I think that we can all agree that when it comes to 'Integrity" - if it were easy, everybody would do it - all the time. In Walk the Talk by Eric Harvey and Steve Ventura, the authors discuss the fact that while we all likely have values and a sense of right and wrong - "acting according to these beliefs, values, and good intentions...doing what's right..."walking the talk" is one of the biggest challenges each of us faces every day" (p. 8). In other words, if we were to compare our behaviors with our values - they might not align very well. The authors write that "discussing good citizenship is a lot easier than going out in an election-day rainstorm to vote. Stating the importance of honesty is just plain easier than overcoming the temptation to keep the change the clerk overpays us. Touting good service is one thing, staying late to make sure a customer is taken care of is quite another. And waxing eloquent about how parents should be actively involved in their children's education is a piece of cake compared to turning off our most favorite TV program so we can check our children's homework" (p. 9).
There is no doubt "that we all have moments when our behaviors are out of sync with the beliefs we hold deep down inside and that the majority of those out-of-sync behaviors are UNintentional" (p. 10). This is what makes us human. But understanding that no one is perfect is should be proof enough that we all have room for improvement.
So - are you "behaving your beliefs"? ..."The challenge starts all over again with each new tomorrow" (p. 13). This provides us all with opportunities to evaluate our values (do we practice what we preach?), evaluate our behaviors (do we model what we teach?), and see if they are in alignment. If we keep doing what is convenient and easy, most likely we are not aligned much at all.
So once again - are you 'behaving your beliefs'?
BOOK: Walk the Talk by Eric Harvey and Steve Ventura. (c) 2007 Simple Truths publishing.
