Seven Ways to Increase your Integrity By Christina Katz The hallmark of an integrated person is wholeness. When our values and actions are in integrity, our lives flow, we become resilient in the face of challenges, and we are not afraid to grow. According to Webster's Dictionary, integrity means "the quality of being complete or undivided." But busy executive mothers know -- perhaps better than anyone -- this kind of incorruptibility isn't always easy to sustain. That's why we've created these seven ways to increase your integrity. Be 100% Honest Have you ever "borrowed" office supplies for personal use, exaggerated your professional experience during an interview or padded your expense report? If so, then you know how it feels to compromise your integrity. Little indiscretions may indicate a sense of dissatisfaction and disrespect for yourself or your employer. Absolute integrity means being absolutely honest and upright in your actions to the best of your ability. If absolute honesty is a challenge for you, you may want to hire a work/life coach. A coach is a trusted professional advisor you can confide in, who will challenge you to become more truthful and make necessary changes in your life. Or pick up one of the many books written by work/life coaches that will walk you, one step at a time, back into your truth. Two favorites are Take Time For Your Life by Cheryl Richardson and Coach Yourself to Success, Reaching Your Goals at Work and In Life by Talane Miedaner. Take Responsibility A victim mentality keeps women stuck, usually because of a lack of awareness. Making excuses to justify your excessive tardiness or that of your assistant will only make matters worse. Blaming superiors and support staff supports the illusion that others are responsible for our circumstances. If constantly asking permission, seeking direction, or wanting someone else to take the lead have become your modus operandi, you may need a new attitude. Oprah Winfrey once said, "My philosophy is that not only are you responsible for your life, but doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment." Update Your Values Values are principles we live by. As we age, our values evolve with our experience. Most of us cannot completely appreciate our parents' values until we become parents ourselves. We may have unconsciously adopted our parents' values, even though they are not personally meaningful. The media also has a deep and lasting impact on us through television, film and advertising. We may unwittingly embrace the idea that more is better, when in our hearts we actually yearn for a simpler life. With so many influences on our values, we need to be aware when ours become outdated, tainted or unproductive. By updating our values and openly communicating them to others, we are more likely to live in accordance with them. Relax Into Your Options According to Work/Life Coach Sandi Epstein, "Living in integrity is the act of making choices that fit with what you believe to be right based on your values." We all know that life is a series of choices, but sometimes, our desire to get things accomplished denies us the luxury of the very time we need for considering our options. As a result, our decisions become rushed, our actions become reactions, and we are less emotionally available to the important people in our lives. The only solution is to make time to relax, no matter how busy we are. According to Miedaner, "You will burn out if you aren't taking at least one day a week completely off." When we rest and relax, we are better able to hear the quiet guidance of our intuition. Learn to Say "No" According to Barbara Klein, a corporate associate in a large Boston law firm, "I know that the definition of integrity focuses more on honesty, but as a working mom in a fast-paced, high-pressure career, integrity means being true to myself, my kids and my family. As a corporate lawyer, I often feel pressure to drop everything for the firm or the client and work around the clock or over weekends. For me, having integrity means saying 'No' and not being afraid to jeopardize my advancement for the sake of my children." Saying "No" to corporate pressure that compromises your principles as a mother encourages corporations who tout "family values" to put their policies where their PR is. Walk Your Talk Mahatma Gandhi reminded us to walk our talk when he said, "Your life is the message." If your life is the message, then what values are you broadcasting to the world? According to coach Miedaner, "The key to having fulfilling work is to do something that is in alignment with your highest values. I'm not referring to values in the moral sense of right and wrong, but rather in the sense of doing what you truly love to do -- that which is of intrinsic worth to your personality." If you find yourself feeling consistently guilty, exhausted, scattered or depressed, or suffer from recurring illnesses, you may need to re-evaluate your career choice. On the other hand, if you genuinely enjoy your work, but simply need more flexibility to spend time with your family, consider options like telecommuting, working part-time, utilizing corporate day care, job sharing or taking a leave of absence. Pursue Worthy Efforts No man is an island, so the saying goes. And no woman or company is either. Perhaps no one has a more seasoned opinion about this matter than Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop and author of the recently released, "Business As Unusual." She said, "The business of business should be about responsibility. It should be about public good, not private greed." Does your company actively contribute to the common good of the community, the nation or the world? Are the values of your corporation consistent with the personal values you have worked so hard to develop and maintain? Integrity is the satisfaction of knowing that your work has a positive impact on others, the earth and future generations. Remember, the hallmark of an integrated woman is wholeness -- not perfection. Small changes over time that align your values with your actions increase your integrity and peace of mind in the long run. Recommended Books: Take Time For Your Life by Cheryl Richardson Coach Yourself to Success, Reaching Your Goals at Work and In Life by Talane Miedaner. Also see: The art of making time for yourself Find joy instead of stress in your balancing act Advice for finding work/life balance Christina Katz is a speaker, author, and writing coach from Wilsonville, Oregon. Christina offers presentations on the topics of making time for yourself and writing and publishing nonfiction articles. She coaches writers, artists, and professionals to compose authentic, compelling communications and offers manuscript and copy evaluations. To subscribe to her free newsletter "Writers on the Rise," email christinakatz@earthlink.net. Christina's next book is "The Art of Making Time for Yourself," based on her article of the same name. For more information, please visit http://www.christinakatz.com.