September 22, 2021
Time of writing: 1:00 pm 09/21/21I'd be a hypocrite if I say that I haven't told any lies in my entire life. Because we all lie since we were kids. And we've been fooled and lied to a plethora of times and we can't believe that we have been fooled easily. That's a shame actually, especially if we really know the truth but we opted to believe the lies, lol. Because of what? We don't totally trust ourselves, I guess. I'm not even sure about this, and I'd be lying if I tell you that I have high self-esteem and confidence. Because an introverted person doesn't have one.
And why do we lie? Obviously, to misshape the truth.
But there are good lies though, that can even motivate others just like what I've said to @gertu13. We can't say ugly words to a kid who asked if she looks beautiful but literally looks like Betty La Fea. So instead of telling the truth, we opted to say beautiful words not to upset a kid. We give encouragement to motivate her to stay beautiful despite the ugly world she's facing. Because a true beauty will only glow once a person appreciates her own beauty and embraces her own flaws. Besides, we are all beautiful despite the flaws in us. It's the character that matters.
Do lies really motivate us? That sounds absurd. Because the meaning itself is already negative. But sometimes, we tell lies to motivate others.
I remembered when I was a kid, my mother used to praise me when seeing me drawing distorted shapes and writing with odd penmanship, lol. She's good at drawing and her penmanship is pretty. And every time I saw her doing my art homework, I used to copy her as well and would draw what she was drawing. And she'll say,
"Very good. It is pretty."
When I grew up and babysit my little siblings, I used to look after them when doing their work. One day my younger brother showed me his artwork. It was pretty ugly and I can't even identify what it was but I just said, "very good" to keep his mood positive and continue drawing. And today, while writing this article, I realized that those praises I received from my mother were just lies. Perhaps, she did it for me not to be offended if she'll say the truth. But her compliments made me improve my art and writing skills. I am not sure though if I improved my penmanship, because it is still ugly, lol.
Sometimes we lie to protect ourselves. Do you still remember when you were a kid, you accidentally broke a glass but did not admit your sin? Am I the only one here? I doubt it. Whether it was glass or anything, I am certain that you broke something that you did not admit when asked by your parents to avoid getting painful whips and pinches, lol. I am also certain that you ate the milk powder and milo powder in the storage but did not admit it when asked by your mother, haha.
We also lie to protect others. One day I was tasked to look after my boss's daughter so she won't play on her phone and continue doing homework. But I pitied her for being so toxic in studying so I allowed her to play on her phone. When her mother came back, I was asked if she played her phone, I just said "No" so she wouldn't reprimand her daughter and hide my disobedience as well, haha.
A mother also lies when her kid is caught red-handed. To protect her kid from getting the punishment and to prevent her family from getting a negative reputation in the community. An older sibling would say the dog knocked on the glass door where in fact, it was his younger sibling, lol. You can relate, right?
Sometimes we lie not to be mortified by our boneheadedness or save our *ss from being humiliated. There was one day when I was told to buy something since I was at the market that day buying my food. Only when I stepped home did I realized that I forgot to do my boss' favor due to busyness in writing articles on readcash and making noise on noisecash while walking on the street. These two are truly distractions. The family was at home so I don't want to be humiliated if I say I forgot about it. Instead of telling the truth, I just said it was out of stock, haha.
One day the Chinese kid asked me about how to solve certain complex math questions. Upon checking the equations, I was dumbfounded as I don't know how to answer them. My bully mind asked me, a lady in her 30's and who graduated from college doesn't know how to solve a math equation of a secondary student? To save my boneheadedness, I just said, "I graduated more than a decade ago, so I already forgot how to solve it." Phew! Pretty liar, when I can just say, I don't know how to answer the equation, lol.
We also lie to flatter others. Turning back the hands of time, I have this humorous uncle who likes calling me pretty when dressed decently. But remembering my childhood photos made me conclude that he was a pretty liar haha. Have you also been asked a favor by your boss to do something after receiving flattery words from him/her? For sure, you did. Some will even throw flattery words just to befriend us. Am I right? Or fool us just to get something from us. That's being clever!
We lie not to disappoint anyone. Way back in the Philippines, my high school classmates would always invite me to join their getaways or weekend road trip. As a person who doesn't like going out and socializing with others, especially with the people I'm not comfortable with, I always refuse their invitation and would lie, "I wish I could go, but I have work that day." The truth is, I don't like talking with some of them the whole day and I prefer slacking in my abode with pajamas on. Moreover, I felt intimidated by some of my high school classmates who become successful in the field they have chosen and I felt like they are too ahead of me.
We lie to hide our real emotions so others won't worry about us. This is so common and we all have done this before and continue doing this even up to this date. We tend to lie when we are asked by our family if we are okay to make them not worry about us or tend to avoid answering them with a dialogue that will only make our feelings worse. But sometimes, if it is our bully friends who are asking and it is blatantly obvious in our expression that we are not fine but they will still ask if we are okay. I mean, hello, isn't it obvious? Then we'll just answer, "No, I'm fine?" With a question mark at the end, lol. A sarcastic one.
We tend to lie to boost ourselves. This is, I guess, the most helpful white lie here. Even though we know by ourselves that we can't make certain things or pass challenges, we boost ourselves by saying, "I can do this!" Just to make us feel good. We are born to be a fighter so, despite the obstacles that hinder our way, we always try our best to push them and think positively even if we are already at the edge of the cliff because we don't want to just suddenly give up.
There are many reasons why we lie, some are bad, some are good, but the truth is, we lie because we don't know if we can handle the consequences of our actions. We want to control a situation or not disappoint anyone or be humiliated so we tend to divert the truth and follow the lie.
If only the curse of Pinocchio is real, we all probably have long noses by now, long noses not pointed noses, lol, because lies snowball. It is frustrating hearing a lie or being deceived by liars, yet, we have to realize the motivation behind those black and white lies, whoppers, and fibs.
However, we have to learn to be more honest to live in this world more effectively, and learn that our life won't end if the truth comes out!
So this is my entry for the prompt: #18 Lies who initiated by @CoquiCoin for this week since Jonica isn't feeling well.
Thanks for reading!
Oo, tama, lahat nagsisinungaling.. every minute of the day we lie talaga. Like ako, iniisip ko minsan "oh today wala akong nasabing kasinungalingan ha. Umamin ako sa mga nagawa ko and all. I've been good today.." Then marerealize ko na may nagtanong sakin how I am, sinasabi ko "I am okay". Even I am not. Then boom, nagsinungaling na naman pala ako. Haha.