TRUST
Trustworthiness:
- Integrity = “wholeness”, predictable, consistent in thoughts, words, and actions, not “two faced”.
- Honesty = sincerity, real, not hypocritical
- Promise Keeping = accountable to promises that have been made
- Loyalty = benefit of the doubt to those who you have a relationship with.
- Sincerity = not trying to trap or make fun of others honest feelings. Essential for meaningful personal relationships that are rewarding & enduring & successful associations in school, social activities & workplace.
From your own experience: What kinds of words or actions build or undermine trust?
People of character understand the importance of trust and pursue a life that makes them worthy of trust.
Even small lies & deceptions can topple towers of trust.
Towers of trust are built stone by stone, yet no tower is so tall or so strong that it can stand when lies & deception undermine its base.
Integrity is moral wholeness demonstrated by a consistency of thoughts, words, deed, and duties.
Beliefs: People with integrity listen to their conscience
Words: Have the courage to say what is right or wrong
Actions: Don’t do anything they think is wrong.
Moral Obligations – are not hypocrites. Their sense of duty to what is good.
A person of integrity has a wholeness like a whole number --- it is undivided, complete. There are not dark pieces hiding out of sight.
Integrity requires a discerning conscience that acts with good character regardless of personal cost, proclaiming openly the reason you act is on your understanding of right from wrong. There are no hidden agendas, to forked tongue, and not looking to judge.
Integrity requires both being true to oneself & living up to one’s highest and best personal values with courage and self discipline.
How does one always act with integrity?
A person with integrity is not reflex oriented. They are self-reflection oriented so they have thought clearly and act accordingly.
A person of integrity consistently behaves according to firm convictions about right & wrong.
Living up to good principles means that we always do what is right even when doing so will not get us something we want or will keep us our of trouble.
It is right to do right even if no one else is doing it.
Ethics is not for wimps! It takes moral courage to hold onto important values even in the face of criticism, embarrassment or pressure to do otherwise.
Honesty requires that one looks at all the facts. Communication & Conduct are the two keystones of honesty. Communication requires that one does not stay willingly blind. Candor, openness, and truthfulness lead to understanding. Understanding leads to conduct that is becoming of an honest person. Cheating, stealing, sneaky behavior, deceitfulness are acts that demean one character. An honest person will not keep silent when silence is intended to cause another person to believe something that is not true.
A lie has speed, but the truth has endurance.
To a liar the lie is a means to manipulate.
To one being lied to a lie is a manipulation.
Promise Keeping: Do not make promises that you cannot or should not keep. The lack of promise keeping will make you loose respect for yourself. Good work habits demand reliability. Do not over book yourself so that you have to break good habits or destroy someone’s trust in you.
Loyalty: to stand by the relationships that you have made.
Give examples of Moral Dilemmas using "Trustworthiness".
Self Quiz
How do you rate yourself?
1. Tell the truth even when it may cost me. Yes No
2. Being sincere -- not being deceptive, tricky or sneaky. Yes No
3. Being candid and forthright, volunteering information others need or want to know. Yes No
4. Honoring another's property (not stealing). Never taking what is not mine. Yes No
