Do you tell lies? I do, and I'm pretty sure the rest of us do as well. We do it as an excuse for compassion, and we lie to ourselves that its for noble intentions. Some lies are for saving the feelings of another. If I meet someone who already has low self esteem and they are wearing an ugly outfit that they are clearly proud of, and they ask me if they look good, I would probably wouldn't say yes but instead offer up some solutions so they look a little better. I can honestly say that I would prefer the truth if I were that person. I want to be told that I look like a fool, or I'm being stupid, or that I have an unusually long hair growing out of my ear, that I'm getting fat, and my wife's most hated comment, you look tired. You can say that I'm mean or have no feelings but I really believe the world would be a better place if we all used an honest approach to all things human. My exception to the rule comes in the way of children, I often get asked from a child if I like their drawing or coloring and I always say yes, even if its awful, because I want them to continue and get better at it. I understand that they haven't fully developed their skills yet. Adults should have it figured out by now.
You don't have to mean about it, there are ways to give someone honest feedback with a positive attitude, on the same token sometimes some people are so lost in their own world that they need a reality check so a little rudeness is a good thing. My life has been better since I started putting this into practice. The people in my life know where I stand with most topics, and often come to me for advice when they want an honest opinion on their issue. Being more honest brings more respect , raises your own self esteem, builds confidence and in turn makes your life more enjoyable, so go out there and be more honest and remember a lie is only good if it helps others and not yourself.
Scott G.
