GenQ - For the not so straight individual

Someone once told me that no one ever tells the truth. And in a way he was right. Have you ever played the game Chinese whispers? By the time the message reaches the last person, it sounds nothing like when the first person told it. My point is, honesty is what keeps the world going round.

When you look at honesty from a relationship point of view, you can see that it's a very important matter. As a teenager I found this out the hard way. Had I been more upfront with this person there might have still been a chance for a relationship. It only took one small slip of the tongue, and you're literally up the proverbial creak without a paddle.

Superficially, honesty means simply, stating facts and views as best one truly believes them to be. It includes both honesty to others, and to oneself and about ones own motives and inner reality.

Since the quality of honesty applies to all behaviors, one cannot refuse to consider factual information, for example, in an unbiased manner and still claim that one's knowledge, belief is an attempt to be truthful. Such a belief is clearly a product of one's desires and simply has nothing to do with the human ability to know. Basing one's positions on what one wants ? rather than unbiased evidence gathering ? is dishonest even when good intentions can be cited ? after all even Hitler could cite good intentions and intended glory for a select group of people. Clearly then, an unbiased approach to the truth is a requirement of honesty.

An honest person is one who aspires to follow the highest codes of conduct, who is loyal to the benevolent and universal principles of life, and whose decisions are based clearly on what is right and wrong. Such an individual maintains standards which provide guidance and courage to understand and respect the subtle connections of the world in relation to his or her life. An honest person appreciates the interconnectedness of the natural world and does not misuse, abuse, or waste the wealth of resources provided for the well-being of humanity.

An honest person does not take for granted his or her own resources such as mind, body, wealth, time, talents, or knowledge. Honesty means never to misuse that which is given in trust. There would always be the concern that resources be used in a worthwhile way - for the basic human, moral, and spiritual needs of all people. Well-used resources create well-being and are a means for those very resources to multiply. The individual who is deeply committed to development and progress keeps honesty as a constant principle in building a world of peace and plenty, a world of less expenditure and greater splendor.