Honesty seems like such a simple subject on the surface, and it is.
In application there are a few other complexities involved to mastering the art of honesty.
Did you want to talk about honesty with others or honesty with yourself?
Both are covered in this video.
HONESTY With Yourself
Are you being honest in a way that you can explain why? Or, are you just beating yourself up needlessly. Learn to practice seeing the difference between fact and opinion when being 'honest' with yourself. Is there actually a good reason why you think you did something bad? Can you explain it? Can you pay attention and break it down to figure out what part of it felt that way?
If not you may be needlessly beating yourself up.
HONESTY With Others
Don't be a jerk..
Tact is a thing, let's not lose that art. The way I see it, there are two types of honesty with others.
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Selfish honesty- This is that time that you just think, well I'm brutally honesty, or some other ego driven excuse for saying something someone doesn't want to hear in a way that puts them down and makes you feel better.No doubt it can be hard to deliver hard truths, sometimes people aren't ready for it. There is a such thing as preframing though, much like bedside manner.That being said, respect would also say to treat others they way THEY want tbe treated, if someone ever tells you they would rather the brutal truth, they are generally more comfortable with themselves and knowing than they would be with not knowing, honor that by being honest in the way your teammates ask for it.
Tactful Honesty - This is that time you do consider the feelings of the person you are being honest with and try to give, or better yet show, them your honesty in a way that is open minded. You may learn something, there may be a good reason to their madness. Considering how they may feel with the delivery of your honesty is important to coming across in the best way possible. Being open minded to the fact they may have a better 'why' than you think for whatever it is you might be being honest about. But this helps you understand each other. Understanding each other creates better relationships and friendships.
Forever Your Teammate
Honesty – Telling the Truth
Overview: An honest person is viewed by others as someone who is trustworthy and does the right thing. Being an honest person helps build your self-esteem because it feels good to tell the truth. People often choose to be dishonest because they are afraid of the consequences and how others may view them. It compromises one’s self-esteem because most people feel bad for doing so. If you choose to be dishonest people may no longer trust you. Recognize no matter what the consequences may be, the best choice is to always tell the truth. As the saying goes, “The truth will set you free.” Free yourself from the burden of being dishonest by always telling the truth. Sometimes in telling the truth others still won’t believe you, everybody has a different perspective and perception of what is going on. Telling the truth can be exceptionally hard when few people believe you. However, overall, it still makes life much easier.
Telling the truth is always the best choice and the right thing to do. Your family and friends will see you as an awesome person who can be trusted. You may sometimes choose to be dishonest because you are afraid of getting in trouble. If you choose to do so, you’ll end up feeling bad about yourself. Nobody will trust you or believe what you say. So no matter what, you should always tell the truth. It is the right thing to do and you will feel better about yourself knowing that you are an honest person. Tell the truth and stand by it, even if someone doesn’t believe you. Have enough compassion and respect to realize we all view the world differently.
Parent: Teach your children that being honest builds their self-esteem, that it is the right thing to do, and that they will be viewed as someone who is trustworthy. The reason most children choose to be dishonest is because they fear the consequences of their actions. Share with them that telling the truth is always the best choice. Tell your children that if they choose to be dishonest, it may compromise your trust in them and they will end up feeling bad about themselves. Explain to them that it takes courage and integrity to tell the truth, especially when they know there may be consequences. You can encourage honesty in your children by reassuring them that you will still love and support them even if they choose to be dishonest. Share with them that if they choose to tell you the truth after the fact, you can help them learn from the mistakes of their actions. Let your children know that being an honest person feels so much better and is the right thing to do.