Most people tell lies. According to a study conducted by the University of Massachusetts, 60% of adults can’t have a ten-minute conversation without lying at least once. On average, the people who lied did so three times during those 10 minutes.
When the taped conversations were played back, even the liars were surprised with the number of lies they had told. For many of them the lying was unconscious.
Why do people lie? Pamela Meyer, author of Liespotting, has some ideas:
- To control a response from others
- To cast ourselves in a more favorable light
- To protect ourselves or our reputations
- To cast doubt on others
- To “protect” others
The effect of these lies? Meyer notes that many of them are detected and dealt with appropriately. Resumés are now routinely fact-checked. References are verified. Stories are corroborated. The result of lying is lost jobs, lost marriages and lost opportunities.
But the other thing that is lost is our integrity.
When we lie we are telling ourselves, “I am not adequate the way I am.” We are saying, “My life is not OK the way it is.” When we lie we are hurting ourselves far worse than what it may do to others.
In the Science of Mind we believe that what we say about ourselves matters. We believe that accepting life as-is, is a critical part of moving forward. When we are out of integrity, we invite the world to treat us without integrity.
So what can you do to be more honest? You can begin by being honest with yourself. Purposefully ignore that inner voice that tells you you’re not good enough. Stand firm in your opinion about yourself and your life. You do not need to make yourself seem or feel better—God made you perfect as you are.
You can also choose to stop some of the comparisons that make you feel “less than.” Doing your best in the moment is always good enough. When we reach for unobtainable heights of perfection, the only way to get there is through lying!
Integrity is not just for your outer world. Integrity is fundamental to your own well-being. When your beliefs, words and actions are in alignment, you are exercising authentic power. This is the co-creative power that exists between your mind and God’s spiritual laws. This is the power that transforms your life into something amazing. This is the power to create a world that works for everyone.
But it must be based in Truth.