Sincerity is much more than not telling lies

“The sincerity is the root of all virtues,” wrote john ruskin. Which is equivalent to saying that is the main ingredient of many positive attitudessuch as honesty or trust between people.

However, just as all that glitters is not gold, it sometimes happens that it is not true sincerity what it claims to be.

Presuming to be sincere has in itself something contradictory, just as it would be to feel proud to be humble. Ultimately, it is not something that should be proclaimed, but express themselves in a simple way through everyday words and actions.

Besides, being honest is not easythere are often many impediments both internal and external.

For example, depends on character: introverted people are not given to showing their feelings openly, without being less sincere than those who speak without qualms about intimate matters.

On the other hand, saying what one really thinks can generate contrary reactions that experience teaches us to avoid. We tend to be honest on issues that have little relevance or in extreme situations, when we can’t take it anymore.

But, in general, one avoids going against the boss or really saying what we think when in return we can receive discomfort. That cunning that we learn as childrenWhen, for example, we lie to avoid being punished, it is something that accompanies us throughout life.

Precisely that difficult balance between a little cunning (hiding the truth) and a lot of sincerity (showing the truth) is the key. There are legitimate moments for both possibilities.

But it is always better that truthfulness predominates in our life, because we contribute something beneficial to others. If deceit is what prevails, things cannot go well, both personally and collectively.

Being honest: thinking, saying and doing

If we say that sincerity is not easy, it is mainly because The expression of the truth is carried out at three levels: the mind, the word and the physical act.

Consequently, the greatest sincerity would be equivalent to a complete adequacy between what is thought, said and done. Sometimes it is so, but not always.

There are various possibilities:

Can give good advice (give up smoking) and not practice it self (doctors who smoke) Can honestly express certain wrong ideas (religious or political fanatics) You can sometimes “lie” to a little boy for your sake (I would not understand logical reasoning) and that is not why we will accuse parents of being untrue.

There are therefore many nuances regarding the veracitywithout therefore falling into a relativism regarding what is right or wrong.

Sincerity does not consist in being completely transparent to others. Every person has the right to have their own private interior plot. It is not a question, then, of always saying everything that is thought, but of not saying the opposite of what is thought.

If we are honest we all lie sometimes. There are little white lies with which we avoid disturbing other people. It would be improper to tell the mother who proudly presents her little one to us: “what an ugly boy”, and it would be entirely appropriate to highlight some of his possible qualities, such as that he has beautiful eyes or he looks nice.

As Oscar Wilde said with fine irony: “A little sincerity is a dangerous thing; too much sincerity is absolutely fatal.”

It could not be considered hypocritical to avoid mentioning the defects and yes a misplaced sincerity having done it. It is therefore not obligatory to always tell the whole truth. But it is not lying when there are important issues at stake or when other people are harmed.

False spontaneity: a longing for authenticity

A wave of supposed sincerity invades us everywhere. Fashion presents carefully tousled hairstyles or expensive clothes that appear poor and worn, with the intention of pretend a naturalness that suggests sincerity in the end.

In addition, There is a belief that the sincere person is the one capable of publicly showing off their intimate life or their defects. Even better if rude manners or profanity are used.

There are even journalists whose mission is bring to light the most unspeakable secretsof the “famous”. In fact, they hide behind a questionable sincerity to do so: the public has a “right” to know and they have the “obligation” to inform.

Television, in its eagerness to gain an audience, often falls into this type of excess, presenting as information of interest what is obscenity. Let’s remember that this word derives from the Latin obscenum: what is “behind the scenes” and it is not necessary to contemplate.

We all prefer authentic things and avoid imitations or counterfeits, no matter if it is a food or a work of art. Sincerity has to do with authenticity and authenticity, with the truth.

Being honest with others is important, but so is being honest with yourself.. This may seem simple, since it assumes that we are fully aware of our intentions. But it’s not always like this.

It is sometimes said that each one has come to this world to fulfill a mission or that there is an inner voice that we must listen to and that guides us. Say it one way or another, it is true that we do not always follow the dictates of our true nature and that we can easily fool ourselves.

Looking inside allows us to go a little beyond the automatisms that we create over the years. What do we really want to do in life during the time we have left? What things fill us with true happiness?

We would thus arrive at the possible conclusion that we spend a lot of time on things that do not fulfill uswhile we relegate to a hypothetical future what we should live in the present.

We are often in a hurry, without wondering why we are so busy. Or we see other people’s happiness and want to imitate it. It is not easy to listen to that voice that guides uswell both the noise exterior and interior (thoughts, emotions and subconscious impulses) hide or muffle it.

But that sincerity is necessary, at least in crucial moments, when you have to decide which way to go or take advantage of a bad experience. supposed to search our truththe one that It allows us to live in peace with ourselves and others.

the famous doctor Paracelsuswho was often wandering and misunderstood, had as a motto a phrase that we can well apply to ourselves: Alterius non sit, qui suus esse potest (don’t be someone else, if you can be yourself).

There are no rules in this regard, but some point out that the not be afraid of love in a broad sense, of risk or of possible failures.

Respect, truth and trust, the basis of social life

The Gospel offers a message that is both clear and enigmatic: “The truth will make you free”. This can refer to the ultimate truth of things, but also to the little truths of everyday life.

It seems an exhortation to be true both in a spiritual (vertical) and human (horizontal) sense, which would be precisely symbolized in the sign of the cross. But that desire for truth is not exclusive to Christianity. All religions disapprove of the act of lying.

It seems exaggerated that lying is considered close to offenses as serious as killing or stealing. The possible answer can also be given at the two levels mentioned above.

On the one hand, life in society cannot be based on lies. It would be as if the climbers who ascend one after the other forming a rope were constantly suspicious that the others were propping up properly. We need each other and trust is based on sincerity.

We see it, for example, in the universality of the greeting: every greeting is a way of expressing respect. Perhaps one of the most beautiful is the one practiced in countries with a Hindu or Buddhist culture, consisting of a slight inclination of the head accompanied by the palms of the hands joined at the level of the heart.

Not only is it equivalent to our “hello” or “goodbye”, but it is a gesture of spiritual value. So the word namaste which is pronounced in India or Nepal when greeting each other in this way, even between strangers, literally means “I respect you” or “I revere you”. In a more poetic and profound way: “The divine in me greets the divine in you.” Sincerity beyond appearances.

On the other hand, lying is a kind of insult to intelligence. Doing it for petty profit is to despise or pervert in any way the divine gift of reason and speech.

Surely for this reason, lying can be considered a lack of respect for the universal Being or Intelligence that has given us those qualities. Also for this reason to restrict by means of fear of freedom when it comes to freely expressing thoughts goes against the dignity of the person.

we see so sincerity is the natural way of expressing the truth of things. It would be absurd to deny, for example, that all people – whatever their origin or position – are equally worthy of respect. That’s why it implies a false sincerity to treat others with carelessness and, on the contrary, true sincerity, polite and respectful treatment.

5 attitudes in which sincerity is expressed

Being honest does not only imply not telling lies, but also includes other attitudes equally important and that prefigure a whole lifestyle. Cultivating them allows order within oneself and gain transparency.

Be natural. The spontaneity and non-involvement are qualities that children have that are lost in adulthood. Getting them back gradually is a way of being honest, as long as they are not confused with rudeness. It also involves treating people well regardless of their social rank.plain language. To speak sincerely implies calling things by their name, avoiding the subtle tricks of language. Euphemisms, widely used today in politics and the media, are almost a lie. Thus, instead of stopping, it “slows down”, if taxes are raised it is presented as an “invitation to collaborate”, if the police kill an armed person it is said that this “was shot down”.Keep the word. A sincere person tries to fulfill what he promises. Respect for the given word, once a demonstration of honor or guarantee to close a deal, is being lost. That is why it is important in the education of children set an example of consistency and not evade promises, whether it is a reward or a punishment.Honesty. The honest person cannot stop being sincere, because he avoids deceit, both in his personal life and in business dealings. The dictionary reminds us of other qualities that accompany who is honest: decent, decorous, reasonable, just, upright, honest.Loyalty. Who is loyal does not betray the trust given or sell to the highest bidder. He is sincere and persistent in his affections. Although the word loyalty is usually used with respect to the love or gratitude shown by animals such as dogs or horses, it is a virtue that is also applicable to humans.