Isabella Chase
Integrity is not just a virtue; it’s a way of life. But there are actions we unknowingly commit that can harm this precious trait.
Cultivating integrity means being honest and holding yourself to consistent moral and ethical standards. Yet, this can be difficult if certain behaviors persist.
So, if you’re serious about nurturing integrity, there are eight things you need to quit immediately. The following article will reveal these destructive habits and help you on your path to a more honorable life.
1) Dishonesty
Integrity and dishonesty simply can’t coexist.
Lying, embellishing, or distorting the truth are markers of dishonest behavior. Yes, it might seem harmless, or easier in the short term to tell a small lie or withhold the truth. But remember, once trust is broken, it’s hard to rebuild.
Being honest can be tough, especially when you’re afraid of the consequences. However, if you truly want to cultivate integrity, you must be truthful – always. It’s not just about being honest with others but also with yourself.
Remember: Integrity begins from within. So start by being honest with yourself about your strengths, weaknesses, successes and failures. This self-awareness can be the foundation for genuine integrity in all areas of your life.
2) Gossiping
Let me share a personal experience.
In my early career, I worked in an environment where gossip was commonplace. There were whispers in hallways, hushed conversations behind closed doors, and it was hard not to get sucked in. Before I knew it, I found myself participating in these discussions, adding fuel to the fire.
But over time, I realized that gossiping didn’t sit well with my conscience. It felt like a breach of trust, and I could see the harm it was doing to relationships around me. Moreover, I realized that by engaging in gossip, I was compromising my own integrity.
So, I made a conscious decision to stop. If someone tried to involve me in gossip, I would politely but firmly change the subject or excuse myself from the conversation. It wasn’t easy at first, but over time it became a habit.
Gossip has no place in a life of integrity. If you’re serious about cultivating this virtue, make it a point to avoid participating in or promoting gossip. After all, integrity is about respecting others – even when they’re not around.
3) Breaking commitments
Every time you make a promise or commitment, you set an expectation. And when you fail to meet that expectation, it chips away at your integrity.
A study from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business found that people who keep their promises are seen as more trustworthy, more socially desirable, and even more intelligent than those who don’t. Imagine what consistently breaking your commitments can do to your integrity!
If you want to cultivate integrity, take your commitments seriously. Whether it’s a work deadline or a catch-up with a friend, ensure you follow through. If circumstances change and you can’t keep your word, communicate it honestly and promptly. Remember, integrity is about being reliable and trustworthy, even when it’s inconvenient.
4) Ignoring your values
We all have personal values that guide us through life, serving as a compass for our decisions and actions. But sometimes, we can find ourselves compromising these values due to external pressures or to fit in.
However, if you’re serious about building integrity, you need to stand by your values, even when it’s hard. That might mean saying “no” when everyone else is saying “yes,” or choosing the harder right over the easier wrong.
Ignoring your values for temporary convenience can have lasting repercussions on your integrity. So, hold onto your principles and let them guide your actions. They are a key part of who you are and should be reflected in everything you do.
5) Lack of empathy
Integrity isn’t just about honesty and reliability; it’s also about empathy and understanding.
In our daily lives, we interact with people who are different from us, who hold different beliefs and have different needs. It can be easy to dismiss these differences, to go ahead without considering other perspectives.
But integrity demands more from us. It asks us to step into another person’s shoes, to understand their feelings and needs before we act.
When we empathize with others, we are not only treating them with respect and kindness, but we are also acting with integrity. We are acknowledging our shared humanity and treating others how we would want to be treated.
Cultivating empathy can take time and practice, but it is an essential part of living with integrity. So next time you find yourself in a disagreement or misunderstanding, take a moment to see the situation from the other person’s perspective. You might be surprised by what you discover.
6) Not admitting wrongs
I remember a time when I made a significant error on a work project. The mistake was mine alone, but the consequences impacted my entire team. My first instinct was to defend myself, maybe even shift the blame.
But then I remembered: integrity isn’t just about being right; it’s about owning up to your mistakes and learning from them. It’s about humility and accountability.
So, I openly admitted my mistake to my team and my superiors, apologized for the impact, and committed to rectifying the situation. It wasn’t easy, but it was necessary.
If you want to cultivate integrity, learn to admit your wrongs. Nobody is perfect; we all make mistakes. True integrity lies in acknowledging these mistakes, making amends where necessary, and striving to do better next time. Remember, it’s not about never falling; it’s about getting back up every time you do.
7) Living inauthentically
Integrity is closely tied to authenticity. It’s about being true to who you are, not just when it’s convenient, but all the time.
Living inauthentically means portraying an image that doesn’t align with your true self. This could mean pretending to be someone you’re not, exaggerating your abilities, or hiding your true feelings and opinions to please others.
But here’s the deal: authenticity breeds trust, and trust is the foundation of integrity. If people can’t trust you to be genuine, they’re unlikely to trust you with anything else.
To cultivate integrity, strive to live authentically. Be honest about who you are and what you believe in. Let your actions be a reflection of your true self, not an image crafted for the approval of others. It’s only when you’re authentic that you can truly have integrity.
8) Neglecting self-improvement
Integrity is not a destination, but a journey. It’s not something you achieve once and then forget about. It requires constant attention and commitment to self-improvement.
Every day presents new opportunities to act with integrity, and every situation can teach us something about ourselves. It’s through this continuous learning and growth that we cultivate and maintain integrity.
Neglecting self-improvement is like neglecting your integrity. So never stop learning, growing, and striving to be the best version of yourself. That’s the key to a life lived with integrity.
Final thoughts: The pursuit of integrity
Cultivating integrity is a lifelong journey, not a one-time event. It’s about the choices we make every day, the values we uphold, and the way we treat others and ourselves.
The 18th-century English poet and critic, Samuel Johnson, once said, “Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, but knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful.” This profound statement underscores the importance of combining our learned wisdom with a steadfast commitment to integrity.
Each of us has the capacity to cultivate integrity within ourselves. It begins with small steps – being honest, honoring commitments, showing empathy, living authentically – and gradually builds into a strong character trait that defines who we are.
Remember, integrity isn’t just about how we interact with others. It’s also about how we view and treat ourselves. It’s about staying true to our values and principles, even when no one is watching.
As we embark on this journey towards cultivating integrity, let’s remember that it’s a continuous process of self-improvement. It requires courage, humility, and above all, honesty with oneself.
So let’s strive for that in every aspect of life. Because in the end, it’s not just about what we achieve, but who we become in the process.
