Its been said that how we do one thing is how we do everything. The case being made for the validity of that statement can be proven and disproven, depending how we each look at it.
As a father, professional, husband, and a person that has interests/hobbies and a writer; much is expected. Mainly from myself. Do I do everything perfectly? Absolutely not. One thing that stands out is being a person of and with integrity. Acting with integrity.
It is integrity that helps me be better, be more consistent. To raise the bar of self-discipline. It is more than 'doing the right thing.' Integrity is a way of being with our actions, thoughts, values, principles, morals and virtues. Regardless of the outcomes.
With my children, I don’t promise anything, but I honor what I say. I don't lie to my kids, not even a small, innocent white lie. Afterall, is it that innocent? Where do you think children learn to lie? From observing parents use white, little lies. I demonstrate patience, nurture them with love and presence. Recently, I wrote about taking a job because my integrity to support my family is paramount. It doesn't mean I show up for a job I hate, no. It does however mean that there will be days I may not like showing up, but integrity as a man of responsibility and duty to his job and family, means something.
I look at men and women who serve our country or a group of people and that is what moves me. They defend or support people unknown to them and I get to do that for my created family. As a husband, likely where my integrity has been tested the most, its about showing up. Opening myself up in mind and spirit. Yes, its about being respectful and faithful and honest. Marriage and love for me means, the willingness to sacrifice, openly and without condition, for the other person. Support them and help them grow. For my hobbies the integrity falls in doing them because I find value in them. As a writer, it is doing the work everyday, even if I'm posting out of cadence. Mainly, communicating only how I can, what it is I think.
Larry Winget comes to mind when I think integrity, "every time you're tempted to slack off or do or be a little less than you could, remember that you are a person of integrity who lives by the simple creed: do what you said you would do, when you said you would do it, the way you said you would do it." Kobe Bryant would say, "i signed the contract, now I do my job. There is no negotiating with myself." My children did not decide to be here, but I have a job to do. I signed the employment contract. I signed the marriage contract. I signed the social contract, here, to all of you who read this. Every day I wake up and decide to honor the terms of the contract I signed with myself. Integrity might be hard for some, but all we have to do is decide. Then, just show up and do the work. If we do that, we will be people of integrity.