Our society today is filled with lies — lies about who we are, who others are, and what the circumstances of the world are. People have always told lies and twisted the events of the world in order to suit their aims and needs.
The action of lies is nothing new to mankind and will always be part of the human condition.
We all tell lies to friends and family, as well as to the world at large. We even lie to ourselves and tell lies about our goals, aspirations, desires, capabilities and more — it's simply a fact of life. We do this to protect ourselves and others, and sometimes out of fear, greed or malice.
When Lies Are Helpful
There are times when lying to oneself can be helpful. The phrase "fake it till you make it" has been used many times and has undoubtedly worked for many. Giving off a persona that is in line with where you aspire to be and then working towards that goal can end in success.
It can also help springboard you to a higher level of performance, one you did not know you had in you. However, this is not always the case. It can often lead to you getting in over your head when your promises don't match your ability. This, in turn, can lead to others perceiving you as untrustworthy or unreliable and end in a detrimental outcome.
Sometimes we lie by changing the definition of words to better suit our situation. However, regardless of the semantic game one may play, the 'thing' defined remains the same. We use language as a way to communicate as best we can reality across the world to different peoples, cultures, and time periods. By changing definitions, we are simply creating a lie that does not represent reality and inevitably leads to an inaccurate view of the physical world.
Another way people lie to themselves is by using the phrase 'my truth'. In other words, the experiences one has lived through are used as an indication of truth. While the experiences one has been through are valuable lessons, they must always be tempered with reality.
The experience of a person will not supersede the real world. Truth exists; reality exists, whether we want it to or not.
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