Benefits of Truth

• Truth provides security — reliability in what is right and just.
• Truth provides self-respect — we know we mean what we say and feel good about ourselves for it.
• Truth provides equity — fairness and consistency in dealing with things.
• Truth provides validity — soundness of reason, wisdom and rationale.
• Truth provides freedom — from deceit and fraud and in turn, negative feelings about ourselves.

Acts of Truth in Everyday Life

• The Bible — The prophets of the Bible were all spokespeople of God who were sent to speak the word of The Lord faithfully and without distortion to the people of the time.
• Abraham Lincoln — Known as Honest Abe hundreds of years later, the 16th President of the United States is still celebrated as a man filled with character and integrity.
• The Adventures of Pinocchio — Written more than 200 years ago by Carlo Collodi, a classic tale of a puppet who was granted his life's dream when he learned the value of telling the truth.
• "Lie To Me" — Dishonesty is so prevalent, a new prime-time television show in America has debuted detailing the physiological symptoms of deceit and dishonesty.
• Positive Parenting — Demonstrate the courage to confront the things you fear the most. Then, teach and help them learn to do the same. Create an Honesty Game — have everybody keep track of their lies, exaggerations and pretences for a week and report on them.

Methods for Achieving Truth

• Live with Strong Conviction — Conviction and consistency create integrity.
• Know your Personal Moral Rules — These are what guide you to live with truth and honesty.
• Put Integrity First — Value your values, they will lead you to positive esteem, self-respect and serenity.
• Learn to Hold Yourself Accountable — Check in with yourself regularly and look at your role in what 'happens' to you.
• Eliminate your Inner Victim — True victims cannot be held responsible for anything, including truth or integrity. Get rid of the voice and direction of your inner victim.

Golden Mean

Quotes for Truth

The least initial deviation from the truth is multiplied later a thousand-fold.

- Aristotle -

Each time you are honest and conduct yourself with honesty, a success force will drive you toward greater success. Each time you lie, even with a little white lie, there are strong forces pushing you toward failure.

- Joseph Sugarman -

Being entirely honest with oneself is a good exercise.

- Sigmund Freud -

Honesty is the best policy. If I lose mine honor, I lose myself.

- William Shakespeare -

Recommended Reading

The Berenstain Bears and the Truth — by Stan Berenstain and Jan Berenstain

After accidentally breaking Momma Bear's favorite lamp, Brother and Sister Bear learn an important lesson about truth.

Junie B., First Grader: Cheater Pants — by Barbara Park

Perhaps one of the most entertaining sets of young children's books written, Barbara Park finds an amazingly creative way to teach children about truth and honesty, when Junie B's father doesn't let her stay up late to finish her homework and she chooses to copy one of her classmate's assignments.

Winners Never Cheat: Everyday Values We Learned as Children (But May Have Forgotten) — by Jon M. Huntsman and Neil Cavuto

A wonderful, contemporary book about living with integrity and honesty in business, at a time and in a place where very few people even stop to think about it.