Ever told a lie, and felt that little flutter inside? Don't worry. You're in good company. Almost everyone on this planet has done it at least once. Lying is as old as language itself: Habitual, impulsive, convenient, or just reluctant.
Remember school days? You went to a wedding, but told the teacher, "Ma'am, I had fever." The plot doesn't change much. Years later, while sharing beer with friends, you get a call from your spouse. Without hesitation you say: "stuck in a meeting!"
I once had a colleague who rushed in late for a major presentation. His excuse? "My car's carburetor broke. Had to call a mechanic." Only one issue. His car was diesel. Diesel engines don't have carburetors. We tried hard not to laugh.
Lesson: if you're going to lie, at least Google it first!
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Most times, we lie to escape embarrassment or avoid trouble. But are all lies harmful? No. Consider the "white lie" you tell a friend, "You look great in that shirt". Just a gentle "feel good" nudge. These are featherweights compared to what we tell ourselves: "We're not ready for that task; we'll do it tomorrow." These ones dress up as caution, common sense, or self-compassion, making them harder to detect.
So where does this leave us? History celebrates figures known for their unwavering honesty - people who built their entire reputations on never telling a lie, not even once. Respect! Yet in real life, being 100% truthful every single second, is hard. Still, trying to be more honest each day, does make us better human beings.
And here's a playful question to end with:
Who do you think lies most - politicians when they make promises, or us when we say "I'm five minutes away" while still in pajamas? 😄
Let's promise to catch our little lies and smile at them.
Small steps towards big truth!
