Hi Son,
How’s it going there? Are you as excited about the week ahead as I am?
Today I have to do something that may or may not be challenging. I have to deal with someone who is not only going through a challenging time, but is also a dishonest person. That means that I am willing to help this person navigate through a difficult time, while at the same time possibly hurting them is they deny the truth.
I don’t want to hurt this person’s feelings, but at the same time, I simply must tell the truth. Some would say that we should be loyal to the truth and not loyal to preserving someone’s feelings. What do you think about that?
I don’t have to think about what’s more important for one second because it’s always the truth. Does that mean that we should always tell the truth regardless of how someone may feel about it? The answer is always a resounding “Yes!”.
Being honest, even when you are dealing with a difficult/dishonest person, doesn’t necessarily have to mean being brutally honest. Sometimes when people are brutally honest, their objective is to deliver brutality with honesty as an afterthought.
Can we be honest and diplomatic at the same time? Yes, we can; however, one thing we can’t do is to always predict how our honesty will be received. When you speak honestly with a dishonest person, it is possible they will see it as a personal attack. It is common during those times that a dishonest person will become defensive. After all, how likely is it that a dishonest person is being honest with themselves?
In the conversation I will be having today, it is always possible that it will go smoothly. Whether things go smoothly or not, I will have had the opportunity to present the reality of the facts and hopefully pave the way for future constructive conversations.
Never back down from the truth. The truth is your friend. Those who deny the truth are not.
Well, that’s all for now!
Have an amazing day and know that you are in my thoughts and prayers!
Love,
Dad