"Integrity" is a word well known to all of us and in most cases denoting something boring. Is not it so? A "nerd" in glasses immediately appears, who takes old women across the road, gives way to a place in public transport and a queue at the cashier, and in the evenings removes cats from trees. I can't believe that a man who drives a jeep and owns the world can be decent. Or maybe? Or is it not happiness? Let's talk about it in this post.
Virtue is out of fashion now
It's not only clothes or musical trends that go into and out of fashion, but also certain moral qualities. Since most of us were born during the Soviet era (and some even had the honor of growing up and being educated at that time), we know firsthand who the “Timurovites” are. It was a "trend", in modern terms, young people aspired to be decent, sympathetic, humane. The word "decency" then was well known and respected by everyone.
When the Iron Curtain lifted, it became fashionable to be naughty. Beatniks, dissidents -young people sought to oppose themselves to the system, even if not in a very decent way. What is in fashion today? Certainly not altruism! Although this is not taught in the classroom, it is fashionable today to strive for heights, gain we alth and fame. Decency? This is something that can get in the way of everything. In the course of sayings like "Impudence is the second happiness", "Every man for himself", and it is precisely such "punching" behavior that society tacitly approves.
Honesty and Integrity
In fact, no society or state system can decide for you what kind of person you need to be. Remember what mom used to say to us in childhood for behavior that was stupid from her point of view? “And if everyone goes to jump from the eighth floor, will you go too?” It may be “fashionable” now to be a kind of disobedient, a person without principles and rules, but there is also an inner voice, a force much more powerful than the voice of the social system.
Each of us hears this voice, which is called the conscience, soul, mind or the voice of the heart. Integrity is one of our very best manifestations. How does it manifest itself?
What is integrity?
- Delimitation of the concepts of "good" and "evil". This is not about social patterns, but your inner flair. Without religious precepts and the penal code, you know what is good and what is not.
- Reluctance to do "evil" deeds. Inner decency makes us feel ashamed when we commit immoral acts. Note that there is nocoercion - we decide what to do. And even if we choose something “wrong” (from our point of view), we can remain completely unpunished, and only our conscience will torment us afterwards.
- The desire to do good deeds. Inner decency "approves" our desire to be "good" and rewards with a sense of deep satisfaction.
What makes a person decent?
It will seem strange, but most people would be more than happy to give up such a dubious gift of nature as decency. Why is she needed? To interfere with personal growth, advancement, enrichment?
However, as the practice and experience of millions of people shows, all "toys" like money, fame, power do not bring great moral satisfaction (of course, it's hard to believe until you "play enough" with them enough). People are chasing more and more of these achievements, but, having got them, they experience disappointment and a feeling of something depressing in their souls. But try to live decently! You will not gain anything material, but the soul will still rejoice and sing. The fact of the matter is that material things, like fake New Year's toys, "do not please." At the same time, decency allows you to feel omnipotent and almost on top of the world, even if you are a poor student.
Integrity is not an obligatory quality. Moreover, "good" behavior, according to modern social stereotypes, will prevent a person from realizing himself. But this is only if we understand the “realization” of oneself as the pursuit of values like career growth,for money, new branded things. If you just want to be happy, live in harmony with yourself, then you will not be able to be dishonorable.
