Why is it sometimes difficult to tell the truth?

Whether omitted or hidden by a lie, the truth is often difficult to be told. However, whether it is by wanting to protect the other, fear or lack of confidence, silence the truth happens to us all. Why do some people have more difficulty being honest?

Is telling the truth putting yourself in danger?

Choosing to tell the truth is always a risk to yourself or to others. By deciding, whether voluntarily or not, not to be completely honest and transparent, we sometimes think we are in control of the situation and steer clear of danger. To tell the truth is for some:

• Put yourself in a position of vulnerability;

• Risk of devaluing the image that one has of oneself;

• injure his interlocutor;

• To betray a trust.

Choosing to say nothing is really protecting yourself?

It is much easier to lie, or to omit, than to face the consequences of the truth. This is why lying is part of our daily life. However, not lifting the secret is carrying a weight that can be the source of psychological tension:

• Guilt ;

• Sadness;

• Dishonesty;

• Infidelity with oneself.

Even if we sometimes need to obscure reality through diplomacy, for example, choosing to say nothing does not always protect against psychological suffering that we think we are escaping.

Why are some unable to tell the truth?

Even though the lie can be more difficult to bear than the truth, some choose not to tell. Contrary to popular belief, this is not always a choice. Some personal causes are stronger than the suffering experienced:

• An education that encourages people to silence their emotions or not to speak;

• A feeling of superiority and power linked to the keeping of the secret;

• A personal advantage in not revealing anything (losing one’s position or credibility, for example);

• A desire not to intervene, not to change anything.

If telling the truth is difficult, saying nothing or lying can be even more so, for some personal reasons for keeping it a secret.