Categories: Hazel Rosetta Smith,
Honesty means we can be taken at our word and more importantly, what we say can be trusted. Somehow, honesty is no easy feat today in numerous situations. Too often, we celebrate an honesty of convenience, in which we think a certain amount of lying and deception is deemed necessary.
Little by little, this honesty of convenience has crept into our lives and become an accepted norm in our society. Rigorous honesty should be the goal for everyone who is striving to maintain good mental health, and yet it is hard to find.
The first step is to be honest with ourselves, so that we can strive to be honest with others. If you know that you are not capable of being the leader, making decisions, managing a heavy load, or fulfilling a request, it is a betrayal of yourself, to yourself, to go forward with it.
Honesty is not the appetizer or even the entrée on the menu, it is the dessert. Go for the satisfaction of professing your truth upfront, and you will taste the delight in the end. Those who know you will discover how special you are and respect your decision. It is OK to say No!
Do you ever listen to someone saying something completely unbelievable and wonder, does he or she even believe what he or she is saying? Is that person hearing what they are saying? The answer is YES!
We have an incredible ability to deceive ourselves at various times and in varying degrees. Who are we trying to impress and, why are we trying to impress that person? Is it for your good…or for their good?
Honesty can hurt and can be shocking sometimes, but honesty CAN WORK when we come face to face with it. Most people consider themselves to be honest people. Are you an honest person? WHO ARE YOU HONEST TO AND WITH???
Honesty does not mean you saturate every conversation with your personal truths, as the opening statement. Honesty does not command a confession of your deepest shame at every opportunity. It simply means you aim to speak your truth rationally with common sense as necessary, without putting untruth and yeast in the mix, which can create unexpected drama and emotional upheaval.
We must consider the reaction to our honesty and not use it as a weapon to take down someone else’s truth. Honesty is a two-way street, drive carefully. Being honest is your right, however, it works best with contemplation and conversation, to be understood and accepted. Stay steady!
[Hazel Rosetta Smith is a journalist, playwright, and artistic director of HSTM Help Somebody Theatrical Ministries and HRS Hazel Rosetta Speaks! Retired, former Woman’s Editor and Managing Editor of the New York Beacon News. Contact: misshazel@twc.com and online at www.hazelrosettasmith.com]
