Let honesty be as the breath of thy soul.
-Benjamin Franklin
Can I be honest with you? Why does someone even need to start a conversation with that question? How far have we strayed if the default is now dishonesty? When can we remove our masks and honestly be our authentic, beautiful selves? Right now. What is stopping you – the desire or perceived need to “fit in”? How well are you fitting into your own body if you are being dishonest with yourself in order to do so? Not too well IMO.
I wish we could stop the little lies. I don’t mean that one has to be brutally frank. I don’t believe that we should be brutal about anything, however, it is wonderfully liberating to be honest.
-Maya Angelou
I have a history of naively trusting others too quickly. If I am being honest in my actions, then that means others will be honest in theirs, too, right? If only… yet, do I choose to be defeated by it? No. It means I simply need to practice better discernment moving forward. I choose to still be honest. I believe it is important. It is how I choose to cultivate my lane. If others choose to “build” their lane more surreptitiously, well, that is their choice. I can guarantee that it will be nowhere near as authentic or beautiful. Those who know the difference will be able to easily decipher the decent work from the dishonest jerks.
To live a life of honesty and integrity is a responsibility of every decent person.
-Noam Chomsky
Honesty is the best policy. That is a common expression, and I think it is worth its weight in gold. According to the fourth guardrail, honesty should be a constant ideal to strive towards and actively uphold. Even while we wish everyone would, we can still do so. We do not need to degrade to lower levels and join in on any dishonest deterioration. We can honestly hone a better and higher way for our lanes. Honestly and humbly lead by example. Many will watch and learn eventually. Watch and see, or simply trust me.
Honesty is one part of eloquence. We persuade others by being in earnest ourselves.
-William Hazlitt
If you want to take it one step further, you can circle back to dishonest moments of your past and own up to them now (or soon). I have done so a number of times over the past year. At least four or five occurrences immediately jump to mind. I was nervous and a bit frightened going into each one, but I felt lighter and more relieved leaving each and every one of those opportunities. I suspect all of us have streaks of dishonesty in our past. What can set them free? Honestly owning up to them. I sugjest trying it out for yourself.
It’s impossible to always get across what I’m trying to say, but, if I just stay honest, then I’m not going to look back on any of these interviews and wonder what I was trying to do or be.
-Kristen Stewart
I believe it is helpful (and possibly even necessary, perhaps at least to start) to slow down all of your actions in order to interact with yourself and others more honestly. When we move quickly (including in talking), how reflexively habituated are many of our behaviors and speech patterns? I do not find it fun to move through life on auto-pilot. It does not feel natural to me. You can choose to live however you want, but I believe in pursuing a full and honest experience during my time here. I believe that is how to live life best. I choose to move at my pace if it permits me to position myself in more honest, beautiful, and authentic moments. Honestly, how can you live your best life in your lane?
Maybe it is wise. Maybe it is dumb. Time will tell.