Honesty

Lately, I have been facing the different forms honesty creates. People expect to be treated with respect and honesty, but when you are in a moment when the truth is not what they want to hear, then they refuse to listen.I have been that position and I am not afraid to admit it; I have given an honest answer and rather than appreciate it, I get defensive. It is hard not to but why is that? Why have we become accustomed to not hearing harsh honest answers?

I have worked hard to change my perspective so that I can always be honest, even when it is hard to say something that could potentially hurt someone's feeling, but I have also changed so I can receive feedback or constructive criticism without getting defensive or snapping back. It isn’t easy to open yourself to hearing something about your character or actions from another person, because that allows yourself to feel hurt. No one wants to hurt. Yet hurting sometimes builds you up to become a better person because you are willing to acknowledge that there isn’t always good things about you.

In most cases, if a person is being honest with you, it is because the respect you enough to not lie to you. They do not mean it in a harmful way. Responding negatively to honesty is exhausting anyways! it can leave you in a bad mood for the rest of the day and it clouds your judgement. Take the time to appreciate the person speaking.

I know there are times where the moments are in the beginnings of an argument and the other person might be upset, or vice versa, but before you jump on the angry bandwagon, stop, defuse the situation, and just calm yourself down enough to explain or go over the situation.

An important thing to remember as well is to be honest with yourself.

Nothing hurts you more than lying to yourself. It limits you and adds a dark pit in your stomach.