Examining your own struggles with living honestly

We all struggle with living an honest life, but that does not mean that we shouldn't strive to make better decisions and place our values before temporary gratification. Honesty begins when you’re faced with decisions as simple as not using the company car to run personal errands, or taking a stack of printing paper and stationery from work every year to cut back on your children's school stationery costs.

Is living an honest life worth it when the world is full of dishonest people?

Even though dishonesty exists in the world, living honestly has more to do with making a decision that aligns with your values. By choosing honesty, you not only benefit yourself, but you can also inspire others to do the same, creating a ripple effect of integrity and trust in your immediate community. Dishonesty comes with its own set of consequences – from breaking the trust between you and the person you are lying to, to diminishing your credibility and making it hard for people to trust you.

Here's why you should choose to live honestly :

• Personal integrity: Living honestly allows you to maintain personal integrity and self-respect. When you choose honesty, you uphold your values and principles, which can contribute to a sense of inner peace and fulfillment.

• Building trust: Honesty is essential for building and maintaining trust in relationships, whether they're personal or professional. Remember that trust leads to stronger and more meaningful connections.

• Reducing stress: Being dishonest often leads to anxiety and stress, as you may constantly worry about being caught or facing consequences. Even if it’s a "little white lie”, remember that lies have consequences, and living honestly alleviates this stress, as you don't have to keep track of lies or deceive others.

• Long-term success: While dishonesty may offer short-term gains, remember that everything attained through dishonesty doesn't last long, while honesty lays the foundation for long-term success and stability, because it fosters genuine relationships and builds a reputation of reliability and trustworthiness.

• Personal growth: Choosing honesty often requires courage and strength, as it may not always be the easiest path. However, facing challenges with integrity can lead to personal growth and resilience, ultimately enriching your life in meaningful ways.

Doing the right thing is not always easy, but it can have a huge impact on your life, and the world we live in. Daily choices can help you build good habits that have a good impact on you and others.