What if pride is integrity?

Do you think pride equals arrogance?

That’s what I was taught — in medicine, and in life.

Pride was risky. It could make you look egotistical, self-important, or inconsiderate of others.

The “good doctor” and “good daughter” were humble, always attributing success to the team, to luck, or to 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.

That moment landed like a truth I hadn’t seen before.

I thought of my decades practicing pediatrics, leading teams, raising three children, building wellness programs — and how rarely I had 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.

Once the pause passes, stories emerge — quiet, powerful stories of resilience, courage, and integrity.

A physician who spoke up when it was hard. A leader who finally set a boundary. A parent who chose rest instead of another late-night charting. These are not stories of ego.

They are stories of truth.

Pride is also a practice of leadership

Pride is not the opposite of humility. It’s the companion to it.

Arrogance is about being better than.

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

And when we name our pride out loud, it changes how we show up.

We carry ourselves with grounded confidence. We connect more deeply with others. We model worthiness for our peers, trainees, and even our children.