into account the humanity of humans, and then provides a
path to return to the freedom of a firm value-based foundation.
Imagine a man told to row a boat to the other side of the
lake without experiencing any leaks. The
Pass/Fail measure suggests that once a leak occurs the entire mission has
failed, even if the man fixes the leak and makes it to the other side of the
lake. Most would say that not fixing the leak and completing the trip would be
irresponsible. The integrity measure
would not count how many times he has failed, but that he achieved his committed
goal (think Abraham Lincoln).
This concept is NOT about “ends justifying means,”
perfection, or enabling “leaky” behaviors.
It IS about taking action to seal life-leaks, and re-seal them until Integrity is regained. Failure is an option, being human can still
bring powerful results! This Key Skill is How-To REGAIN Integrity.
A life
focused on Integrity rises above mistakes, and makes every failure an
opportunity for new success, even learning more than had one succeeded the
first time. If a more human existence that doesn't excuse failure, but doesn't demand perfection either, sounds interesting to you...
Let us help you find your path to a Return to Integrity.
You can reach us at:
SpiritCounselingTx.com
You can reach us at:
SpiritCounselingTx.com
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