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Most likely, you want to be around people with integrity. But what does it actually mean to develop integrity yourself?
“To have integrity is to have pride, respect, and acceptance of yourself for who you are,” says marriage and family therapist Carrie Krawiec, LMFT. “It is knowing your worth and your morals.”
Here are a few ways to practice more integrity in your daily life, according to therapists.
Keep your promises
Integrity means being true to your word, says psychotherapist Mollie Eliasof, LCSW. “Showing up when you’ve promised to, producing what you say you will, or presenting yourself as you describe yourself” are all part of this, she says. “Basically, being consistent [with] your word and committing to the value of showing up that way every time.”
Resist peer pressure
Often, maintaining your integrity means resisting pressure to do things that don’t feel right to you. “Even if you feel fearful of confrontation or upsetting others, you soon see that it is worth holding frustration from others when you choose to live with intentional integrity,” says marriage and family therapist Lauren Cook, MMFT. “You also see that others begin to respect you more, which is a much more enduring view than how likable you may be (which can be quite fickle).”
Figure out what your values are
In order to live in a way that’s consistent with your values, you need to do some self-reflection and figure out what they are. “These can be small or large values,” says Krawiec. “If you think daily workouts are important or if you believe parents should limit screen time, these are your particular values or beliefs that are important to you.”
Practice what you preach
If you have a general belief about how others should behave, make sure you’re behaving that way as well. For example, if you think doing your civic duty is important, you should go out and vote yourself, says Krawiec.
Speak up for what is right
Standing up for your morals can be intimidating, so Krawiec suggests rehearsing how to argue for them. “Begin by practicing getting comfortable with norms or values you feel are acceptable or debatable, and practice explaining how you feel on a topic to others or yourself,” she says.
xx, The FabFitFun Team
