Emotional integrity is the ability to assess and communicate your feelings to others.

Here, two mental health experts say why that’s key.

And, in fact, the absence of it less than ideal.

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Emotional integrity is being true to yourself, says licensed marriage and family therapistKarla Zambrano-Morrison, LMFT.

That way, their actions and how they carry themselves matches what the person is feeling on the inside.

Its hard to be intimate with someone who wont share, or even acknowledge, their true feelings.

Two people’s legs touch under a table as they work on their laptops.

Los Angeles-based licensed marriage and family therapist

That said, a lacking of emotional integrity may not be coming from a malicious place.

4 tips for upping your emotional integrity game

1.

Thatself-awarenesscan work wonders for your emotional integrity levels.

Books on grief are seen floating against a backdrop of clouds.

Try using afeelings chartto help, Zambrano-Morrison says.

Youd be surprised how many more feelings there are than just happy, sad, and angry.

When youre aware of what to name feelings, it can become easier to identify them within yourself.

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This may, in turn, be useful when you want to share your honest feelings with others.

Then, you might identify some goals and journal about your progress to make this more conscious.

you might make a run at take more emotional risks with your partner and see how it goes.

Michelle Monaghan, Carrie Coon, and Leslie Bibb in The White Lotus, symbolizing toxic friendships.

Los Angeles-based licensed marriage and family therapist

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Courtesy Berkley Publishing