Why not just tell the truth?

How hard is it to tell the truth?

Telling the truth is a core value. It's something you decide on at some point in your life, and then that's how you live your life.

Some people must grow up telling lies and getting away with them. Then they think it's okay. Or they are people who arrive at some place of power in their communities or businesses, and then they can tell others to lie "just a little"; you know, just "shade the truth a little."

Well, folks, "shading the truth" is lying. And some day it catches up with you.

And, if you have lied at some point, when some matter starts to go "south", isn't it better to halt the slide as soon as possible and straighten out the matter? It's often better to get caught in a little lie than to keep reinforcing it and turn it into a bigger lie.

It might start with a verbal statement about some matter; let's say, something that happened in connection with employment.

Then the employer asks for a written statement. Naturally, you don't want to change what you first said, so you write it (the lie) down. Big mistake. If your boss or supervisor told you to write it down, the best thing would be to write it down the way you were told to record it, and then state that you have recorded it "as directed."

Anyone reading between the lines will realize that your statement is a lie and that you were told to lie.

And what if this lie follows you into court? Or in front of a Grand Jury? Or into a deposition?

Pretty soon, you don't really remember what you have said, or when you said it. And that's when you are on really thin ice, because the paper trail will be there.

I learned a long time ago (or maybe "realized" is better, since I didn't have to "learn" it) that it's best to tell the truth. Then you don't have to "remember" what you have said.

If your core value is to tell the truth, you won't ever take that first slippery step. When someone asks you to lie, you just immediately say you won't lie. And that's the end of it.

If a supervisor tells you to lie, you tell him to write down his order and then you'll lie. Put it in your safe deposit box and give it to your lawyer; you're going to need it.