Somewhere I think I have already posted this, but Landmark explains integrity with an illustration that has really stuck with me. Integrity is honoring your word, which is greater than keeping your word. How can that be? An example - I am sure I have already said this, but I gave my word to my Dad that I would care for him as he began falling apart (he had dementia and Parkinson's). I gave him my word I would not put him in a nursing home. However, as his dementia progressed, to honor my word to take care of him, I actually did have to put him in a secure dementia facility because he was becoming dangerous to himself and others.
Anyway, in keeping our integrity or being complete, we honor our word - both what we say and what is expected (for instance, if we have a child we may never say to them we will provide for them and guide them, but it is "expected" as a parent that we honor even the unsaid - that we would care for the child emotionally and physically. Or another example might be that we don't cheat on our spouse - not because we said we wouldn't but because we are honoring our word, our vow to them . .
The illustration about integrity was a bike wheel. Our integrity is like a bike wheel with the spokes. It is complete. But if we start yanking out spokes, it becomes weaker, and it is no longer complete, it will collapse eventually. That is like us. If we start to yank spokes out - we do not keep our integrity - we become weaker, quit working and performing like we should or could, are not as successful . .
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