Serial truth-tellers

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Posted by Steve Garnaas-Holmes (24.62.240.2) on 09:59:43 17/04/04

Jason Blair may spend his life lying and getting pad for it. Though he may quit journalism, there's a job waiting for him in Hollywood, or at the White House. But how about us? Can we live a life more devoted to the Truth? After all, each of us to some degree lives by deception, and depends on a whole host of illusions and falsehoods. We grow up believing that we must meet the expectations of someone parents, peers, God who will not accept us otherwise. So, in fear, we try to be someone we are not. We lie (most fundamentally to ourselves) about who we are. And we get along in the world by protecting other people s illusions. Let s face it: lying pays. Folks will reward you to entertain them, or frighten, congratulate or encourage them, if it reinforces their favorite delusions. It takes courage to renounce whatever payoff we might seek in feeding people s illusions. Think of what it takes even simply to tell someone their fly is open. But life s deepest rewards are not in the social approval we get from playing to people s delusions. It s in beholding the truth as it really is. It s not easy. Even as I judge Blair ("He is a liar"), I imitate him ( He is different from me. ). A crucial part of a whole and beautiful life is honesty and self-awareness. It requires the willingness to accept whatever I find, to let reality be what it is. When I stop making up who I think I am, or want other people to think I am; when I stop describing the world before I ve even seen it, then I behold wonder. Even if it is less than perfect, it is marvelous. Truth is its own reward. Jason Blair may get six figures for a movie, but he s a poor, poor man. Meanwhile, what could be more healing in this confused world than people who are willing to lovingly, faithfully tell the truth?

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Comments:	: Jason Blair may spend his life lying and getting pad for it. Though he may quit journalism, there's a job waiting for him in Hollywood, or at the White House. But how about us? Can we live a life more devoted to the Truth? After all, each of us to some degree lives by deception, and depends on a whole host of illusions and falsehoods. We grow up believing that we must meet the expectations of someone parents, peers, God who will not accept us otherwise. So, in fear, we try to be someone we are not. We lie (most fundamentally to ourselves) about who we are. And we get along in the world by protecting other people s illusions. Let s face it: lying pays. Folks will reward you to entertain them, or frighten, congratulate or encourage them, if it reinforces their favorite delusions. It takes courage to renounce whatever payoff we might seek in feeding people s illusions. Think of what it takes even simply to tell someone their fly is open. But life s deepest rewards are not in the social approval we get from playing to people s delusions. It s in beholding the truth as it really is. It s not easy. Even as I judge Blair ("He is a liar"), I imitate him ( He is different from me. ). A crucial part of a whole and beautiful life is honesty and self-awareness. It requires the willingness to accept whatever I find, to let reality be what it is. When I stop making up who I think I am, or want other people to think I am; when I stop describing the world before I ve even seen it, then I behold wonder. Even if it is less than perfect, it is marvelous. Truth is its own reward. Jason Blair may get six figures for a movie, but he s a poor, poor man. Meanwhile, what could be more healing in this confused world than people who are willing to lovingly, faithfully tell the truth?
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Dr. Carl A. Hammerschlag, M.D., CPAE, psychiatrist and author, is a professional keynote and motivational speaker. He speaks on a variety of topics including healthcare, mind body and spirit, health and wellness, mental healing and leadership. He has delivered motivational and keynote speaches to corporate and business clients around the world.