Volume 4, Issue 8
How much Integrity do you have?

I believe  having a high level of integrity is one of the most important characteristics we can possess, it is a core value, it is a choice, it is something  we can nurture. Integrity is modeled all around us, yet it’s value in our society seems to be under rated.  Integrity comes into play in everything we do, in fact it’s more than everything we do, it’s everything we are.

Coming from a place of integrity means being truthful, honest,  it means being reliable, it means coming from a place of trying to build rather than break,  help rather than hurt, connect rather than crumble.

Coming from a place of integrity, means being authentic- the same you whether people or watching or not.

When I was a young nurse,  I made a mistake  in my job and learned a valuable lesson that I still call upon to this day.  Now I hate to tell you this, but  I made a medication error, I gave the wrong medication to the wrong patient.  Now it was only a Tylenol, so no harm was done, but still and all, I made a medication error.  Nobody knew but me- here is what happened...  I was preparing the lunch time pills, I had to crush up one patients pills because she couldn’t swallow them  whole, I crushed it up, mixed it up with some yummy apple sauce  and then got distracted by someone else wanting my attention.  I put the mixture down, dealt with the other issue and when I came back I grabbed the pills and promptly put them in another patients mouth.  YIKES, the second she swallowed the pills, I realized they weren’t her pills, I remember feeling the urge to choke the pills out of her, but of course I realized that wasn’t going to be a good idea either.  It was too late- the deed was done.   Ughhh.   I made my way down to my  the director of nursing’s office, and I slunk in with my head hanging very low,  and I began to ramble on… “I made a med error, I gave this ladies’ Tylenol to that lady because I got distracted and wasn’t paying attention to what I was supposed to be doing.  Next time, I will finish what I am doing and then move on to handle the  next issue, I am so sorry.”

She just looked at me. I was panicky, she said, “When an error has been made these are the things we look for:

1)      remorse
2)      accepting of responsibility
3)       ability to understand why it happened
4)      a plan in place so that it does not happen again

You have come into my office and all of those things have been addressed, now go back to work.”

Hmmm, that wasn’t as bad as I had thought it would be.  Those words she spoke all those years ago still resonate with me and they define integrity to me, too.  You will not always be right or do right, but when you have  integrity  you step up- you  accept responsibility for your actions,  you feel remorse,  you have an understanding of why it happened so that you can put a plan in place to ensure it won’t happen again.

You know how a bad reputation follows you around, well the fabulous thing about living life with integrity is that it actually precedes you.  And here is what I mean by that, if you tell the truth, even when you don’t have to ,  do the right thing even when nobody is around to notice, consistently show up on time,  do  your best ,  keep your promises,  etc. etc., then that is what people assume of you,  that becomes your character- this comes in very handy so when you do make a mistake- people tend to give you the benefit of the doubt, instead of saying , “Oh, she’s always late.”  They might worry you got into an accident because you are never late,  if someone who doesn’t know you well judges you harshly, someone who does know you  might say, “She must be having a difficult day because she is not usually like that.”  If you make a mistake, it will be easily forgiven.   You see how the reputation comes  first?  Can you see how it could work in reverse as well, if you lack integrity, people will not trust, value or respect you.

QUESTION DE JOUR...

Think about how integrity plays a role in your life, in the life of your family, think about what sort of values are you modelling, how are you modelling them, how can you live a life filled to overflowing with integrity.

If you are not getting what you want out of your life, then look inside and see exactly what’s going on in your life, I know if you focus on coming from a place of integrity, your character will be strengthened, your relationships will be strengthened and  your life will be strengthened.  Start by being honest and true to yourself and the rest will follow.

 And one final point,  it is not just the BIG things that count,  it the hundreds of little things that we do each and every day that mould our character, that develop our integrity and that help us live our lives, unlimited. 
Let me know how integrity places out in your life.
I continue to enjoy your feedback- thank you!!

Thank you for spending your valuable time with me!!

Stephanie  

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