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By Brent Maksimovich, Founder, Aussie Dadding
Over the past few years, I have been drawn more and more to the importance of truth-telling and honesty. I always thought that you can get away with lying, and as long as you are doing it for what I would call ‘altruistic’ reasons, i.e., so I wouldn't hurt someone else, it was ok. But as I get older and as my children do too, I realise how essential authentic living is for not only the people around me but for my own soul and what I call, my fabric.
Everything you do affects you, and like the intangible and unexplainable fabric of space, we too have a fabric that is affected by every single decision we make.
Do it for you
Making sure you are always honest creates a sense of calm and contentment within you. When you are honest, there is no reason to feel uptight or uncomfortable within yourself as you never have the requirement to hide what is absolute fact. That makes everybody feel at ease.
Do it for them
Your children and family aren't dumb. Even if you do succeed in deceiving them totally on the surface, I think if we are all truly honest with ourselves, every single one of us knows deep down inside, that our souls always know the absolute truth and when we are being lied to.
This is especially true with children as they have had less time on this earth to create the filters we all use in our lives to blind us to the information we don't want to accept. Children, and ESPECIALLY OUR OWN CHILDREN, always know the truth or at least when we are trying to deceive them.
"Every single decision we make affects our own fabric, much like the intangible and unexplainable fabric of space."
Do it for your relationships
All the best relationships in our lives are created, administered, and propped up through strong foundations of trust. Without this fundamental ingredient, our relationships cannot withstand the test of time. It's virtually impossible to keep a strong, true, and meaningful connection with someone you are not honest with, and you will eventually cause a death to your relationship.
If you truly value and want a meaningful, deep, connected, and authentic relationship with anyone, it needs to be underpinned with total honesty.
Do it because it's the right thing to do
Have you ever heard of doing something for the greater good? Do you believe in it? I do. I have personally witnessed first-hand the benefits of creating an honest society. Although it's extremely hard for me to explain, at times I have lived a life of deceit and dishonesty, and at other times, I have lived in authenticity and honesty, and I am fervently in favour of the latter. When you experience this type of life, although extremely complex and difficult to transition to initially, the payoffs and feelings of contentment and fulfilment are truly worth it.
Just like training for your physical health, being truly honest and authentic is challenging, difficult to begin with, but the payoffs become clearly apparent the more you do it and the longer you do it for.
Living with honesty and authenticity isn't just about us; it sets a powerful example for our kids. They learn the value of trust and integrity, shaping them into confident, genuine people. By choosing to live honestly and authentically, we not only enrich our own lives but also guide our children towards becoming trustworthy and confident individuals.
Although that's just my opinion on the matter. Why don't you try it yourself?
DADDING IN ACTION |
Keep track of any lies, mistruths or misdirections for 24 hours. Reflect: Would you be proud if your children knew? |
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