Pride is Integrity

That’s what I was taught that pride was risky. It could make you look egotistical, self-important, or inconsiderate of others.

A “good doctor” and a “good daughter” would be humble, always attributing success to the team, luck, or hard work.

Never to themselves.

What if pride isn’t arrogance at all? What if pride is actually integrity?

I didn’t realize how deeply this conditioning ran until my coach training years ago.

In a group exercise, we were asked what feelings we wanted more of in our lives.

One person answered: “I want to feel proud.”

I remember the shock that washed over me. Pride?

Is it something worth wanting?

It had never crossed my mind.

I thought of my decades practicing pediatrics, leading teams, raising three children, and building wellness programs. Rarely had I let myself feel proud of any of it.

Since then, I’ve begun to notice how many physicians carry the same blind spot.

When I ask in coaching sessions or at retreats, “What are you proud of?” the reaction is almost always the same: silence, discomfort, sometimes tears.

Then incredible stories emerge — quiet, powerful stories of resilience, courage, and integrity. Stories of truth.

Arrogance is about being better than.

Pride is about being real. It’s about honoring the effort, the growth, and the choices that aligned with your values.

When we name what we are proud of out loud, it changes how we show up.

We carry ourselves with grounded confidence.

We connect more deeply with others.

Modeling worthiness, and being proud of who we are and what we have achieved and accomplished, is an act of leadership - for our peers, trainees, and even our children.