By Dr. Howard Dennis, Certified High Performance Coach
What does it mean to live with true integrity? How do you align your daily actions with your deepest values? These aren't just philosophical questions - they're practical challenges that determine whether you'll experience genuine fulfillment or spend your life feeling like something's missing.
Today, I want to talk about congruence - the feeling we experience when we're living in complete alignment and integrity with our beliefs and values. More importantly, I want to share practical advice on how to achieve this alignment in your own life.
Congruence isn't about moral perfection or following someone else's rulebook. It's about the internal harmony you feel when your actions, decisions, and daily choices reflect who you truly want to be.
Think of congruence as your internal GPS. When you're on the right path - aligned with your values and authentic self - you feel energized, purposeful, and at peace. When you're off course, you experience:
If someone came to you today and asked, "How do I live with more integrity?" what would you tell them?
This question forces us to distill our understanding of authentic living into actionable advice. It moves us beyond theory into practical application.
After 30 years as a chiropractor and business owner, and through my work as a Certified High Performance Coach, I've discovered that the answer begins with one fundamental step:
Get crystal clear about what your best self looks like.
Here's the problem most people face: They know they want to live with more integrity, but they've never clearly defined what that looks like for them personally.
You can't become who you haven't clearly envisioned.
Without clear answers to these questions, you're trying to hit a target you can't see.
I've developed a comprehensive approach to help people achieve greater congruence in their lives. This 5-Step Clarity Blueprint provides a practical roadmap for aligning your life with your values:
This foundational step involves creating a clear, detailed vision of who you want to be. Not who others expect you to be, but who YOU aspire to become.
Action Items:
Your relationships either support or undermine your congruence. This step helps you evaluate and improve how you connect with others.
Key Areas:
Living with integrity often requires capabilities you may not currently possess. This step helps you identify what you need to learn or develop.
Consider:
Congruence often emerges when we connect our personal values with service to others. This step helps you find meaningful ways to contribute.
Explore:
Congruence isn't achieved through grand gestures - it's built through consistent daily choices that align with your values.
Daily Practice Examples:
When you begin living in greater alignment with your values, something remarkable happens. The benefits extend far beyond personal satisfaction:
Understanding potential challenges can help you navigate them more effectively:
Living authentically sometimes means making choices others don't understand. Remember: You're not responsible for others' opinions, but you are responsible for your own integrity.
Aligning with your values might require difficult conversations, career changes, or lifestyle adjustments. The temporary discomfort is worth the long-term alignment.
Congruence isn't about perfection - it's about consistent effort to align your choices with your values. Progress, not perfection, is the goal.
Society, family, and peers may pressure you to conform to their expectations. True congruence requires the courage to be authentically yourself.
Evaluate different areas of your life:
Choose one area where you feel out of alignment with your values. What small step could you take today to move toward greater congruence?
Is there a relationship where you haven't been fully authentic? Consider having an honest conversation about your values and boundaries.
Establish one small daily habit that reinforces your commitment to living authentically.
Living with congruence isn't a destination - it's a journey. As you grow and evolve, your understanding of your best self will deepen and expand. The key is maintaining the commitment to alignment even as your vision becomes clearer.
Remember:
If this exploration of congruent living resonates with you, I invite you to take the next step. I've created a comprehensive 5-Step Clarity Blueprint that will guide you through the process of defining and living as your best self.
This blueprint includes:
To receive your free 5-Step Clarity Blueprint, simply text me at 423-542-3386 with the word "Clarity."
The question isn't whether you're capable of living with greater integrity - you absolutely are. The question is whether you're willing to do the work of defining what that looks like for you and then making the daily choices that support that vision.
Your best self is waiting. The world needs what you have to offer when you're living authentically and aligned with your values.
The journey to congruence begins with a single step: getting clear about who you want to be. Everything else flows from that clarity.
Are you ready to take that step?
Dr. Howard Dennis is a Certified High Performance Coach with 30 years of experience as a chiropractor and business owner. He specializes in helping individuals achieve sustainable success through authentic living and values-based decision making.
Ready to live with greater congruence? text us at 423-542-3386 for your FREE 5 Step Clarity Blueprint!