Dr. Attia Anwar
“Integrity means that what you thought, what you said, and what you did, are all same”—–Scott Hagen
Although there are many areas of life, where there are no absolute right and wrong things, you can make decisions according to your conscience. That will not harm you and harm others. But certain universal principles of life will never change like integrity honesty, truth, and kindness. So following these principles is important for your well-being. Integrity is simply doing the right thing when nobody is watching. To follow them you need a paradigm shift or mindset shift. Then you can be true to yourself. For example, you want to teach something to your child or you want certain behavioral changes in them. You are using all the modern scientific methods based on love and kindness, but in your heart, you are feeling that this kid is lazy, lame, or something. You cannot hide these feelings from your child, how much you try to be kind and accommodating at face value. Unless you accept it in your heart and do some inner work on yourself, it will not be effective.
Integrity and having certain moral values are associated with decreased rates of depression, anxiety, and cardiovascular risk factors. Researchers from Howard explored the role of the strength of your moral character in physical and mental health. They used self-reported physical and mental health perception and diagnostic information on depression, anxiety, and cardiovascular disease. And results suggested that person who lives their life according to high moral standards has a lesser incidence of these diseases. Having integrity or being true to your principles results in alignment of thought process. You are in the process of improving yourself but not in a war with yourself. Character strength and positive personality traits play a favorable role in the greater good and promoting well-being.
To be effective and true you have to shift your whole paradigm. If we are not authentic we will not be able to persuade anyone. Correct method is important but for that to work you have to genuinely believe in that. If you are just doing patchwork repair. It will not going to last long. So first you have to work on your mindset. Be true to yourself, and find your motivations, biases, and self-interest. Align your teaching to your mindset. Make yourself strong enough to be true to yourself. If you say your family is your priority. Then while you are making a decision that involves money and family your decision should speak your priority and no other way round. When human behavior aligns with their core beliefs, chances of cognitive dissonance are reduced. Cognitive dissonance occurs due to contradictory beliefs and actions. It will result in mental discomfort and then illnesses. Being authentic is key to your well-being. Research has established a strong correlation between integrity and self-esteem. Individuals who prioritize intrinsic values or as I said are true to themselves show higher self-esteem as compared to those who depend on extrinsic validation.
Everybody faces crossroads and difficult decisions in life. But if you have done your inner work and you are true to yourself. Then this decision-making will always be principle-centered. Principles always help you to make the right choices in life. Because you know whatever the situation is certain things are not to be compromised especially long-lasting principles of life like honesty and kindness. And your decisions will reflect and ultimately you will be a trustworthy dependable companion, partner, parent, or colleague.
When your outer self aligns with your inner self. There will be no contradictions. You will be at peace. You may have to make difficult decisions. Sometimes you can have temporary setbacks. But that is important for your inner peace and well-being. And they will bring you long-term success in life. You will have all the worldly and divine benefits by being principle-centered. You can start this with self-reflection. You have to find out what your values are. Finding your core value with honesty is important. Take responsibility for your actions and hold yourself accountable. Own it up, learn from your experience, and move on. When you completely shift your mindset then this becomes your habit. And decisions will become easy for you and mostly they are right. Strive to be consistent with your words and actions. They should match each other. Another study suggested that adherence to moral and ethical principles contributes to a more fulfilling life, providing a strong foundation for overall well-being. As individual with high integrity are less likely to compromise on their values for material gain or social approval. They experience greater psychological resilience and satisfaction in the face of life’s challenges.
Moreover, if you guide the people in things which you believe in, you will be more effective. Whether you are guiding your children, your subordinates, or your students. The correct method is important. Moreover, the correct method with genuine resolve for it is required, not just a cosmetic improvement. It will not result in long-term benefits. H. Jackson brown junior once said, “Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring, and integrity, they think of you”. Individuals who show integrity or genuine resolve have strong relationships and good social health. As they stick to their principles. So their relationships are based on trust, truth, mutual respect, and honesty. And these relationships are more fulfilling and stable. These qualities foster strong social connections which are beneficial for your physical and mental wellbeing. Moreover, when people adhere to strong moral and ethical principles on an individual level they help to form a more stable and cohesive social fabric. They promote a culture of trust, cooperation, and civic engagement.
We have the instinct to do the right thing. Because there is something in human nature that compels us to do the right thing. We wake up every morning and do the best we can for our families for our group. So that is how humans have survived and improved on this earth for so long. We can trust and cultivate ourselves to do the right things. In life having a solid moral compass is important. It will give you integrity and clarity.
The author Dr. Attia Anwar is a consultant family physician with a postgraduate degree from the Royal College of GP UK. She is a strong advocate of health and well-being and wants patient participation in decision-making regarding health.
