Be Honest

Our traits define who we are as a person, so let's make them positive!

One way to turn someone quickly against you is not being honest with them.  Most people have the ability to realize when someone is not telling the truth.  Once you are dishonest with someone, it is very hard to get them to trust you again.  You should never feel the need to make up stories to make you look good or impress someone.  Many times this approach backfires because the person you are not being honest with realizes you are not telling the truth.  As a result of lying, you come across as insecure since you have to make up a story to impress someone.  Many times a lie becomes bigger as someone realizes you are not telling the truth and pushes you to tell the truth.  It then becomes harder to be honest because you have already stuck to your story so long only making the situation worse. Being honest will help you avoid this situation. It will help you build real and trusting relationships with other people. There should be a standard you hold yourself to everyday and being honest should be a part of it.

NEVER LIE TO COVER A MISTAKE

Most people can accept if you make a mistake; admit you were wrong and apologize.  The hurt that they feel due to the mistake is much less than if you try to cover it up by not being honest.  Many times people see through a lie and become much angrier with you then if you had just told them the truth from the beginning.  To prove this theory, think about a time at home when you did something wrong, such as hit your sibling or spilled something on the floor, and did not immediately tell the truth.  How much angrier were your parents for you not being honest than if you had just admitted the mistake?  They were probably much more upset with you for not telling the truth than they were about the mistake you made.

People value others being honest with them.  It is of the utmost importance to develop trust between you and others in your life.