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My interest is not just knowing if I can keep my integrity, but how to keep it. What beliefs and behaviors motivate integrity? For me, I remember a simple real

by spodek 13y ago

My interest is not just knowing if I can keep my integrity, but how to keep it. What beliefs and behaviors motivate integrity? For me, I remember a simple realization. Once I was alone in an elevator, tired. I slouched, a behavior I don't like. For some reason it dawned on me that slouching when no one could see me mattered as much as any in public. I extrapolated from this otherwise trivial observation to everything and the words "It matters even when no one can see" entered my daily thoughts and beliefs, guiding decisions and behavior. Though the observation sounds trivial, one, it works and two, that's what integrity means: even little things count. (Not that it's a big deal, but I wrote it up this summer -- http://joshuaspodek.com/belief-promote-integrity-authenticity http://joshuaspodek.com/belief-promote-integrity-authenticit...)

tetha 13y ago
Basically, it boils down to discipline. Discipline allows you to do whatever you want. If you think "This sounds silly, I live in a free world, I can do what I want", think again: All of us had a day during which we went "Meh, I can't do sports/write in my book/practice/work on my toy project, it's way too warm/cold/early/late". That's an instance where you can't do what you want, because you lack discipline. Once you acquire a strong discipline, you just need to go the right path even in the small things and you are very, very integer. It won't be easy, because if you are integer, you will just go your path and collide with stuff and it will hurt and discomfort everyone involved. But then again, that's the point of discipline: You can do what you want, even if it's hard.
enraged_camel 13y ago
>>"It matters even when no one can see" This reminded me of Steve Jobs's father, who was a carpenter I believe. Steve shared an anecdote where his father would refuse to use cheap wood for the backs of cabinets, even though they wouldn't be visible.
lordofbackland 13y ago
Integrity means exactly what you extrapolated. Let me rephrase your extrapolation: "Integrity matters only when no one can see". What matters when ""others one can see" is called social contract.

by spodek 13y ago

tetha 13y ago

Basically, it boils down to discipline. Discipline allows you to do whatever you want. If you think "This sounds silly, I live in a free world, I can do what I want", think again: All of us had a day during which we went "Meh, I can't do sports/write in my book/practice/work on my toy project, it's way too warm/cold/early/late". That's an instance where you can't do what you want, because you lack discipline. Once you acquire a strong discipline, you just need to go the right path even in the small things and you are very, very integer. It won't be easy, because if you are integer, you will just go your path and collide with stuff and it will hurt and discomfort everyone involved. But then again, that's the point of discipline: You can do what you want, even if it's hard.

enraged_camel 13y ago

>>"It matters even when no one can see" This reminded me of Steve Jobs's father, who was a carpenter I believe. Steve shared an anecdote where his father would refuse to use cheap wood for the backs of cabinets, even though they wouldn't be visible.

lordofbackland 13y ago

Integrity means exactly what you extrapolated. Let me rephrase your extrapolation: "Integrity matters only when no one can see". What matters when ""others one can see" is called social contract.