We are all taught right from wrong from an early age, and one of the biggest 'wrongs' can be lying. We know better. We are taught lying is wrong, can hurt people and can have a negative impact on many aspects of life.
We know lying, or telling falsehoods, is one of the Ten Commandments.
Lying can get you into legal trouble (ie. contempt of court, perjury).
Lying can ruin a relationship. Hiding important information from spouse.
Lying can make others not trust you, question your every word and doubt you when you speak.
We've all heard the phrase...
"Actions speak louder than words" - So by telling someone you love them, but still lying to them- You can infer that the person's 'action' of lying supercedes the words I love you.
My husband's motto about lying is "a lie hurts worse than the truth. No matter what the truth is."
But what are the reasons people lie?
TO HIDE OR KEEP A SECRET- Whether you are planning a surprise party for your best friend and have to 'fluff' a few small white lies to keep the secret, or you hide financial information from your spouse or significant other. The first being an 'OK' lie, whereas the latter can ruin a relationship and the trust. Trust is difficult to rebuild.
TO AVOID HURTING SOMEONE'S FEELINGS- We've all been there (huh, guys?) You know the proverbial 'trap' question. Do these make me look fat? How do you answer that? Kinda a damned if you, damned if you don't situation.
FEAR OF MAKING A MISTAKE OR HAVING MISTAKE DISCOVERED- C'mon ladies, or some of you men, we've done this one for sure. Ladies, maybe you spent a li'l more on those new clothes than you husband would appreciate. So you 'pacify' him with a different amount. But what happens when the bank statement comes? BUSTED!
Or guys, you were supposed to be home ten minutes ago but you stopped off to have a beer with friends (something you know would upset your wife) so when she calls you to see where you're at... how many of you magically became involved in some traffic jam?
Yeah, as I've said... we've all been there.
Just remember, the truth always comes out. Maybe not today, or tomorrow, but some day the truth comes out.
And the truth will set you free.
John 8:32
"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
Pschology Today gives you six reasons why people lie. It's really quite interesting how lying can be a symptom of a deeper issue.
According to Live Science, "Men lie no more than women, but they tend to lie to make themselves look better, while women are more likely to lie to make the other person feel better."
How to tell if someone is lying? Here are some body language examples to look for.
No one wants to be lied to, so why would someone want to inflict the lie, and future consequences, on a person they love?
