Have you ever heard people say, “It’s easier to say sorry than to avoid what you could be sorry for”? In truth, if you ever find someone speaking these words, run fast. There are times when the decisions we make are not serving us the best way possible. These are usually the actions we take out of fear, pressure, or stress.
However, doing so could almost always end up making things worse. The truth should never be delayed. It should always be what we speak of, in every situation, on every occasion. There is a reason why “Honesty is the best policy” is one of the most popular wisdom we have ever heard.
Maybe culture has something to do with it— the fact that Filipinos tend to sugarcoat things or shy away from speaking the truth. It could be because we try to be modest or fear facing someone’s wrath or hurt someone’s feelings. Whatever your reasons for withholding and delaying the truth, they often lead to situations that could go out of hand, adding more pressure than you can handle. So, in turn, we could end up abandoning rational thoughts since our minds are already clouded by fear, guilt, or anger.
It may be difficult for some to tell the truth without stalling it— hoping the situation would look better. But we also have to understand that if our reason for withholding it is because we fear hurting someone, whether we say it now or later, it would still hurt, maybe even more if we kept it longer than we should.
The truth is absolute.
The things you miss saying now will soon catch up on you. Unfortunately, this could put you in an undesirable position. Choosing not to delay the truth could save you and other people’s lives. In Medicine, when doctors gather the patient’s medical history, there is an unspoken rule that patients should always speak the truth without any delays. Doing so could lead to an incorrect treatment plan that can put you at serious risk.
At work, speaking about the truth the moment we find out about it is crucial. Mistakes have the potential to turn into a heated mess—more so when we keep them to ourselves. It is human instinct to deal with a situation first before we seek out help. We try to the best of our knowledge to handle the situation with less guidance from others, but we should never forget that there is a reason why there are departments and designations at work. They are there as “fail-safes” to maintain the efficiency of work and quality of output. When there are resources available, utilize them—start by speaking up about the whole truth of the situation.
In life, most bridges burned are likely to have something to do with the truth, whether it was never said when it mattered the most or never said at all. Delaying the truth could create lasting damage to our relationship with others. Transparency is one of the keys to fostering a harmonious relationship. Without it, no relationship can survive. When honesty is our foundation, we can stand tall and handle any challenges unfazed. Borrowing from Cornel West, “There is a price to pay for speaking the truth. There is a bigger price for living a lie.”Have you ever heard people say, “It’s easier to say sorry than to avoid what you could be sorry for”? In truth, if you ever find someone speaking these words, run fast.
