Committing a criminal act may impact your life in numerous ways including the loss of your reputation. Even after you have honored the legal consequences of your sentence, you may find that others still show hesitation about trusting you.
Fixing your reputation and regaining the trust of others is a process that requires constant effort. Knowing how to act so that you can redeem your dignity may help you to build your self-confidence, establish credibility and improve the important relationships in your life.
Act promptly
Choosing not to fix your reputation because the damage has already happened can only create more problems. Immediately following your realization of your wrongdoings, commit to fixing things and owning up to your actions.
It will require vulnerability to admit your faults. However, the faster you do this, the sooner you can begin to show others your commitment to change. According to positivepsychology.com, show extra care when making important decisions. Think about how your actions will affect those around you.
Align words and actions
You can extend a verbal apology for your actions, but if your behavior contradicts your words, people may disregard what you say as insincere and ingenuine. Some of the things you can do to help repair your reputation include the following:
- Educate others on the consequences of criminal behavior
- Volunteer in your community
- Show integrity
- Treat others with respect
- Conduct yourself with dignity
- Improve your communication skills
When people see that your words and your actions match, they may feel more inclined to trust you. This may increase the positivity with which people view you, and in turn, improve your reputation.
