Life by Design

Build a life by design, not by accident — and leave behind a story worth telling.

Integrity

Truth in all things

Integrity is who you are when no one’s watching. It’s the alignment between what you say and what you do, between your public image and your private reality. It’s wholeness—no compartments, no masks, no versions of yourself depending on the audience.

Most people live fragmented. They’re honest in some areas, deceptive in others. They tell the truth when it’s convenient, lie when it’s easier. They keep promises when they feel like it, break them when the cost is too high. That’s not integrity. That’s performance.

Integrity costs you. It costs promotions when you won’t compromise. It costs relationships when you won’t lie for someone. It costs comfort when you admit fault. But it builds something money can’t buy—trust. People know they can count on you. Your word means something. Your character is solid.

Here’s what it looks like to live with integrity in every area of your life.

The 4 core principles:

1
Tell the Truth
Always. Even when it’s hard. Even when it costs you. Don’t lie, exaggerate, spin, or deceive. Say what’s true. If you can’t tell the truth, don’t speak. Your yes means yes. Your no means no. Let your words be reliable.
“Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.” — Ephesians 4:25
2
Keep Your Promises
If you say you’ll do something, do it. Don’t make commitments you can’t keep. Don’t over-promise. Don’t make excuses. Your word is your bond. When you commit, follow through—even when it’s inconvenient, even when circumstances change, even when you don’t feel like it anymore.
“Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.” — Matthew 5:37
3
Admit When You’re Wrong
Own your mistakes quickly. Don’t blame others. Don’t minimize. Don’t make excuses. Say, “I was wrong. I’m sorry. I’ll do better.” Confession isn’t weakness—it’s strength. It shows you care more about truth than your reputation.
“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” — Proverbs 28:13
4
Do What’s Right, Not What’s Easy
Integrity means choosing right over convenient. Don’t cheat, cut corners, or compromise your values for advancement. Don’t stay silent when you should speak up. Don’t go along to get along. Do what’s right even when no one will know, even when it costs you.
“The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.” — Proverbs 11:3
5
Be the Same Person Everywhere
Don’t have multiple versions of yourself. Be the same at home, at work, at church, online. What you do in private should match what you claim in public. No masks. No compartments. One life, lived honestly before God and people.
“The righteous who walks in his integrity—blessed are his children after him!” — Proverbs 20:7

START HERE: Start with your words. This week, commit to absolute honesty. No exaggerations. No white lies. No spinning the truth. Just say what’s true. That’s where integrity begins.

WHAT CHANGES: When you live with integrity, trust follows. People know you’re reliable. Your reputation becomes unshakable. You sleep well at night because you have nothing to hide. You don’t fear exposure because your private life matches your public life. Opportunities come because people know you’ll do what you say. Relationships deepen because people feel safe with you.

Integrity is the foundation of everything else. Without it, nothing you build will last.

READY FOR STRUCTURE: Start The Integrity Challenge → – One principle per week, building a life of truth and consistency.