Living An Organized Life With Integrity
Life moves fast, and sometimes in all the hubbub, we’re forced to make decisions on the fly. We’re put on the spot – there’s no time to gather information, no time to check with others, no time to think it through. So how do you maintain the ability to make smart, healthy, responsible decisions under this much pressure? Integrity(and organization)!
Integrity – possessing a strong moral compass and value system. It’s not only about being honest with other people; it’s also about being honest with yourself. It’s about being purposeful in the way you act and behave, always relying on your belief system to guide your decisions and help you stand tall in the face of adversity. Organization gives you the freedom to maintain your integrity especially when you are running at break-neck speed trying to get everything done in life.
Do you know what your belief or value system is? Most people think they do, but if you haven’t spent some time reflecting about it, you might be more likely to waver. We suggest writing down the principles by which you want to live or make a list of the values that you consider most important. For example, is spending time with your family on Friday evening important? If that is part of your belief system and you organize your schedule around this value, then it becomes easy to say “no” when asked to do something else on a Friday night.
Take time to identify your priorities. What is most important in your life? By always aligning your decisions and actions with your priorities, principles, and values, you can ensure you are living with integrity. Use your belief system to guide your behavior every day.
Here are a few of our favorite ways to build character and live with integrity:
Be positive. Negative thoughts way us down psychologically and emotionally. If you can focus on the positives and tackle problems with optimism, life will be more fun, you’ll have more energy, and you’ll accomplish more.
Rely on reason over emotion. Your feelings can be chaotic, especially in the heat of the moment. Overacting based on emotions can damage your character. Take a deep breath, stay calm, and use rational, concrete information before acting or speaking.
Conquer bad habits one at a time. When you feel guilty because of your actions or behaviors, you know what you need to change. Work on one bad habit at a time and commit to doing better.
Be trustworthy. Do what you say you will do and do it to the best of your ability. Don’t make promises you can’t keep.
Accept others for who they are. Respect others’ views and listen to their reasoning. No one walks the same path in life, and our unique experiences teach us to respond to events and circumstances differently. Trying to change others will only frustrate you and damage relationships.
Follow your own path. Others may try to influence your decisions and then react negatively when you don’t follow their advice, but to be true to yourself, you must live by your own beliefs and values. Don’t allow others to impose their will on you.
An article about integrity may seem out of place on a blog about professional organizing, but most professional organizers realize that many people are disorganized because they don’t have a clear understanding of how they want to live. By living with integrity, you’ll be better equipped to cope with setbacks, face obstacles, solve problems, and accomplish your goals.
Share with us your guiding principles or values! We’d love to hear how you approach life and what helps you live with integrity.
