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It is true that we must act as we say, conduct ourselves as we manifest, and behave as we preach. That will bring us rewards and satisfactions, both personally and socially. It is a reflection of our solid formation and education. Most of us will, definitely, agree with that. Of course, nobody likes to be labelled as a person with double standards, or being dishonest, or being a liar. Hence, most of us do care about acting as we say… that we really “walk the talk”.

“Walk the talk” surely makes us, before the eyes of everybody, people with principles, people with integrity; and this is basically because that is how people “measure” the level of integrity we possess.

Integrity is perhaps the one virtue that most people seek to grow. However, integrity is not only whether we behave as we preach. It requires more than that. A person who is integral will have, as the first quality, all his or her behaviour, attitudes, wishes, feelings and thoughts aligned, congruent, and undivided. That is, if we understand and accept that our behaviours are born from the very root of how we think and how we feel inside. The second quality, not less important, is that morality, rooted on solid and uncorruptible virtues and values, will drive those thoughts, feelings, wishes, attitudes and behaviours.

It is also true that we, and only we, know our deepest thoughts as well as the real reasons why we act the way we act. Just because of this, it is not for the others to judge and conclude if we are someone with integrity. This is something that only we can do. Even so, anyway, others will “measure” our level of integrity by hearing what we say and seeing what we do… That is, if we “walk the talk”. And sometimes, we do the same to us: we also use “walk the talk” to “measure” our own level of integrity. Is this our case? Could we just, then, be “pretending” to be a person with high level of integrity (and not necessarily being conscious of that)?

Take a look at the following situations, and honestly try to answer them:

You declare you always respect the laws and regulations and today you were driving when the traffic light in front of you turned from amber to red, and you thought, for a moment, to cross over a red light, but you stopped the car in time. You did not break the traffic regulation, as per your affirmation; but why did you really stop the car? Could it be because:

1. You were afraid to get caught by the red-light camera and get a ticket?
2. You worried to get into a collision with another vehicle and face serious consequences, both legally and financially?
3. You are considerate to others and respect their right of way?

You profess that you respect everybody and that you follow the Christian teachings, and today, at school, a boy was insulting you and you felt like insulting him back, and even punching him on the face, but you decided to lower your head, bite your tongue, and leave the room. The right thing to do, but why did you really exercise control on yourself? Was it, maybe, because:

1. You were afraid to get in trouble, if you hurt him?
2. You worried to get hurt yourself if you start a fight?
3. You are a respectful person who practices forgiveness?

You affirm you are a charitable person and you care for the poor, and today, as you walked along with your boss to have lunch, you met a beggar on the street who asked you $1, but you gave him $10. A commendable thing to do; but why did you really give him $10? Could have it been because:

1. You were afraid to upset the beggar if you gave him little or no money?
2. You wanted to impress your boss and others?
3. You are a generous person and know that $1 will not buy enough food to fill his stomach?

Many times, indeed, we do the right thing and we act as we preach, but we do it driven by our fears, interests, convenience, wrong feelings, and so on, and not by a solid moral that should be strongly rooted in our heart and our mind. Certainly, if we lack morals to drive our thoughts, feelings, wishes, attitudes and behaviours, our level of integrity will remain poor, despite us “walking the talk.”   

And with a poor level of integrity, can you guess what might happen the next time you find yourself in such situations?

 Think of that.

And, please, take a look at the details of the new book “THE PRINCIPLES OF SICAMOR”, as well as at the other articles!