Importance of integrity and communication

Integrity is how somebody lives their life. In this life we live, we face choices every day that only we can answer. We dictate how we run our own lives, and the way we run them defines us. It’s doing the right thing versus the wrong thing. People, if nothing else, can always have their pride, their integrity. It is something that means a lot to some people and then nothing to others. The ones who value their integrity highly are the good people in this world, and the opposite is true for those who do not value their integrity.

Integrity in the US Army is defined as doing what’s right, legally and morally. Integrity is a quality you develop by adhering to moral principles. It requires that you do and say nothing that deceives others. As your integrity grows, so does the trust others place in you. The more choices you make based on integrity, the more this highly prized value will affect your relationships with family and friends, and, finally, the fundamental acceptance of yourself. Integrity has also been defined as “Moral soundness; honesty; freedom from corrupting influence or motive” by a good friend of mine and college graduate. The dictionary describes it as “Unimpaired, unadulterated, or genuine state; entire correspondence with an original condition; purity.” I enjoy Harold’s definition more than the official definition, however, the “genuine state” part of the dictionary definition is also really good.

Another friend gave a similar response: “morality, high standards.” Yet another friend from my high school, gave a longer, more unique assessment of the term: “Integrity is the idea of forcing yourself to adhere to some code of values, either wanted or unwanted, and in the end giving up what you want to conform to your definition of worth through integrity.” That is obviously a more cynical view of the term, which I don’t totally agree with.

My friends and I pretty much agree what integrity is. Morals and honesty. Those are