Building Trust —and a Life— Through Integrity in Relationships with Yourself, Others, and the Universe

How Integrity Strengthens Relationships and Personal Growth You know that sinking feeling when you realize someone's words don't match their actions? Or worse—when you catch yourself doing the same thing? That gap between what we say and what we do creates a quiet erosion of trust, both in our relationships and within ourselves. Here's the thing: building authentic relationships and cultivating genuine personal growth isn't about being perfect. It's about integrity—and the trust it nurtures over time. In a recent conversation on "Show Me Your Nuts" —a weekly livestream show by Stacy Braiuca—something beautiful emerged. In this episode with guest Sang Thi Duong (with music by Scotty McBee ), a practical roadmap unfolded for how integrity shapes not only our sense of self but the way we connect and thrive alongside others—and even with the universe itself. You're not alone if this feels challenging. We all struggle with the space between our intentions and our impact. What if there was a gentler, more honest way forward? The Unbreakable Link Between Integrity and Trust Stacy opened the conversation with a question that might make you pause: On a scale of 1 to 10, how much do you trust yourself? What is your heart's answer to that question? The truth is, that number probably shifts from day to day. Some mornings you wake up feeling like a solid 10—confident, aligned, ready. Other days? Self-doubt creeps in, and you're not so sure. That's completely normal. Trust isn't static; it's a dynamic process that grows through consistent action . Trust in relationships works the same way. It's not just about believing someone has good intentions. It's about observing alignment between their words and actions over time . As Jane Addams said, "Action indeed is the sole medium of expression for ethics." When someone shows up consistently—when you "know what you see is what you get"—trust naturally deepens. Sang captured this beautifully: integrity is "about what you are doing…and showing up in a way that matches your words." Notice how this applies to you, too. When you honor your commitments to yourself, self-trust grows. When you don't, it erodes. The relationship you have with yourself sets the foundation for every other relationship in your life. Owning Your Actions—and Your Feelings One of the most powerful themes from the conversation was personal accountability. Integrity involves not only our actions but recognizing the impact those actions have on others . "My intention is always to do no harm," Stacy shared, acknowledging that despite good intentions, she's hurt others unintentionally. What matters most? The genuine apology that follows. Here's what helps: Sang emphasized that we all have a responsibility to communicate honestly when we're hurt—rather than internalizing pain or quietly holding onto resentment. "It's everyone's responsibility to own their own feelings and be able to come to somebody," she explained. This means two things: When you've caused harm: Apologize sincerely. Acknowledge the impact, not just your intention. Make amends where possible. When you've been hurt: Speak up. Share your experience. Give the other person a chance to understand and respond. The conversation also touched on something we often forget: self-forgiveness and grace. Making peace with past errors and giving yourself room to grow is as vital as apologizing to those you may have affected . Be gentle with yourself here. Integrity doesn't mean perfection—it means showing up honestly, learning from mistakes, and doing better next time. Communication Over Silence: What Really Heals Stacy made a crucial point: "Communication is what solves things, as opposed to silence." When conflicts arise, our instinct might be to retreat, go quiet, or wait for the other person to make the first move. But unresolved issues don't fade—they fester . In the absence of clarity, our minds create stories that are often worse than reality. Sang drew an important distinction between the "silent treatment" ( withholding communication to punish ) and stepping back intentionally for self-care. Sometimes you need space before you're ready to talk . That's okay. What matters is communicating that need rather than disappearing without explanation. The hardest conversations—especially those loaded with emotional baggage—are often the ones that bring the most healing. They require: Owning your perspective without blaming Listening to understand, not just to respond Recognizing that everyone's internal world is different Respecting when someone needs time before they're ready When you choose communication over silence, you choose connection over distance. Words Have Power—Use Them Wisely Throughout the conversation, one truth kept surfacing: words matter. "Words have power for other people, even when we don't think the other person can hear or is listening," Stacy shared. Our words carry vibration and impact—not just on others, but on ourselves and the energy w