I read this article on yoga philosphy which I think is quite true and decided to share it with you. Hereunder is an abstract from it and should you wish to read the whole article please click here.
On a 1 to 10 scale, with polite lies ("No, that dress doesn't make you look fat") at the low end, and outrageous, destructive lies like the Russian accountant's at the high end, your worst falsehoods would probably rate no more than a 3 or 4. Yet those lies are probably lodged in your psyche, still giving off smoke. You can justify them, but some part of you feels the effect of every lie you've told. How? In the cynicism, distrust, and doubt that you feel toward yourself, and in your own tendencies to suspect other people of either lying or concealing the truth from you........
......As I've said, balancing the relative value of, say, truth and kindness, is not always easy, and it requires a high degree of honesty—especially about your own deep inner motives. If the compulsion to be relentlessly honest sometimes conceals aggression, the decision to hide the truth because of kindness, or because the time is wrong, can be a cover for your fears or for the desire to stay inside of your comfort zone. Radical truth telling is simple. You just plunge in and do it, regardless of the effect it has on others. Discriminating truth telling demands far more attentiveness, emotional intelligence, and self-understanding...
Will you try a week of complete no lying? Maybe we should, it would be interesting to see what we learn!
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Monday, July 20, 2009
Let's be honest
I read this article on yoga philosphy which I think is quite true and decided to share it with you. Hereunder is an abstract from it and should you wish to read the whole article please click here.
On a 1 to 10 scale, with polite lies ("No, that dress doesn't make you look fat") at the low end, and outrageous, destructive lies like the Russian accountant's at the high end, your worst falsehoods would probably rate no more than a 3 or 4. Yet those lies are probably lodged in your psyche, still giving off smoke. You can justify them, but some part of you feels the effect of every lie you've told. How? In the cynicism, distrust, and doubt that you feel toward yourself, and in your own tendencies to suspect other people of either lying or concealing the truth from you........
......As I've said, balancing the relative value of, say, truth and kindness, is not always easy, and it requires a high degree of honesty—especially about your own deep inner motives. If the compulsion to be relentlessly honest sometimes conceals aggression, the decision to hide the truth because of kindness, or because the time is wrong, can be a cover for your fears or for the desire to stay inside of your comfort zone. Radical truth telling is simple. You just plunge in and do it, regardless of the effect it has on others. Discriminating truth telling demands far more attentiveness, emotional intelligence, and self-understanding...
Will you try a week of complete no lying? Maybe we should, it would be interesting to see what we learn!
On a 1 to 10 scale, with polite lies ("No, that dress doesn't make you look fat") at the low end, and outrageous, destructive lies like the Russian accountant's at the high end, your worst falsehoods would probably rate no more than a 3 or 4. Yet those lies are probably lodged in your psyche, still giving off smoke. You can justify them, but some part of you feels the effect of every lie you've told. How? In the cynicism, distrust, and doubt that you feel toward yourself, and in your own tendencies to suspect other people of either lying or concealing the truth from you........
......As I've said, balancing the relative value of, say, truth and kindness, is not always easy, and it requires a high degree of honesty—especially about your own deep inner motives. If the compulsion to be relentlessly honest sometimes conceals aggression, the decision to hide the truth because of kindness, or because the time is wrong, can be a cover for your fears or for the desire to stay inside of your comfort zone. Radical truth telling is simple. You just plunge in and do it, regardless of the effect it has on others. Discriminating truth telling demands far more attentiveness, emotional intelligence, and self-understanding...
Will you try a week of complete no lying? Maybe we should, it would be interesting to see what we learn!
5 comments:
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Night Owl Mama said...
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interesting post Stopping by from the Sits to say hello Luv your blog and ur beach pics too
Come on by for a laugh
http://nightowlmama.blogspot.com/2009/07/funniest-five-momfinitions.html -
July 21, 2009 at 9:03 AM
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Magaly Guerrero said...
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Hm, I agree, we lie quite a bit and many times because we are trying to keep people from hurting or because it's the "right" thing to do. Gosh, I don't know if I can go a whole week without telling a simple lie--WooHoo, my first burst of honesty.
It is just hard to do. Although, I don't go straight out and lie about certain things, I just hold back on the truth. For instance, there is this person who is always telling me how hard it is to lose weight. Mind you that the person is usually eating a huge cinnamon bun when this comment is issued. I usually don't answer, but my eyebrows, do go up to my hairline.
Is this lying? -
July 21, 2009 at 2:02 PM
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Melissa aka Equidae said...
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lol a white lie? but normally no answer means you do not agree...at least that is how i look at it...well i thought of giving it a go and try hehe
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July 21, 2009 at 2:11 PM
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KarieK said...
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Oh Americans cannot handle truth at all.....we are a society of sugar coating, smoke and mirrors! Look what happened when I spoke the truth.....the in laws hate me now!! I would love a week of pure truth from people....because I can always smell their lies anyway which is so infuriating.
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July 21, 2009 at 9:34 PM
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Magaly Guerrero said...
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I had to be honest with Crazy Dana, you owe me!! lol
I'm still strong and lie free. WooHoo!!!
Only 6 days to go ;( -
July 23, 2009 at 3:28 AM
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5 comments:
interesting post Stopping by from the Sits to say hello Luv your blog and ur beach pics too
Come on by for a laugh
http://nightowlmama.blogspot.com/2009/07/funniest-five-momfinitions.html
Hm, I agree, we lie quite a bit and many times because we are trying to keep people from hurting or because it's the "right" thing to do. Gosh, I don't know if I can go a whole week without telling a simple lie--WooHoo, my first burst of honesty.
It is just hard to do. Although, I don't go straight out and lie about certain things, I just hold back on the truth. For instance, there is this person who is always telling me how hard it is to lose weight. Mind you that the person is usually eating a huge cinnamon bun when this comment is issued. I usually don't answer, but my eyebrows, do go up to my hairline.
Is this lying?
lol a white lie? but normally no answer means you do not agree...at least that is how i look at it...well i thought of giving it a go and try hehe
Oh Americans cannot handle truth at all.....we are a society of sugar coating, smoke and mirrors! Look what happened when I spoke the truth.....the in laws hate me now!! I would love a week of pure truth from people....because I can always smell their lies anyway which is so infuriating.
I had to be honest with Crazy Dana, you owe me!! lol
I'm still strong and lie free. WooHoo!!!
Only 6 days to go ;(
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