I always feel much better when I can say, “Okay, this is just how I am, and that’s it.” Not in an offensive way that puts it in people’s faces, or rubs in the differences, and not in a way where I am trying to anticipate how they are going to feel and disrespecting them because I am thinking they cannot handle the truth.

As a kid, if you see your parents lie it becomes confusing because they are telling you not to lie, but you are seeing them lie. Then do I trust them? If I see my parents lie, then are they telling me the truth? It is very confusing for kids. Between adults, it really harms trust. I am sure you all had people lying to you.

I think among adults, too, sometimes we do something that we do not feel good about, and then we lie to cover it up. In that case, there are two things. There is the initial thing we did, plus the lie to cover it up. In that kind of situation, I think it is better to be honest with ourselves, just admit what it was that we initially did, do purification practice to purify it, let it go, and then not have to lie to ourselves or anybody else about it.

It is difficult when other people cannot handle the truth, isn’t it?

“365 Gems of Wisdom” e-book is out now!