Many people give lip service to the principle of integrity. With the great majority, it is often a matter of expediency of self-interest. If it is more expedient to be honest, fine; they’re honest. If it is more expedient to realize a quick profit in some way by not being honest or by shading the truth, well then, so be it. As long as the self gets what it wants the means are justified.
In a famous line in Hamlet, Polonius says, “And this above all, to thine own self be true. And it must follow as the night the day thou canst not then be false to any man.” If we are true to ourselves, we cannot be false to anyone else.
Integrity means to try, as best we can, to know ourselves, to examine ourselves, as Socrates advised, and to make a true and honest assessment of ourselves. Being truthful with ourselves means taking the responsibility of making the best use of what we have. And what do we have? We have our underutilized minds, abilities, talents, and time. These are our possessions.
Spring is approaching and the challenge each of us has is what to plant. Think of your life as a plot of rich soil waiting to be seeded with your possessions. In can return only what you sow. And what have you to sow? You have great wealth: A mind; abilities; talents and you have time. In the planting of your possessions, use truth as your guide, have integrity as your banner, and your plot of ground will return to you an abundance that will amaze and delight you.
