Lying Isn’t The Easy Way Out
As cohabitants of this planet, our lives are interwoven with others. Building integrity and trust with one another is important, but there are three negative behaviors that can undermine trust: lying, cheating, and stealing.
Lying can destroy relationships and skew reality, creating a false reality. Lies are frequently the result of different motivations, such as self-preservation, manipulation, or the desire to spare others’ feelings. Every lie has consequences, even though it can be difficult to distinguish between a sincere white lie and a malicious deception. The loss of trust when lying is unavoidable, regardless of the magnitude of the fabrication or the deception.
Sincerity is the cornerstone of a relationship; when lies seep into it, the wounds are difficult to heal, and the relationship collapses. They can build and build, even if each lie is small. Many have a hard time and do not want to come clean because it is difficult to confront bad actions when we do them. Most will take the easy way out, using alcohol or drugs to unburden themselves.
The problem with this path, the reason we turn to vices in the first place, is that we fear confronting them. But the problem will still be there when you come down off the high your vice gives you, whether that is in an hour or the next day.
This is a story of how one of our graduate’s patterns of lying led him down a path of deception and drug use. He did the Narconon program and was able to recognize his faults and pull himself out of this downward spiral.
“From a young age, we are all told not to lie. No matter how bad it is. It is always best to speak the truth. But telling the truth has been one of the hardest things for me to do. It’s not that I want to lie; it was just easier for me to lie than to tell the truth and see the hurt in people’s eyes. My excessive lying started when I was about 14 years old. At first, it was about little stuff like taking the last soda or eating the last popsicle. As the years progressed, what started as something so small escalated into something uncontrollable. I started lying to my family about where I was, who I was with, and when I would be home. Then one day, my whole life turned upside down and my lies grew parallel with the chaos. I made some bad life choices and ended up on meth. When that happened, I was so ashamed that I told whatever lie I could come up with to make my family think I was sober and happy. At that point, my whole life revolved around the lies I had created to keep my family in the dark. This world of lies and darkness lasted many years.
“I want you to know there is hope,
and if I can do this, so can you.”
I am now 27 years old and have been sober for almost a year and a half. I still struggle to always remain honest but that does not mean I am giving up. Thanks to the people here at Narconon, I continue to do better day by day. The staff at Narconon help me in every way they can. So, to anyone who may read this and can relate, I want you to know there is hope, and if I can do this, so can you.”
D.L., Narconon Graduate
Though they are different, lying, cheating, and stealing all have the same destructive power against the foundations of fairness and respect. These misdeeds have an effect that goes beyond individual behavior and penetrates the foundations of interpersonal relationships and society as a whole.
To create a society based on honesty and reliability, moral education, accountability, and upholding ethical standards are crucial. But more importantly, it is vital to handle any situation that would prompt you to lie, cheat, and steal in the first place. Doing so will lead to a better outcome for yourself and those around you.
Matt G., Narconon Staff
