I believe I trust my moral integrity, but I’ve had instances of moral ambiguity in the past. I’m trying to understand whether people usually know—deep down—when they’re being immoral. If the answer is yes, I’m relieved. If not, I’m concerned, because that would mean I could be acting immorally without realizing it.

One clue that suggests we do know, at some level, is the subtle unease or hesitation that often arises in moments of moral deviation. This unease isn’t just fear of consequences; it feels like a deeper discomfort—an anxiety about veering away from one’s own conscience.

In my experience, a reliable test for whether you’re acting morally is the presence of a deep sense of peace, comfort, and effortlessness. Moral acts often carry a kind of enthusiasm—but not the strained, manic kind. It’s a clean, grounded enthusiasm. Of course, the ethics of reciprocity offers a stronger, more objective measure, but it requires active reflection. What I’m looking for is something more internal—something you can feel without needing to think too much.

From my perspective, even when someone acts based on a faulty belief system and tries to justify their actions, there’s usually some form of internal agitation—however subtle. The enthusiasm behind such acts may be present, but it feels forced, like revving a car uphill. The enthusiasm of a moral act, by contrast, feels like revving a car downhill—natural, fluid, and aligned with gravity.

Therefore, the simplest test for knowing whether you're in a moral state is whether you feel peaceful. 

As for reflection: I’m not suggesting it should be thrown out. It’s valuable—especially after the fact, such as when you realize you’ve made a mistake and want to make amends. But reflection can also become overthinking, which paradoxically leaves you feeling morally uncertain—as if you can’t trust your own inner footing.

Likewise, constantly consulting others—friends, books, even AI tools—about whether your actions are moral can begin to feel like walking with crutches instead of walking on your own feet.