Need for Integrity

Integrity means living by your principles – making sure that what you do reflects what you deeply believe is right. When people have integrity, they experience less inner turmoil (because they aren’t betraying their own values) and they avoid confusing those around them (because their behavior consistently matches their stated ideals). The need for integrity may drive individuals to align their decisions and actions with their core values, to maintain personal boundaries that prevent compromising those values, and to stick to ethics even when under pressure to do otherwise. This consistency can support self-respect (you can feel at peace with yourself) and makes one’s behavior more predictable and trustworthy to others. For example, a leader with integrity will act according to their professed mission and moral standards even in tough faux feelings, which earns them respect and makes it easier for others to anticipate their actions. In short, integrity is about wholeness of character – it ensures we are the same person in principle and practice, benefiting both our inner well-being and our relationships.