To Tell A Lie

Abraham Lincoln said, “I cannot tell a lie” and although most of us know this is the correct way to behave, we often make excuses and fudge the truth or worse yet, outright lie. If you think little lies are okay and you often exaggerate, or tell partial truths, you are still lying.

1. A person lies, because they lie,  It has nothing to do with the lie.

• Lying is a sign of bad character.
• Either you lie or you don’t lie. There is no such thing as a little lying, (just as there is no such thing as a little bit pregnant!).
• We stop lying when we realize that being truthful is a sign of good character.

2. There is no reason to lie unless you want to deceive in some way.

• Partial truths are lies!
• We tell half the truth because we want to hide the rest.
• We do not want to be accountable for the part we are holding back, but when you deceive another person by telling a partial truth, you break that trust.

3. There is always a kind way to speak the truth – find it.

• How often have you seen people lie and heard them make excuses by saying, “I didn’t want to hurt her feelings?”
• Just because you have not figured out a kind way to communicate does not mean that one does not exist without you having to lie.
• The truth can always be sweet if it comes from a sweet place inside you!

4. Exaggeration is momentary gratification – the high does not last.

• Exaggeration is lying.
• We exaggerate because the truth does not gratify our ego.
• If something costs $50 we say it costs $60, not because the $10 difference is so much, but because making something more momentarily boosts our ego.

5. Honesty has dignity and fosters self-esteem.

• We always KNOW when we have exaggerated or told a partial truth and there is a part of us that always feels false because of it.
• There is something very attractive and noble about integrity and people we can count on to speak the truth.
• We you speak the truth you are congruous and your energy is strong and clear.

Comments

[Ari Koinuma]

This is the 3rd post on honesty I read today. I think I'm receiving a message from above. ;-)

I think people lie because they are afraid. Afraid of the truth, or afraid of other people's reactions. At least that's why I do -- and I hate myself when I do it. It's a habit I don't need to use these days as I am less afraid than I used to be, but under stress it still slips out. I guess I need to eradicate both the source and the symptoms in this case.

ari