In a world that is full of vapid self–important people, it’s hard to imagine that there are still people out there who are doing the right thing when no one is looking. Because that’s when it really matters. Not when people are there to see, not posting it on social media so people know you are doing the right thing. Just doing it when no one is looking. That’s what good people of integrity do.
And it’s the way to take the high road. Stop worrying about what others are doing and you just do you. Be that person who is not out there to prove to the world they are a good person via shameless self-promotion on social media. Just do the right thing when no one is looking because that’s when you will feel true self-respect and love.
What is the right thing?
For many that’s a complicated question, but really it’s as simple as this: Do what YOU think is the right thing. Not what your religion says is the right thing. Not what your friends say is the right thing. Not what your parents say is the right thing. Not what politicians say is the right thing.
You decide if it’s a good or a bad idea to tip a waitress who was rude to you, not a stranger on a message board with an agenda. It’s your money. You decide if you want to give it to someone who doesn’t need it. Not what everyone else says is the right thing.
As our society is degenerating, becoming more hedonistic with everything being about self-gratification, there are many more people who don‘t care about doing what’s right when no one is looking. The ones that think they can get away with anything because there are no consequences. The police only care about the bottom line, not the persons concerned.
How to do the right thing when no one is looking
So how do you make sure you are always doing the right thing when no one is looking? Even if there is no one around to care about what you are doing?
You set your own standards of right and wrong. So if someone asks why would you need to do that, if no one is around to judge, the answer is easy. Because that’s what YOU think is right. Not someone else who has their own agenda. You set your own standards for yourself, not society or your religion or politicians.
Most people get caught up in being good when others are watching. They get caught up in being good when they assume everyone else is watching. But the truth is most people do what they want regardless of what everyone else does. And even if there aren’t any spectators, it’s still good people in many cases who do the right thing in private settings when no one sees.
If you want to do something that is punishable by the law, then you report it to the police when you see it happening. But for most things, you’ll have to decide on your own if it’s the right thing to do. And that’s not necessarily because of what society says or what your religion says. It’s about doing the right thing for you.
Why you should do the right thing even though nobody will know
Because that’s what good people do and doing good makes you feel good. You don’t have to tell everyone what you did, that’s not the point. You don’t have to take a picture and post it on Facebook. We all know how widespread this behavior is, so no one will be impressed by a status update about how you did a good deed.
Don’t get caught up in being good because others are watching. Be good for your own sake. If others find out about it, that’s great too. Just remember, the way you feel doing the right thing is what matters. Even though nobody will really know.
How doing good makes YOU feel good
The best thing about doing something kind for someone else, just because you want to help, is that it feels good to YOU. It’s not about the other person. It’s about YOU knowing you are doing something good for someone. You don’t get anything out of it, but YOU feel good. And that’s what makes an observant decent person who cares about others stand out. That’s what makes somebody special.
What makes doing the right thing when no one is looking different from doing it when there are observers around
Doing the right thing when no one is looking isn’t about being a better person. It’s not about being more moral. It’s not about being a better human being. Because you don’t have to be a good person in order to try and do the right thing when nobody is looking. Because that’s something only decent people do, not great ones.
It’s more about doing the right thing when no one is watching. Because that’s a special thing, not everybody can or will do it, so you have to have some standards for yourself. Doing the right thing when no one is looking is a choice, not a duty. Doing it when there are others around makes you look worse in many cases if you don’t do it that way.
You need to have standards for yourself, not society
The right thing to do when no one is looking is different than when others are watching. That’s because without people watching you can’t get away with anything. Having people around makes it harder to be moral, but having no one around makes it impossible. That’s what makes the difference between doing the right thing when no one is looking and doing it when there are observers.
What is integrity?
What is integrity? Doing what’s right when no one is looking.
Integrity is what matters in the end. It doesn’t matter if you were a good person while everyone was watching, it matters that you held on to your values and didn’t change them just because there were people around to see that. You did the right thing when no one was watching and NOT when there were others present.
To be truly strong, you need to develop this trait, because integrity will get you through hard times in life. And if you do the right thing when no one is watching, you’ll never be too tainted to hold your head up high.
How integrity differs from morality
What is the difference between morality and integrity? When it comes to morality, many of us accept that the right thing to do is what any of society would say. A country or religion can dictate what it thinks is moral, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you need to follow it. And if you have your own standards for morality, that’s fine. You don’t have to let anyone tell you what you can or cannot do on a day-to-day basis.
But if you do it on a daily basis because there are others around, then there is no way of knowing whether everyone else is doing the same thing as you, so the code of morality doesn’t really apply to you anymore. If you are doing the right thing because everyone else is, then that goes against what integrity is all about.
Integrity means doing the right thing when no one is looking. Otherwise, if others are watching you it’s not really about being moral anymore. And if you want to be an observant human being who cares about others, then you need to have your own standards for integrity through which to operate.
