The Value of Living an Honest Life

The deeper we have gone into the subject of lying, the more we see how much pain and stress it causes everyone involved. Sadly, all of us have been affected by lying, whether our own or someone else's. I've been encouraged by those who have been helped by these blogs and want to live an honest life.

Honesty Brings Peace

Lying is extremely stressful. It causes you to be constantly looking over your shoulder and wondering who might be finding you out. You're always running through the lies you've told in your head, trying to keep track of what you've told to which person, and what's the next lie you need to tell. When you're honest, you don't have those worries, or the negative consequences of your lies.

Sarah added: When you're honest, you don't feel so lost all the time.

Roselyn commented: I can say that not lying is a very relaxing way of life. The fact you don't have to worry about remembering old lies or getting in trouble later on for lying puts a lot more relief in your life. Even when it's hard, telling the truth always has the better outcome than a bunch of lies.

People are constantly looking to see who they can trust and who they can't. People are actually much more perceptive and aware of who tells the truth and who doesn't. Over time, honesty shows itself as a trait that is beautiful and deeply respected. As you begin to live lie-free, you will begin to see people will trust and respect you more and more.

If you resist the temptation to lie, you increase your capacity to build lasting relationships of trust. This is true in all our relationships whether it's dating, family, friends, or at work. Macey put it so well: The truth always comes around. It's always best to be honest it makes any and every relationship strong and healthy. Being honest and open has actually gotten me further than lying.

Honesty Builds Integrity

Integrity is a word few uses, and less understand. Yet if you, have it, it is priceless. If you are a person of integrity, it means your walk matches your talk...you do what you say you're going to do, and when you say something, people know you mean what you say. It means you can be trusted. The opposite of integrity is hypocrisy...saying one thing and doing another.

Someone commented about the value of being honest: I used to lie a lot. I would lie only because it was easier than explaining the truth. And I have finally grown to realize that it's easier to [be honest]. Being honest and open has actually gotten me further than lying. My parents trust me, and I feel good about myself. And when you feel good about yourself then you know that everything is okay. This person has come to realize the pain of hypocrisy and the joy of integrity. When we tell the truth and live it, we become emotionally and spiritually stronger every day.

I want to offer up a challenge to all of us. Would you be willing to commit to a life of honesty and integrity? If you're up for this life-changing challenge, please write me a comment below, and tell a friend about your commitment, too.

Dawson McAllister
Dawson McAllister, also known as America's youth pastor, was an author, radio host, speaker, and founder of TheHopeLine. McAllister attended Bethel College in Minnesota for undergraduate work where he graduated in 1968, began graduate studies at Talbot School of Theology in California, and received an honorary doctorate from Biola University.
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22 comments on “The Value of Living an Honest Life”

  1. I have a problem with lying and hiding my feelings, I am afraid if my parents new things I've done in the past they wouldn't love me or they would thin im a bad person, I get scary thoughts when I was a kid and I couldn't tell any one about it, I didn't know who to talk to. I still sometimes get them and it is hard to tell people I have these thoughts, but I have been going to group therapy and realizing people have these thoughts to. just not sure what to do with them. just scared and confused and lonely. I liie so much I tell meself there is no problem and believe it , trhis crap sucks! trying to turn over a new leaf.

  2. I have been living a life of lie lately. I am not going to make excuses, I lie and steal and I hate it! I do it because I am afraid of the truth. All I want is to have a family that gets along and is happy (I know it wont happen all the time) I want my husband to like me and not to fight so instead of being honest about money situations I lie and say I am working extra and I rob from peter to pay paul or take a few dollars here and there that aren't mine with intentions of paying them back. I am afraid of being honest with him because I am so sick of fighting. I have used some of my kids savings with intentions of paying it back and feel like I am trying to cover up with that too. I/we don't indulge on fancy things and we don't have any "bad habits" (besides a true hope to win some cash in the lottery) we are truly just trying to get by on everyday life. We are a "good" family, involved in the community and church. Please help me..... some days I feel like I just want to give up because it isn't worth the pain anymore, I don't know what to do, I just want to get ahead of things. I pray daily for forgiveness and help.

  3. I just feel like if i dont become successful or if i dont graduate and go to college , i wont have anything or anyone to help me and if i dont have anything to live for , then why should i stay alive? I dont contribute to anyones life , people only Hang With me if i have something to offer and when i dont have anything , im alone , and i dont care about being alone , im a only child i just feel like after i turn 18 , there might not be anyreason for me to live , i dont know why i was put on this earth and im starting to feel like im here for no reason like im waisting my time living ....

  4. Lying is a bad habit I grew into over the yrs and now as I work to break it I often find myself being accused of lying when I'm telling the truth. I lied because of how I felt about myself only to feel worse after I lied. I lied to avoid conflict only to end up in an argument when my lie was exposed. I lied to be seen as smarter then I am only to feel like a fool inside for not having the courage to admit I don't know something or understand how to do something. I lied to be seen as someone I'm not only to feel ashamed when I was alone for not being man enough to be honest about who I am even if it means some won't like me. Now I hate lying. I hate how it makes me feel about me. I hate how my lies have made people feel about me. I hate lying. I hate it I hate it I hate. It's a hard habit to break but I work on it constantly by telling the truth, and searching deep within myself for the answer to why I lie when I lie. I know I am on the path to being an honest person who always tells the truth. But it's a hard path to walk because the lies I've told have made it so unless I can prove I'm telling the truth if it is thought that I'm lying then I'm lying.

    1. I am ruining my relationship with my boyfriend by lying. I am committing to a life of honesty and integrity starting today.
      I am going to ask my counselor to help me work through this.

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