Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 333 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

Why Integrity Matters

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 333 of our trek. The past two days we traveled on a trail that presented us many choices as we consider the topic of why you always have a choice. Today we continue on a similar trail as we explore Why Integrity Matters. Of course, integrity is built over time by the choices that we make each day.

Thank you so much for coming along with me on our daily trek through life as we learn how to build integrity by growing in our wisdom, insight, and understanding. While some of our daily treks are multi-part series, you can join us at any time and start along with us from that point on. If you would like to listen to any of the past episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal. You can also subscribe to Wisdom-Trek on iTunes, Spreaker, Stitcher, Soundcloud, and Google Play so each day’s trek will be downloaded to you automatically.

We are broadcasting from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. We have certainly been enjoying our pair of hawks this past week as they fly in and out of the nest with additional nesting materials and food. They are beautiful to watch, and we are blessed to have such a close-up view. Inside the house, we continue to make slow, but steady progress on the woodwork in the parlor, but the end results are worth the effort. As I work on renovating the various parts of the house, I am thankful for the integrity used when building The Big House. In the same way, our lives should be known for being built on integrity as we hike our trail for today…

Why Integrity Matters

It’s not always easy to admit a mistake, persevere during tough times, or follow through on every promise made. It is not always easy to be mature, maintain your composure and not get angry when another person treats you unfairly. It’s not always comfortable to convey the hard truth or stand up for your beliefs. In a business situation, especially if you are a manager or owner, it may not be beneficial in the short-term to do right by your clients, to put people before profits, to distance yourself from a questionable relationship, and to maintain exceptional business practices. Without exception, though, in the long run, doing the right thing is the clear path to build and keep your reputation both personally and professionally. It is also the only path to long-term success and happiness. Your integrity always matters.  Here are nine foundation principles, or stepping stones as to why integrity really does matter.

1. Achieve peace of mind

People with good character and integrity can sleep well at night. They take great pride in knowing that their intentions and actions are honorable. People with integrity also stay true to their beliefs, do right by others, and always take the high ground. They would rather suffer temporary loss, if needed, in order to maintain long-term integrity. They realize that life is a marathon and finishing well requires that you run the entire race well.

2. Strengthen trust

People with character enjoy meaningful relationships based on openness, honesty, and mutual respect. When you have high integrity, people know that your behavior is reliable, your heart is in the right place, and your word is good as gold.

3. Build a solid reputation

People with integrity command a rock-solid reputation. This helps them attract exciting opportunities “like a magnet.” People will follow someone who has integrity. Remember, though, reputation is how others see you, integrity is what you really are. A person of integrity will do what is right, even if no one sees them.

Psalms 106:3 – There is joy for those who deal justly with others and always do what is right.

4. Reduce anxiety

People with integrity carry less baggage. They’re comfortable within their own skin, and they accept responsibility for their actions. They never have to play games, waste precious time keeping their stories straight, or invent excuses to cover their behind. They can love themselves properly because of their integrity, which allows them to love others unconditionally.

5. Increases your effectiveness when leading others

People who have high integrity can be more effective when they are in a leadership role. They have no need to pull rank or resort to command and control to get results. Instead, they’re effective because they’re knowledgeable, admired, trusted, and respected. This helps them trust their judgment without requiring ridiculous rules or strong oversight designed to force compliance.

Romans 15:2 – We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.

6. Build confidence

People with integrity don’t worry about embarrassment if their actions are publicly disclosed. This alleviates the need for deception, damage control or the fear of potential disgrace as a result of indiscretions.

7. Become a positive role model

People with integrity set the standard for excellence. They live their life as an open book, teaching others important life lessons through their words and their deeds. They truly live their legacy each day.

John 3:21 – But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.

8. Live a purpose-driven life

People with integrity live a life they can be proud of. They’re driven to make a difference and to do right by others rather than trying to impress others with extravagance. Their lives are a living testament to a life of purpose and meaning.

9. Build a strong life

Having integrity is the foundation for a strong life both personally and in business. Everything else being equal, a person of integrity will be a better worker, manager, professional, and business owner. They do right by their family, friends, fellow associates, customers, and communities. Although it is difficult to maintain that integrity all the time, they know that long-term their lives will be stronger and better lived if they have stellar integrity.

Galatians 6:9 – So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

As we complete our trek for today, it is clear from the foundation stones on the trail that we have hiked why integrity really does matter. If we walk in integrity, God will grant common sense to go along with it as is indicated in Proverbs 2:7, “He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.” One of the foundation stones of a person with integrity is that he lives with a purpose.

Tomorrow we will hike the trail that will help us to understand what it means to live with a purpose. So, encourage your friends and family to join us, and then come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

That will finish our trek for today. As you enjoy your daily dose of wisdom, we ask you to help us grow Wisdom-Trek by sharing with your family and friends through email, Facebook, Twitter, or in person so they can come along with us each day.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most of all your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal each day.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

1. Live Abundantly (Fully)
2. Love Unconditionally
3. Listen Intentionally
4. Learn Continuously
5. Lend to others Generously
6. Lead with Integrity
7. Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

This is Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Every Day! See you tomorrow!