The word integrity has its commonly known connotations attached to it such as ‘honesty’, ‘ethical’, and ‘moral’, typically used to define it in the way the world understands it. The terrain of academia also uses terms like ‘academic integrity’ in relation to what is considered proper academic practice in the work that one carries out as a scholar, with some of these identified words also used to explain its meaning.
Working in a scholarly environment for a number of years now has allowed me the opportunity through lived experience to understand how words and their meanings are used to establish what is defined as a ‘set professional practice’. What I have come to a deeper understanding of throughout the years, inside and outside the academy, is that to truly understand what integrity means starts first from knowing and understanding who I truly am, and not what ideals and beliefs constructed within societal life dictate.
One learns a great deal about who you are and/or are not from the experiences you have in all relationships with others, whether we deem those relationships ‘personal’, ‘professional’ or a combination of both. What I have come to learn and appreciate at an ever deepening level is that living with a depth of integrity in truth is not really about ‘morals’ or ‘ethics’ – nor is it about whether one is seen to be presenting themselves in a way that demonstrates ‘professional practice’.
It is actually quite simple and it is not based on intellectual constructs of ‘right and wrong’ – it always comes back to a point of truth that is naturally founded in love. The love that resides within us all –that is known and lived through alignment with one’s Soul – is the basis for the purity of lived integrity. I have undoubtedly learned that there are no notions of ‘perfection’ in the equation; it is actually an ongoing lived way that continually deepens and thus matures where you behold yourself and others in such love that one naturally brings a purity of integrity to life.
When I first started working in the higher education sector many years ago, I would have easily defined integrity in the standard way with the words ‘honesty’ and ‘ethical’ being particularly highlighted. These days I live and move in a way that confirms a deep integrity that comes from knowing my Soul and from this, honouring a way of life that not only brings a lived wisdom to the relationship with myself, but also naturally precipitates into relationships with all others in worldly life. So whilst honesty would still be in the equation when understanding what it is to live with integrity, it is now understood that it goes much deeper, that always brings one back to a point of truth that honours all.
