Sad and Empty

By Heide Lynne Canlas
True, honesty is still the best policy because lies and dishonesty will never do us good. Learn why it is always best to tell the truth and never keep any secret from the people who matter to you.

Phrases like “honesty is the best policy” and “the truth will set you free” are well known phrases that are often repeated in books and in conversations. In fact, a lot of articles are written based on these maxims. They are used very often that they can already be considered as clichés.

As all maxims do, these phrases contain lessons that have to be learned and understood. Without this understanding, these phrases become empty words; people would be saying them without being unable to learn, apply, and live by them.

That honesty is the best policy might be an exaggeration because there are other values that we have to learn. However, it cannot be denied that honesty is one of the best policies along with other virtues that we have to learn and apply.

There is also truth to the saying that the truth will set you free. Lies and false claims bind us and make us fear that we will soon be discovered by other people. The lies hunt as and the only thing which can end the fear and feeling of being bound is when we are finally discovered or we confess our lies. However, the consequences of the two might be severe. They can destroy relationships and brand us for life. Thus, we choose to live in the shadow of lies and hope that we will never be discovered.

However, lies are rarely kept hidden for long. Sooner or later, they will be discovered. Maybe we have already got used to the idea of living in a lie and dishonesty that’s why telling them seems to be normal and acceptable. However, just when we thought that it is okay to lie and that our secrets may actually be kept safely, something happens. A chain of events triggers discovery. It may come in the form of a former acquaintance, a slip of the tongue, and the likes. And when this happens, we come out of the open – unprepared and not knowing what to do.

Being lied to by other people is painful. It appears that you don’t deserve to know the truth. Worse is when the truth is kept from you for a long period of time. Lies are often aggravated by the span of time and makes forgiving even more difficult.

So there really is no sense lying. Because whatever relationship or reputation you built through dishonesty for a very long time can be destroyed by a single moment of discovery. People hope that when the time for discovery comes, the relationship that has already been strengthened by time will make acceptance easier. However, did they ever think that the existence of the same relationship strengthened by time would make it more painful?

If we want to be accepted, why not be accepted just as we are, including all flaws and error. Dishonesty does us no good in whatsoever way. It only builds a higher ground for us to fall when we are discovered.

Be yourself. Live freely. Live honestly.