Many people today tell lies without a second thought.
They are unaware of the self inflicted damage that results from such behavior. Nevertheless, dishonesty is like a poison that tears apart the body, mind and soul. It is not a trivial matter, regardless of what someone may believe.
Do this experiment with a friend:
Have your partner hold one arm straight out to the side with a closed fist.
Ask them to finish the statement, “My name is x,” with “x” representing the their real and True name.
Tell the person that, right after he or she answers, you will push down on the outstretched arm while they attempting to keep it too stiff and rigid.
Follow through with the procedure and notice how strongly the other person is able to resist your pressure.
The second part of this exercise will follow a very similar pattern. Only, this time, the individual will finish the statement, “My name is x” with a totally different name.
When the person tells a lie, press down on their extended arm. Notice how weak the muscles have become.
There is a very simple reason why this works. The body abhors non-truth. Stating a falsehood physically, emotionally and neurologically weakens you. This demonstrates how important it is to remain Truthful at all times.
Some people claim to lie only about small things and assert that they value honesty when it comes to matters of significance. But I would challenge that idea and say that it, itself. is probably not true.
Authenticity, or lack of it, is something that one practices day in and day out. It is a muscle that one either builds up or tears down with every event that takes place.
Integrity is formed through discipline. If one cannot even resist lying about small things, then how could he possibly have enough strength to do so when the stakes are high? It just doesn’t add up.
Lying is also a bad habit. It trains the mind to to think through the lens of deception. After a while, the dishonest person finds it difficult to tell the truth about anything. You may know someone like this, who quickly spins a tale of fiction to justify why he did or did not, will or will not, act in a certain way. Lying has become a part of his general makeup, and old habits die hard.
Being dishonest will demonstrate to others that you have poor character, of course. But the more devastating effect is that it erodes your self image. You will develop a bad reputation of yourself, with yourself.
Because everything you do, say, think and feel tells you who you are. It creates a concept that integrates into the deeper parts of the deceiver’s mind. This character will then resurface when the opportunity presents itself.
The person will attempt to circumvent all forms of adversity. But one who doesn’t work to overcome challenges will lead an empty and unfulfilling life.
If it seems impossible to tell the truth within a certain context, maybe that situation isn’t worth your time or involvement. It’s okay to be selective about where you go, what you do, who you hang around with. Making these distinctions will refine you as a person.
Also, it’s okay to only offer information or respond to people in accordance with a “need to know” policy. You can answer in a way that maintains your integrity, even without telling the other individual everything that he or she wants to hear. ‘
It’s okay to remain silent, or to just say, “you know, I don’t want to get into all that right now.” There are a variety of ways that you can communicate with people while maintaining the highest of moral standards.
As you practice, that way of being will also become a habit. It will elicit Trust from others and help you build high self esteem. Continuing to behave in this way creates an upward spiral, one that brings good into your life.
This is the path of one who wishes to be spiritually accomplished. It requires commitment, courage and an unwavering sense of self respect