The roadblock on the highway to significance in life that is most powerful, in both my observation of myself and other people, is the lack of personal integrity. As we learned before, integrity means being consistent, or congruent, on the inside and the outside of one’s life.
There are millionaires, there are billionaires, and there are people who possess vast amounts of power or fame who are not people of integrity at all. But to be a person of significance, in my opinion, one has to continually fight this battle with one of the biggest roadblocks there is in life’s journey to significance: integrity.
Here’s the bottom line: when word, thought and deed are consistently congruent, we have integrity. Word, thought, and deed.
One might well ask then, “Are there ways by which I can improve my thought process and thereby protect and strengthen my integrity?” I believe there are many. Invest your life in truth, and then bring your words in conformity with that standard. Develop generous portions of patience, forgiveness, and humility. Focus your life on moral and ethical actions. Build relationships with friends and mentors who hold the same approach to life. Cultivate a boldness for doing the right thing, and do it even when the cost is high. Remember that this pursuit of integrity is not about perfection; it is about persistence, excellence, and commitment.
If we choose to live with a lack of integrity, we will find ourselves staring at a giant impasse of a roadblock on the path to significance. But when we become people of integrity, our significance in life will be substantial.
- Exercise:
Is there an area of your life where a lack of personal integrity has become a roadblock for you?
What steps can you take to overcome it?
Integral Development Forum 