We often get caught in these extremes in life revolving around morals, self-interests, and the greater good.  We would all love to live a life that rewards us for telling the whole truth all the time, but that life is neither realistic nor interesting.  Operating in such extremes means never lying for the purpose of telling a joke, teaching a lesson, or protecting the vulnerable.  So, when is not telling the truth advantageous and when is it detrimental to your personal growth?

To answer this question, we need to look at situations we encounter when telling the truth isn’t always cut and dry.

Do not Mince your Words

Sometimes people lie to protect others’ feelings or, in more malicious situations, to make them feel better about themselves in a bad or embarrassing situation.  The best thing to do to avoid the sting of the truth or the guilt of having to lie is saying what you mean and not sugar-coating or leaving it open for interpretation.  People respect honesty when it is clear what you are trying to express.  It is too common these days for people with hidden agendas to speak in vague, verbose language to influence others’ decisions.

Assessing the Situation

You might be personally opposed to lying, but telling the truth in certain situations may not be reciprocated, leaving you in a worse off situation than if you lied.  The typical corporate environment is one common place where something like lying to your boss is a necessary evil because telling the truth could lead to a firing or subject to unfair prejudice, like being guilty by association.

In the working environment, we fear we’ll lose our occupations in the event that we say something strange or something that voices our own truth. We fear we’ll make foes that will bring about troubles for us either instantly or later on.  We expect that by asking the “wrong” question or making the “wrong” remark, we will uncover how little we know or others will judge us as insensible or as not adjusting to the acknowledged standards of the association.  These same feelings of dread of retaliation become an integral factor when we are confronted with recognizing an oversight we’ve made. As a matter of fact, these are difficult obstacles to overcome, yet it is basic to come to terms with them on the off chance that we are to carry on with a legitimate life in the working environment.

What do We Sacrifice?

It is imperative to perceive the cost of withholding our truth, both for ourselves and for the associations in which we work.  For ourselves, each time we don’t state what we think, another snapshot of validness is lost.  More regrettable, we prevent the growth from controlling our own destiny, innovativeness, and instinct, which are what make us who we are.  As we continually dismiss those inward stirrings to state what we believe, our association with our internal identity with regards to the working environment floats away, until, like a solitary partner, it quits requiring our consideration. To put it plainly, we lose touch with ourselves and become cold, dead robots if we don’t stand for anything.