How To Develop Integrity In Life – (19 Core Traits For All)

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What is integrity?

Simply put, integrity means being honest and having strong moral principles and it’s about doing the right thing even when no one is watching.

Integrity is a trait that takes time and effort to develop, but it’s something that we can all work on. So let’s dive into this subject and discover 19 practical ways to develop integrity in life and become that person of high standing in the community.

1. Be Authentic

Being authentic means being true to yourself and your values. A person showing true authenticity is true to themselves and others and will not sacrifice their values regardless of the pressure or situation.

Here are some practical ways to develop integrity and be authentic:

• Know your values: Take some time to reflect on what is important to you and what you stand for.
• Be honest: Be honest about your feelings, opinions, and actions.
• Be true to yourself: Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not to impress others.

2. Foster a Positive Community

Fostering a positive community means creating an environment where everyone feels valued and respected.

Here are some practical ways to develop integrity and foster a positive community:

• Build relationships: Take the time to get to know the people around you.
• Encourage open communication: Encourage open communication and active listening.
• Celebrate diversity: Celebrate diversity and embrace differences with authenticity.

3. Practice Humility

Humility is the quality of being humble and modest. It’s about recognizing that you don’t know everything and that you can always learn from others. Practice humility in your interactions with others.

Here are some practical ways to develop integrity and practice humility:

• Listen to others: Listen to others and be open to their feedback and ideas.
• Acknowledge your limitations: Be honest about your strengths and weaknesses.
• Give credit to others: Give credit to others when they deserve it.

4. Be Mindful of Your Words

Being mindful of your words means being careful about what you say and how you say it. This also means that you will be the guardian of the words of others and would not betray a confidence for personal or financial gain.

Here are some practical ways to develop integrity and be mindful of your words:

• Think before you speak: Take a moment to think about what you want to say before you say it.
• Speak respectfully: Speak respectfully to others, even when you disagree with them.
• Avoid gossip: Don’t engage in gossip or spread rumors.

For more please read; 27 Integrity Quotes (What It Means To Have Integrity)

5. Be a Role Model

Being a role model is not just about being successful or famous; it’s about being a good person and making a positive impact on the world around you through your deeds, words, and actions. Role models are often admired for their character, values, and accomplishments.

Here are some practical ways to develop integrity and be a role model:

• Live by your values: Live by your values and principles, even when it’s difficult.
• Be consistent: Be consistent in your actions and behavior.
• Lead by example: Lead by example and inspire others to do the same.

For more please read; 27 Powerful U.S. Marine Quotes – Doing The Right Thing

6. Practice Self-Control

Self-control is the ability to control your thoughts, feelings, and actions and is an important part of integrity. Practice self-control in all of your actions and your words especially in times of high stress. Not letting your emotions get the best of you and driving your actions is a mark of someone with true integrity.

Here are some practical ways to develop integrity and practice self-control:

Take a deep breath: When you feel angry or frustrated, take a deep breath before responding.

Practice mindfulness: Practice mindfulness to stay present and focused.

Develop a plan: Develop a plan to manage your emotions and reactions in difficult situations.

7. Cultivate a Positive Attitude

A positive attitude can help you develop integrity by helping you stay motivated and focused on your goals. It is also proven to be beneficial for your overall health and well-being so being positive can have many unrelated benefits

Here are some practical ways to develop integrity and cultivate a positive attitude:

• Practice gratitude: Take time each day to reflect on the things you’re grateful for.
• Surround yourself with positivity: Surround yourself with positive people and positive influences.
• Focus on solutions: Instead of dwelling on the problem, focus on finding a solution.

8. Be Open-Minded

Being open-minded means being willing to consider new ideas and perspectives. It shows that you place value in others, their thoughts, opinions, strengths, and weaknesses which demonstrates your humility and strength of character.

Here are some practical ways to develop integrity and be open-minded:

• Listen to others: When someone is speaking, give them your full attention and listen actively.
• Ask questions: Ask questions to better understand the other person’s perspective.
• Consider different viewpoints: Consider different viewpoints and be willing to change your mind if necessary.

9. Show Respect

Respect is a fundamental part of integrity and showing respect is an essential part of building trust and integrity. You must always treat others with respect, even if you disagree with them their opinions and their ideas.

Here are some practical ways to develop integrity and show respect:

• Listen to others: When someone is speaking, give them your full attention and listen actively.
• Treat others how you want to be treated: Treat others with kindness, empathy, and respect, even if you don’t agree with them.
• Be courteous: Say please and thank you, hold doors open for others, and show gratitude for others’ efforts.

10. Keep Your Promises

Keeping your promises is essential to building trust and integrity. When you make a promise, keep it. Breaking promises erodes trust and damages relationships. Make sure that you only make promises that you can keep and follow through on them.

Here are some practical ways to develop integrity and keep your promises:

• Only make promises you can keep: Don’t make promises you can’t keep. Be realistic about what you can do.
• Write it down: If you make a promise, write it down so you don’t forget.
• Follow through: Make sure that you follow through on your promises. If you can’t, communicate that to the person and work out a solution together.

11. Admit Your Mistakes And Take Responsibility

Admitting your mistakes can be difficult, but it’s an important part of building integrity. No one is perfect, and everyone makes mistakes. When you make a mistake, own up to it. Admitting your mistakes shows that you are accountable and trustworthy.

Here are some practical ways to develop integrity and admit your mistakes:

• Take responsibility: Don’t blame others for your mistakes. Take responsibility for your actions.
• Apologize: If you’ve hurt someone or made a mistake, apologize and make things right.
• Learn from your mistakes: Use your mistakes as an opportunity to learn and grow.

12. Be Honest

Being honest means telling the truth and being straightforward in your actions and words. A person showing true honesty will live this characteristic every day, both in word and deed being truthful, sincere, and free of deceit.

Here are some practical ways to develop integrity and be honest:

• Don’t lie: Don’t lie or deceive others, even if it’s tempting.
• Speak the truth: Speak the truth, even when it’s difficult.
• Be transparent: Be transparent about your actions and intentions.

For more please read; 27 Uplifting Quotes About Why Being Honest Is The Right Thing To Do

Be Honest with Yourself

Being honest with yourself means taking a good, hard look at your beliefs and values and making sure that your actions are in line with them.

Here are some practical steps you can take to be more honest with yourself:

• Practice self-reflection: Take some time each day to reflect on your thoughts, feelings, and actions. Ask yourself if you are living in alignment with your values.
• Seek feedback: Ask friends and family for honest feedback about your actions and behavior. Listen to their feedback and take it to heart.
• Be willing to change: If you realize that you are not living in alignment with your values, be willing to make changes. It can be hard to admit when you are wrong, but it’s important to make changes when necessary.

For more please read; 27 Funny Quotes About Being Honest That Will Brighten Your Day

Be Honest with Others

Being honest with others means telling the truth even when it’s difficult.

Here are some practical ways to be more honest with others:

• Don’t sugarcoat the truth: Be honest, even if it’s hard to hear. Don’t try to soften the blow or make things sound better than they are.
• Admit when you don’t know something: It’s okay to not have all the answers. If you don’t know something, admit it and offer to find out.
• Apologize when necessary: If you’ve made a mistake or hurt someone, apologize and make things right.

For more please read; Quotes About Honesty, Integrity, Authenticity, And Genuineness

13. Stay Accountable

Staying accountable means being responsible for your actions and their outcomes. Hold yourself accountable for your mistakes and work to make things right.

Here are some practical ways to develop integrity and stay accountable:

• Set goals: Set goals for yourself and track your progress. When you set goals, you are more likely to take responsibility for your actions.
• Review your progress: Take time to review your progress regularly. Ask yourself what you did well and what you can improve on.
• Be proactive: Take proactive steps to address problems and prevent mistakes.
• Learn from your mistakes: Use your mistakes as an opportunity to learn and grow.

Be Accountable to Others

Being accountable to others means being responsible for your actions and their outcomes, not just to yourself, but to others as well.

Here are some practical ways to be accountable to others:

• Ask for feedback: Ask for feedback from others on your actions and behavior. Listen to their feedback and take it to heart.
• Be open to criticism: Be open to criticism and use it as an opportunity to grow.
• Follow through: When you make a commitment to someone, follow through on it.

14. Be Consistent

Being consistent means doing the same thing over and over again but
consistency is the key to building integrity. Always be consistent in your actions and your words. When people know what to expect from you, they are more likely to trust you.

Here are some practical ways to develop integrity and be consistent:

• Develop a routine: Develop a routine and stick to it. When you have a routine, you are more likely to be consistent.
• Be reliable: Do what you say you’re going to do. When you’re reliable, people know what to expect from you.
• Practice self-discipline: Practice self-discipline and hold yourself accountable for your actions.

15. Build Trust

Building trust is essential to developing integrity in yourself and others. Remember it may take a long time for others to build trust in you but it only takes a second for you to lose it! Trust must be earned.

Here are some practical ways to develop integrity and build trust:

• Be reliable: Do what you say you’re going to do. When you’re reliable, people trust you.
• Be transparent: Be open and honest about your actions and your intentions. When you’re transparent, people trust you.
• Keep confidences: If someone confides in you, keep it confidential. When you keep confidence, people trust you.

16. Build Character

Building character means developing traits such as honesty, kindness, and respect. To gain an insight into character think of yourself as your favorite hero, firefighter, soldier, or selfless aid worker, and ask yourself what is it about their character that you admire.

Here are some practical ways to develop integrity and build character:

• Practice integrity: Practice honesty and consistency in your actions.
• Show kindness: Show kindness to others, even when it’s difficult.
• Treat others with respect: Treat others with respect, even if you disagree with them.

For more please read; 27 Inspiring Truth And Honesty Quotes That Build Character

17. Practice Empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. Being empathetic is an important part of building relationships and trust.

Here are some practical ways to develop integrity and practice empathy:

• Listen actively: When someone is speaking, give them your full attention and listen actively.
• Put yourself in their shoes: Try to see things from the other person’s perspective.
• Show compassion: Be kind and understanding, even when you don’t agree with someone.

18. Lead by Example

Leading by example is the most effective way to develop integrity in yourself and others. Develop all the characteristics of integrity and be a role model to those around you.

Here are some practical ways to develop integrity and lead by example:

• Be consistent: Be consistent in your actions and your words. When people know what to expect from you, they are more likely to trust you.
• Be honest: Always tell the truth, especially when it’s difficult.
• Live by your values and principles, even at great personal cost.
• Take responsibility for your actions and their outcomes.
• Admit your mistakes and learn from them.
• Treat others with respect and kindness, even when and if you disagree with them.

19. Aim For High Ethical Standards

Holding yourself to high ethical standards means that you prioritize honesty, fairness, and accountability in all aspects of your life.

Here are some practical ways to develop integrity and hold yourself to high ethical standards:

• Define your values: Clarify what matters most to you and what principles you want to live by.
• Speak up: Don’t stay silent when you see unethical behavior, injustice or wrongdoing.
• Avoid compromising your values: Don’t let external pressures or personal gain sway you from doing what’s right.

For more please read; 27 Quotes That Shape Your Character, Ethics, And Moral Decision Making

In Conclusion:

Integrity is a valuable trait that can benefit you personally and professionally.

By practicing these 19 ways to develop integrity in life, you can build trust, foster positive relationships, and inspire others to do the same.

Remember, integrity is not just about what you do when people are watching; it’s about doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.