Honesty Is The Best Policy

The truth is hard to tell all the time. Nevertheless, honesty is still the best policy. The honesty being emphasized here is not conditional. Being selective with the truth is a character of conditional honesty. For instance, telling the truth to your friends while lying to your parents and pastors; telling the truth to your colleagues at work while lying to your bosses. Some people are incapable of being truthful when the consequence would be undesirable to them. To avoid difficulties or get an advantage, they will rather tell lies. Being sincere with oneself, with others, and in all situations is a holistic commitment. Authenticity will make you respectable. It is a quality that may be developed, just like any other quality or habit. Being truthful at all times has no horrible consequences. However, since one falsehood often leads to another, the stench of dishonesty is very strong.

My Igbo tribe has a special proverb that describes someone who is sparing with the truth. “So eziokwu di gi n’onu bu ututu oma,” they say. This literally translates to “the only truth you can say is good morning.” It sounds crazy, right? Nonetheless, this is how a dishonest person truly is. Living a lie is incredibly difficult. There will be a lot to hide. Imagine marrying someone whose only statement of truth is “Good Morning.” That is dreary. That’s an experience that will certainly rupture your sense of fulfilment. You will have to deal with your spouse’s infidelity and lying. A dishonest partner will sting you like a European fire ant and both of you will live polarized lives forever. 

When you speak the truth frequently, you build a solid reputation and achieve great things. A lot of people believe in you. So, as a result, you receive a larger piece of the cake of luck. There aren’t many people who are entirely honest. Being one of such few individuals implies a huge opportunity, then. No successful person would want to transfer their empire to a dishonest person, even if the person is a relative. Parents don’t bequeath their hard-earned estates to their crooked kids. Instead of giving so much to their unruly children, they would prefer to donate their wealth to charity. Any man can succeed with diligence and integrity. Honesty even without diligence can be a priceless asset, but diligence without honesty will keep one stagnant. Do you now see why honesty is the best policy?

At all times, be sure to tell the truth about your social status or class. Nobody will ever be able to reduce who you are. Keep your identity intact, but avoid flaunting an elevated quality of living that you do not yet enjoy. Actually, falsehood won’t make you more valuable. You won’t draw destiny helpers if you lead a phony life. Worse still, people will hold you in high regard and have lofty expectations of you. Then, your inability to provide solutions to their problems will turn them off. In order to defend your glorified self, you would also have to tell more lies. This may sound close to the bone, but it is worth meditating upon. Why not relish the simplicity that comes from being truthful?

You will need to break free from any forces of milieu that stir up falsehood in you. Your posture should only be one of a learner when you are with your more successful friends. Apply the same ideas that elevated them, and you will succeed as well. Don’t try to live in a way that you can’t currently afford. If you want a better life, work towards it. Don’t live it before the actual work has been done. Don’t be fake; be original. Indeed, practicing this is somehow difficult. But when all has been said and done, honesty is the best policy.

Continue Reading: Excellence as a core value 

My Air Xperience

Prosper T. Nwankwo is a Nigerian writer with well pronounced talents. Content writing is one of his strong suits. While blogging professionally, Mr. Prosper maintains his interests in technology and real estate. He publishes for My Air Xperience and other websites.