There’s this new thing I’m trying out, and it’s changing the way I am drastically. It’s called the truth. Yup – the honest and simple truth. Many people think that this is an obvious choice, ‘always tell the truth’, ‘honesty is the only policy’ – yet not many people can honestly say that they speak the truth all the time. Well I am – and trust me, it has been challenging.
Big Little White Lie
The ‘Honestly Speaking’ challenge is quite difficult for me, because I generally am a people-pleaser. I don’t like disappointing anyone and would rather say a little white lie than tell you the honest truth about you losing the baby fat. Since I have taken on this challenge, I have made the conscious decision to speak the truth every time a sentence leaves my mouth.
I’m not gonna lie – it has not always been well received. Sometimes if I can’t say the truth, I choose to not say anything at all. At least that way, I am not lying. A cluster of small white lies can eventually lead to a complete misconstruction of the truth, and that is something that I do not want to be responsible for.
Being Nice or Being a Liar
The problem with white lies is that once you start, it a bit difficult to stop. From over-praising the terrible birthday present to going out with someone because you don’t want to say the truth. I’ve come to realize that my ‘being nice’ has often been taken advantage of – and then I eventually have to lie get out of situations.
… And I hate that. So if there was a choice to either be nice or a liar – I honestly want to choose the first but that means being brutally honest (which people don’t expect from nice people).
To Be Honest…
The ‘Honestly Speaking’ challenge is in full motion for me. It has changed the way I make decisions and communicate with others slightly – not that I was a compulsive liar before. I just had this habit of putting what others expected from me before what I really wanted to say/do. Telling an actual lie is a tedious and head ache-inducing chore for me, so my little bunch of lies have all fortunately been white.
But not anymore. I have made the choice to speak my mind, and be as honest as I can be. Since telling the truth, and nothing but the truth, I feel more free and liberated… which was completely not expected! -myclutterbox.com
