Naturally, our actions are guided by the things we value in our hearts. Values are shared a ideas on morality (right and wrong). In today's Living with Values I want to share with you a common yet often overlooked value: Honesty.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines Honesty as:
a : fairness and straightforwardness of conduct
b : adherence to the facts
That seems like very functional answer that I can agree with. Honesty is is being truthful (adhering to the facts).
I cannot say that I have always valued Honesty. When I was younger, I would lie to get out of trouble or to use words to my advantage (or at least I thought). In recent times, I get the sense that honesty is not valued as much. There seems to be a certain acceptance that being dishonest can be helpful in some occasions. This is untrue. Dishonesty is not helpful and in fact you may be causing more damage by not telling someone the truth.
The point where I really began to value honesty started when I started to define what is my freedom. I read a book that changed my frame of reference: Ayn Rand's book Atlas Shrugged.
In Atlas Shrugged, Rand gives a profound explanation on dishonesty and freedom, I'll let her say it herself:
“People think that a liar gains a victory over his victim. What I’ve learned is that a lie is an act of self-abdication, because one surrenders one’s reality to the person to whom one lies, making that person one’s master, condemning oneself from then on to faking the sort of reality that person’s view requires to be faked…The man who lies to the world, is the world’s slave from then on…There are no white lies, there is only the blackest of destruction, and a white lie is the blackest of all.” -Ayn Rand
In other words, when I lie, I make myself a slave to the person I lied to because I have created a false reality that I now have to uphold for that person. Have you ever told a lie to someone and then have to "watch out" you don't spill the beans? That's exactly what I'm talking about. Rand's statement made me completely re-evaluate my view on Honesty because she is absolutely correct.
Personally, I am someone that values my freedom. I like not having a boss and not having to respond to someone for my actions. I like the fact that I can be direct and confront people when necessary. I apply this in my business as well. I hate employees that lie just to get off the cuff. In fact, I've fired a few people due to repeated acts of dishonesty. As a leader in my business I rely on accurate and truthful information to make wise decisions. My employees that know me well know that it is better to be honest with me, accept their mistakes, learn form the mistake and move on.
My advice to you all:
I urge you all to become aware of your freedom. At some point it just clicks that we are all sovereign, individual minds and that only we can create our own future. Do not abdicate your freedom by being dishonest. Honesty builds a strong trust, and in dealing with people you can only communicate if there is trust.
I know it is challenging to admit mistakes and costly to accept the damages, but at the end of the day all you really have is your sovereignty and peace of mind.
A final quote from Warren Buffet:
