The majority of people surround themselves with honest people. No one likes to be lied to. If a friend or family member does start lying, or stretching the truth, it can cause major disruptions. And, rightly so. You don’t deserve to be treated like that. But, when putting import on truthful relationships, most of us could do with looking inwards. You may not realize it, but most of us lie to ourselves at some stage. You do so to protect yourself, or to prevent having to make major changes. But, even lies with the best intentions can be harmful. It’s time to start being honest with yourself. Honesty starts at home.
Not being honest with yourself about relationships
To understand the nature of the problem, you need to understand under what circumstances we lie to ourselves. These vary from person to person, but, there are some common factors. For the most part, self-denial comes about through an attempt at self-preservation.
With that in mind, it’s easier to separate lies from truth. It may be that you’re lying to yourself about your relationship. Many people suffering from domestic violence refuse to admit it’s happening. Instead, they convince themselves, and the people around them, that their relationship is a happy one.
A lie like this can be damaging for a number of reasons. For one, it means you stay stuck in a relationship that isn’t good for you. For another, it stops anyone else from realizing that you need help.
Denial about weakness
And, relationships aren’t the only incident of people telling themselves half-truths. Many folks are also in denial about your weaknesses.
It’s understandable; no one likes to admit to being weak. By denying the problem, our subconscious believes it can overcome the issue. You are only as strong as we think we are, right? Wrong.
In fact, lying to yourself in this way gives your weakness more power. That is particularly the case when it comes to issues like addiction.
Denying an addiction allows it to exercise complete control over you. The moment you admit that you have all the symptoms of someone requiring alcohol rehab, you can take steps towards recovery. Until that point, you’re at the mercy of your addiction.
Getting honest: Your time is now
So, how do you stop lying to yourself? It’s much easier than you might think. Although these behaviors are ingrained in most people, you’re likely more aware of them than you admit. All you need do to unveil the smokescreen is look carefully at your life.
The chances are, you already know what you’re unhappy with. It might be the Monday blues or something far deeper. But, not looking at the issue means your denial can continue without challenge.
The moment you stop and look at your situation, the problem areas should become clear. Then, you can set about improving things.
There’s no quick fix here, and the chances are that you’ll lie to yourself again later down the line. But, if you’ve uncovered your lies once, you’re in a better position to do the same again.
Well said .It’s true .We used to neglect ,ignore the problems ,habits by lying .But later lying become our habit which we even don’t realize it.Great post👍
I loved this! Honesty certainly begins at home and within ourselves. It’s like love, if we can’t learn to love ourselves, we can’t be completely free to love others. <3
Oh there is so much truth in what you wrote here! Thank you xxoo
<3 <3
Beautiful article.
Excellent article, Christy. This is very thought-provoking and well done. You’re absolutely correct that we’ll allow the self-lying when we won’t tolerate the same from others. Thanks for the perspective!
Thanks John :) Still waiting on your book to arrive in the mail (stamps foot impatiently haha)
Good grief! I thought it would be there by now! Pony Express across the Prairies must be slower than usual!
Nice summation of home truths about lying and the value of truth in our quotidian lives. Clearly, we need to be true to ourselves and to others, backed by honesty of purpose and practice. But we falter in practice, living as we do in post truth societies. Truth in its purest form is conspicuous by its idealistic nature and non-existence at all levels. One only has to look at quantum of lies surrounding daily lives vide the media, business campaigns, politics, social and commercial transactions, to realise the extent of ocean of lies that everyone has to navigate through. Nevertheless, truth is an ideal to be perseveringly pursued; our lives must be taken forward as truthfully as possible.
You express many good points here, Raj. Thanks for making time and encouraging a more truthful life for all xx
A lie is a point on a spectrum – with extremes that can be disastrous or cause perhaps a blip.
In that sense, we’ve all lied and will continue to lie – and by this, I don’t mean every moment or even every day. But we’re prone to it – even if it’s only once in a blue black moon.
The problem is to be ignorant of it, or worse, to deny it.
The solution? Perhaps, to keep fighting to tell the truth.
And perhaps one way to win, is not to put ourselves in a position where we might be forced to lie.
Peace,
Eric
How interesting that you say it is part of human nature to lie, Eric. Perhaps it is part of self-preservation to do so? Thanks for sharing your thoughts and also glad the film quiz was fun for you too :)
Peopke refused to accept certain realities, that is why they seek for miracles they do not need, of which they often are!
Aw, I like that you say people are miracles :)
Thanks!
Have a great day/night, Jerry :)
Thanks Christy, it’s night here and you too!
With problems like addictions and abusive relationships, people will actually move heaven and earth to avoid admitting to them, even to themselves. In the case of abusive relationships, the victim tells themselves they deserve that kind of treatment, for example. Having spoken to a number of people in that situation, it is remarkable how hard they will resist the truth.
Well, for myself, as an abuse survivor, I wouldn’t let my mind even admit to what was going on in reality. It was a division within my brain.
I understand. I’m glad you came through it and out the other side okay.
Hi Christy, this is excellent! Most people have accepted lies as part of themselves, thinking they can’t live without it, but you are very right, it is very easy to live WITHOUT IT!
I also wrote something about Lies on my blog.
Hi Jerry, I’ll take a look at your post! Thanks for the feedback – cheers to honesty!
Thank you too, Christy
People think they are honest with other people, but often don’t realize they should be honest with themselves. A great point, Christy.
Yes! Oh I didn’t realize you had commented on this post too when I sent the smoking comment a few minutes ago on the other post. Thanks Michelle, your loving spirit shines through here ♥
As one Spanish singer (quite old, but Very well known) says in one of his songs: “Truth is never sad…. But it has no remedy” …. Accepting certain truths might be hard, (even single facts, not major points)…. it is clearly easier to deny them… However, once we face them, we can deal with the issues in question and improve. At the end, we human beings can be so vulnerable, right?…
Why would we lie… not just to others… But: to Ourselves?… I guess we are used to certain dichotomies, but I have the feeling that genuine people are the real winners at the end.
Thank you Christy. Great share here. ♥️😘
Hi Aqui, thanks again for telling me about this song. Once I heard it and read the lyrics I knew it was a great one to illustrate the points in the posts. You say it beautifully that “genuine people are the real winners at the end.” Oh sweetie, yes. Love you! ♥
Glad you liked it… ILY2 <3
Awww <3 Happy Friday and a beautiful weekend ahead to you, Aqui!
You too my lovely!. I ´ll be mostly offline this weekend. I am taking a break as I am feeling quite tired, etc… I´ll catch up with you on WWI on monday, hun. See ya!…. Have a beautiful weekend :star: xx
Hi sweetie, no rush on the reads as I know you’re resting.. take care and know I send big hugs! xx Shining star xx
Thank you!… Hugs back at you, my lovely :star: xx
Yayyy ((I feel the hugs)) ~ Thanks too!
You are right Christy.. I had one disastrous marriage that only lasted seven years in total – four in actuality.. that was about three years longer than it should have been. We bend the truth for all sorts of reasons to protect ourselves and others. Also to justify our actions. I have been married for 37 years this time and it is better for the lessons I learnt the first time around. Anyway I am a lousy liar! Great post thank you.xx
Sally, your positive nature shows brightly here as you say you look at the first marriage as teaching you about yourself to form a healthier union the second time around. Optimist you! Thanks for the comment and xx to you too
Hi Christy…
So very true about the lies and the effect they can have on relationships and those who love and care about you.
Denial of an addiction (Chocolate Excluded) is a form of lying to yourself. I did not need anyone telling me I had addiction issues, it was written on everyones face. What I disliked about other people was the exact same I saw in myself.
The best medicine is truth… you are a very wise young lady Christy with such potential…
Hugs from Alberta
Rolly, your openness to sharing your experiences is truly motivational. Thank you. And of course chocolate is excluded ;)