Honest people: characteristics and behaviors

Honest people do not have in mind the need to please everyone.. They are uncomfortable with hypocrisy and that is why they do not hesitate to practice the only language they know: sincerity. They are loyal and firm in their convictions, and although they may be uncomfortable at times, they are skilled at creating strong and meaningful bonds with worthwhile people.

It is often said that Everyone praises and defends the truth, but the moment someone dares to be honest they always end up being singled out and criticized.. It is therefore not easy to maintain coherence between what one thinks and then does. Often, we know what we feel but end up communicating just the opposite. We do it due to social conditions, for fear of causing harm or attracting attention.

That’s why honest people are so valuable. Because in them there is a dose of courage and a clear will to maintain coherence. QFew social and psychological values ​​are as necessary as honestythat dimension that Thomas Jefferson considered the first chapter of wisdom and that Mark Twain defined as the best lost art.

Be that as it may, there is one aspect that is clear: we are dealing with that quality that we always demand from others. Thanks to it we can build relationships based on trust. We need to know that the person in front of us, whom we love or respect as a friend or co-worker, is sincere and authentic at all times.

Honest people, how to identify them?

Honest people do not carry banners or T-shirts with hashtags defining what they are. We must learn to identify them for ourselves. A good way to do this is by listening, observing, connecting with those around us and of course, being clear about one simple detail: Honesty does not care for justifications. Let’s see how these ideas are explained.

They do not waste time on what they do not like

The Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg, in Germany, carried out a study to delve a little deeper into this dimension. Thus, a first aspect they discovered is that honest people tend to save time in many of their conversations. They don’t beat around the bush, they don’t waste time when someone or something doesn’t please them or doesn’t align with their values. They make differences clear with assertiveness and respect to mark distances.

In doing so, they do not give or expect too many justifications. They know that It is not appropriate to prolong situations that over time can be counterproductive.

They do not lie nor tolerate lies

There is a very interesting book titled “Why we lie…especially to ourselves: The science of deception” by Dan Ariely, a psychology professor who delves into this topic. According to the author We all believe ourselves to be honest. It doesn’t matter that we lie, that what we think and what we say is light years away. We almost always maintain that impeccable self-image where our sense of honesty rarely abandons us.

Honest people, those who are honest in mind, word and behavior, do not tolerate deceiving themselves or deceiving others. They do not lie because doing so generates an uncomfortable cognitive dissonance that attacks their identity and self-esteem.

Relaxed personalities, calm minds

Honest people are happier and even enjoy better health. This is revealed to us, for example, by Dr. Anita E. Kelly, professor of psychology at the University of Notre Dame in Paris. According to this study, Being sincere, not using lies and always being genuine with yourself and with what you say and do generates greater well-being. That internal balance, that peace of mind, results in one’s own health.

They know how to build more meaningful relationships

Dishonesty and the fact of showing lack of integrity at some point means extra effort for these types of people. It is that cognitive dissonance that generates discomfort, tension and discomfort. Thus, Honest people value above all being able to build relationships based on trust. Not only do they show themselves at all times in an authentic, sincere and respectful manner with those around them. But they also demand the same from those who are part of their daily lives.

Something like this undoubtedly means that they do not always have a large number of friends. If they have few, they are always the most appropriate, the most genuine, those where continuous and satisfactory reciprocity is generated.

To conclude, just one more aspect should be noted. Honesty is an ethical principle, a value that helps create a more complete and healthy society. However, that dimension that we all believe we have is not always applied in a real and respectful way. We often fall into complacent lies, those that camouflage truths and feelings.

We can’t always say what we think, so having some filters is often advisable. However, more or less made up, sincerity is a very important pillar of respect for others and for ourselves.

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