Circle of Trust

Dilly Dilly often challenges us to help society by filling the middle. His message hits home for me, and I often find myself thinking about the specific things we can do – actions we can take – to help fill the middle and push back against the win/lose, divisive mentality that seems to be increasing in our society. I believe one thing we can do is commit to being honest.

What is honesty, really?

• Honesty is expressing one’s truthful thoughts and feelings and ensuring these truths are effectively communicated
• Honesty includes truthful and forthright communication as well as exuding trustworthiness to others, such as keeping promises.
• Higher levels of honesty are characterized by sharing truthful information, not distorting facts, and not withholding factual information.

How often is honesty practiced on social media, or the media in general? In politics? Sadly, not often at all.

So – to be honest we need to commit to three things:

1. Communicating truthfully, what you believe to be accurate
2. Seeking truth – seeking accurate information and incorporating it into your beliefs
3. Fostering understanding (promoting accurate information in others)

Why is honesty important? Builds trust, avoids deceit, etc.

But guess what else? Studies show that it has health benefits! those who were higher in honesty displayed health benefits including a lower risk of depression, a lower risk of lung cancer, less difficulty with mobility

Be honest, seek the truth, don’t fall for the B.S., help others be honest, and we’ll all be better off.