The Value Of Being Honest: Is It Ever Okay To Lie?

Honesty is a trait that we should value, especially in this day and time.  The question is, is it ever okay to lie?  Under what circumstances is it okay to lie?

We should always be as honest as possible.  Honesty is a character trait that determines our integrity.  But we can find ourselves into situations where we don’t really know what to say and wonder if it is okay to lie.

Striving for honesty should be your goal in all situations.  If you get into a situation where you don’t know what to say, try to say nothing at all.  For example, if the subject comes up at your office of who has been tricking the vending machine into giving two candy bars instead of one and you know who did it does not mean you have to share that information or lie about it.  It would be a good idea to say nothing at all to keep yourself out of it.  If you are put on the spot, you might say that you know but you don’t want to share that information.

Another example would be if your best friend asks what you think of their new hair color and you are wondering if it is okay to lie.  Try to think of something positive or neutral you can say about their hair color without hurting their feelings.  You might say something to the effect of what a change it is.  You might say that it is a different look.  If push comes to shove you might say that you preferred the other color but if they are happy then you are happy.

Although being honest is difficult sometimes you will find that people value your honesty and will come to appreciate that about you.  In the end, you will feel better about yourself and find you gain a lot more friends.