Be truthful almost all the time

Be truthful on any big thing for sure, but be truthful also and even on the really small stuff that you think doesn’t matter - because it does matter.

You either tell the truth all the time as a habit, or you don’t. And even if no-one will ever find out, don’t lie. You will know, so you will be busted (by yourself); so, tell the truth. Do you want to be a very truthful person? Well guess what, this is another one that is pretty much TOTALLY within your control (see 15 of 60).

People deeply appreciate honesty (almost all the time). And, while I don’t have any data to support this, I really believe that people can often, though not always, sense when someone is being dishonest, and you absolutely do not want to be seen as someone who doesn’t tell the truth, because then people won’t trust their truths with you. To be trusted, you need to be truthful.

When can you not be truthful? Hard to answer that - when you’ll hurt people with the truth is one answer, though I think you can also hurt people, or at least not help them at all, by lying to them.

This is one you need to figure out for yourself, starting from a default position of not hurting others when in doubt, and then refining this position as you get more life experience.

But, start from the position that you will be truthful always, and you’ll do great.