Tell the Truth
- DFDarwoodWrites
- Mar 9
- 3 min read
Updated: May 29
Funnily enough, truth has a few meanings. And one of them is a fact or belief accepted as true.
It also means that which is in accordance with fact or reality.
Quick Story
When I was a little girl, maybe about 10 to 13 years old, I lied about the amount of candy I was eating. I just didn't tell my parents that I'd spent that little dollar they gave me on a bag full of candy. I don't recall my parents asking me about it. But I must've had some sense that it wasn't the greatest idea because it was like a secret life! I would eat so many different kinds of candy every single day. In my day we had Now & Laters, which always got eaten now and later, I guess that's why they named it that way. I ate Lemon Head, Alexander the Grapes, Boston Baked Beans, Blow Pops, Jolly Ranchers, and so much more. I was supposed to brush my teeth every day. I did that. What I didn't know was that I was supposed to brush them at night after eating candy all day, instead of allowing sugar to sit on my teeth all night long. Well, we know where that led to - cavities. I had 13 cavities at 13 years old and my younger brother had none. Even though I didn't tell my parents what I was doing, my body kept track. I couldn't lie to myself. I knew. And my body knew why I had 13 cavities at 13 years old. We can lie to others, either by omission or by knowingly fabricating a story. But we can't lie to ourselves. We could say I was a child and didn't know how harmful my actions were. My body, or more specifically, my teeth didn't care. I have been managing the result of those youthful candy days for the past 40 years. Tell the truth about yourself to yourself. Face what you need to face.
Science we know so far...
The brain cares about honesty because, as humans, our reputation is super important. Most people want others to see them as trustworthy and honest.
Lying is stressful because if people find out, it can seriously hurt our reputation. When we lie, our bodies react—our heart beats faster, we breathe quicker, we start sweating, our mouth gets dry, and our voice might shake. These reactions are what lie detector tests try to measure.
Some people are better at lying than others. For example, sociopaths don’t feel guilt like most people, so their bodies don’t react the same way when they lie. Also, someone can train themselves to stay calm while lying and trick a lie detector. On the other hand, an innocent person might be so nervous about the test that they fail it even if they’re telling the truth! That’s why lie detector tests aren’t always reliable.
Scientists have found a better way to study lying by looking at the brain. Lying makes the brain’s "stress center" (the limbic system) go into overdrive, like when you're scared or in danger. When someone tells the truth, their brain stays calm. But when they lie, their brain lights up with activity—like a fireworks show! That’s why telling the truth keeps the brain relaxed, while lying makes it work really hard.
Journal Activity
In your journal, answer these questions: What is the truth I have to admit or tell myself? How do I feel about this truth? What is next for me?
Quotes and Interpretations
Truth can be stated in a thousand different ways, yet each one can be true. Swami Vivekananda
Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom. Thomas Jefferson
Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth. Buddha
Half a truth is often a great lie. Benjamin Franklin
Your word should stand for something. Speak with truth and love. Speak truth and be reliable or remain silent.
The truth is in your heart, and you know it.
If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything. Mark Twain
The greatest and noblest pleasure which we have in this world is to discover new truths, and the next is to shake off old prejudices. Frederick the Great
I would say ' share with a friend'. But they might be offended if you send a blog about lying. LOL
So just enjoy.
We'll talk soon.
DF
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