Can you go a week without lying? What about a day? Is it possible for people to always tell the truth? For a lot of people it is hard for a number of reasons. They want to spare another person’s feelings. They want to keep their job. They want to get ahead in life. They want to impress their friends and they want to feel important. And some people feel like they have to lie to accomplish these things. As a result, truth has become a rear commodity.
So, is there a way to accomplish what you want out of life withou lying and cheating? Absolutely. I know and have heard of many people who have done it and continue to do it. They are honest people who put their integrity first before anything. And because of that, they are successful. But how do they do it?
Telling the truth is not a hard thing to do. People mistake truth telling with feelings of hurt and anger. The way to always tell the truth is to focus on the “how” and not so much the truth itself. People are emotional creatures and their egos are fragile. They let their emotions take control over them instead of using their logic. That is why focusing on the how is very important. I know you have heard the phrase, “it’s not what you say but how you say it that’s important”. People don’t really listen to what you are saying to them, they focus more on the delivery. Your body language, your tone of voice, and all other subtle cues become very important. That is why a whopping 90% of communication is non-verbal. Meaning, it is not what is said but what it’s not being said that is revealed by your body language that’s important; id.est. the how.
That means, you can always tell the truth, but know when it is the right time to approach the person you want to talk to. Know the “how” and you can always tell the truth without fear of hurting anyone’s feelings or being hated. People generally appreciate honesty but not the brutal type. Be gentle in your speech and in your manner when delivering a truth. Speak softly, truthfully, carefully and with empathy. Start with a compliment to soften the possible sting of truth that people often attribute to it. When you tell the truth, you become trusted, you are elevated above other employees or friends, you are told secrets, and you are even loved. The truth is not a bad thing; tell it and set yourself and others free.
What say you?
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