Selfish Integrity - I am not a good guy

Integrity is one of my core values that has remained strong throughout the years.

I don’t recall ever compromising on my value system because I was pressured to do so—and I believe it’s a good mentality to possess: to believe in certain ethics and NEVER EVER break them, no matter how difficult situations get.

But as I grew older, I realized my integrity was more a result of my self-esteem than societal norms.

Societal expectations make us believe a person with integrity is good and others with different qualities, say arrogance, are bad.

I don’t believe that.

I don’t think qualities have anything to do with good or bad. At least the way society tells us.

Yes I want to be true to my people and do no wrong that causes them harm. I want to give everything I can and be honest at all times; but more than any other motivation or reason, I have integrity because I value it highly in shaping my identity.

I take great pride in following my conduct - and not breaking it despite the hardest hurdles makes me sleep peacefully at night.

…and it convinces me my integrity persists because I take pride in it and consider it a defining value of my identity; not necessarily because I want to do good by the people around me.

I am not a good guy. I am just a man with integrity.