Take Your Personal Integrity Higher By Pursuing Probity Principles

(Editor's note about the author: T.O. Illustratio is a free lance writer and observer of the interaction of personalities in everyday life. The author seeks to inspire readers to look within themselves to see how much good they can do in this world when a definitive purpose in life is clear.)

Could it be chimera or will-o'-the-wisp? Is it merely a mirage or a fool's paradise? Or are we on solid ground in envisioning a sweeping change of attitude and answerability among the springtime members of humanity? Is it reasonable to latch on to an inspiring anticipation that the younger generation will hyper-focus on to the pathway of pursuing probity principles?

Some may be reading this and wondering how to answer such inquiries when the term "probity" is unfamiliar. This humble writer would have been in the same category the first time someone used the word in a conversation with me.

My immediate thought was trying to associate that term with some sort of root word. I thought of probing for some discovery as in piercing interrogation or maybe using a sharp object to search for something hidden from view. I wasn't even close, so don't lose any sleep over not being clear on the actual definition. I'll share it with you here.

Preparedness for Pursuing Probity Principles

Here is the explanation I was given long ago by someone much smarter than myself and over time, I've never heard a more accurate version. Probity is the next step, the most important step, the action step when one acquires genuine integrity.

I was advised to perceive the correlation between integrity and probity in the same manner as a prerequisite course in school or training in advance of an intricate activity. We wouldn't want our heart surgeon to walk into the operating room without prior knowledge and training.

Integrity is a personal commitment to living a life based on honesty, moral values, and principles. You've probably read about doing the right thing, even when no one is looking. People of high integrity are consistently dependable to take the high road. There can be no expectation of pursuing probity principles without a solid personal commitment to integrity.

The Winter Olympics concluded a few weeks ago, as this column is written. The athletes practiced, trained, and sacrificed for years in preparation for their events. Think of personal integrity as the practice, training, and sacrifice needed to step up into assuming probity principles. Probity is the event.

Probity is a very public, fearless demonstration of putting those personal strengths, including honesty, humility, and truthfulness on full display. Examples of probity are found in positions of authority when corruption is called out, regardless of where it comes from, or the consequences faced by being publicly truthful.

Honesty is an important character trait for every person, one we should all aspire to, but personal honesty to ourselves while certainly commendable, can be easily hidden from public awareness. Probity requires bigger actions that bring bigger risks.

Probity is demonstrated in people who are incapable of corruption, always providing an aura of transparency, and operating in full view within a framework of an unshakeable moral compass.

A person of integrity sees improper activity at their place of employment and would never stoop to such depths of dishonesty. Probity takes people to the next step which includes bringing the problem to light and working to fix it. Probity sets in place systems, structures, and procedures that provide institutional trust.

Promoting Probity To Our Youth

I think in every generation, the older folks bemoan, "that younger generation" and their work ethic. Perhaps its a right of passage into getting on in years. But an in-depth look at our national history gives us hope. As teenagers and just past that, most of us had a sort of rebellious style, some more than others. But time and maturity bring clarity and intelligence. Responsibility and commitments force that on us.

It's my belief that like my own generation, this younger segment will take their place as new leaders. Not all of them, but not all of them did in my era either. Our work isn't done. It is incumbent upon us to model probity to the next generation. The person who explained the definition long ago concluded with this comment which has stuck with me ever since. "Now that you know what it means, you have no excuse. You have to live it everyday."

The generation coming up will take on the challenges ahead, they will assume the elected positions, they will build companies, they will do all they can to leave things better than they found them.

How well we teach them probity principles will determine their learning curve. It isn't enough to be quietly honest, while being so is a virtue. Probity requires us to be vocal, courageous, and consistent. As with our own kids, they will do as they see us do.

Written by T.O. Illustratio

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