This is one of those funny little words that carries loads of weight and heaps of responsibility in it – and it absolutely effects you very negatively when you negotiate it in any way. The gold ol’ English Oxford dictionary defines it as: wholeness, soundness, uprightness, honesty. I would hasten to add – impeccable and moral. High standards to strive for then??
When you are IN–INTEGRITY with your life and your values and who you really are deep inside your soul, I can guarantee you that there will be so many things transpiring in your favour. You become very clear on what it is that you need to be doing and why. When you have clearly defined boundaries about what is right and wrong for you, life is that much simpler and this is the most amazing feeling! It also gives you untold energy to live you life to the full.
When you are out of integrity is some way, you will experience turmoil, stress and a nagging feeling inside your soul…..or that horrible “angsy” butterfly feeling in your solar plexus. You know what I mean hey? It will drain all your resources and zap your “joie de vie”! Any breakdown of relationships or situations that are transpiring around you can almost always be linked to a breakdown in agreements with yourself- ie when you step out of integrity and negotiate your self and values. It is never worth it!
As you know, I always use stories from my own life to inspire anything that I she with you…… so here is my latest one.
I was meeting an 8 o’clock client at the waterfront straight after my coaching club skype session at 7.00am, so I needed to go in extra early to set up my laptop and be online to connect with them all. When my 3G is active on my laptop I usually have less than an hour of battery: well my club session takes an hour, so to be 100% safe I also needed a plug-point. At that early 7.00am hour everything in the Waterfront is closed. So I was sitting in a restaurant courtyard inside the shopping centre and plugged my lap top into one of their power sockets.
As I was sitting there with my club on line, it really felt more and more like “stealing” their electricity, and for me was totally out of integrity: I knew I needed to rectify it ‘cos I felt terrible and was getting that nurgly feeling inside me. After finishing my online session, then meeting my client, the restaurant I had “stolen power” from was still not open for trading. So of course I left and went home. But it nagged at me and I felt like I had left part of me sitting at that table. At lunch time I called them and shared I had been there using their power without asking….do you know how amazing it was to be upfront and honest? Most people would not have bothered, I know this, but I felt GREAT and back in line with my integrity. No amount of money, possessions or shopping can buy that experience for you. The manager laughed saying it was the Waterfront’s power and for people like me to use, but thanked me enormously for phoning. The point…it was important for me to stay in integrity..
So….are you out of integrity, negotiating boundaries and going against your values?
There is only one thing to say: Sort it out!! The big things and the little things DO matter. Make those calls, write them letters, do whatever it takes to get back in integrity with yourself.
If you need some help to do this……give me a shout and we can set up some coaching. Just holler: Kate, I need some help as my integrity has gone walkabout. Let go find it, kick it into shape and get you back on track again. Till next time, stay in integrity as much as you can. People will wonder what you are grinning about.
Love Kick arse Kate
