30 Day Lying Challenge
See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil
What would life look like if we all took a truth serum? If for one whole month we were unable to tell a lie?... Would your life change? What about your relationships? What do you think could potentially happen/shift as a result of committing to fact over fiction?
We have all told white lies, well-intentioned micro-strategies of underhanded avoidance, flat-out fibs, and big bold barefaced departures from the truth. We all do it or at least have done in the past – be it to make ourselves look good, to feel better, to get out of something, or to save our metaphorical [vegan] bacon.
Speaker, writer, and digital creator, Sam Killerman, explained in their blog how they gave up lying for one week and what they noticed:
“I decided to first just be cognizant of the lies I found myself telling. I wanted to see how terrible of a person I am before I decided to quit lying cold turkey for a week. And holy cow. If more lies make you a worse person, I’m Joker from _Dark Knight _bad. The vast majority of the lies I heard myself telling were completely meaningless: they didn’t really benefit me in any way that telling the truth wouldn’t. It made no sense to me”
Celebrities and creators on YouTube have also dived into this challenge; experiencing all the liberating and at times awkward rewards…
The internet is also packed with infographics and psychoeducational tools, all on the topic of lying; how to spot it, what it means, and how to challenge someone caught in a lie:
Sourced from: https://i.pinimg.com/736x/05/3f/4d/053f4dd5c18df6c8709adecb3ac66f4c--people-lie-psychology-facts.jpg
So what’s the big deal about deception?
Psychology says that lying is a cognitive skill; one that we all use so that we may secure personal social status and empower our self-esteem (Ren Chats, n.d). Lies can manifest in any of the following forms: ‘Complete Deception’, ‘Half-Truths’, ‘Exaggerations’, or ‘Pertinent Omissions’. Lies are told either because the deceptive person believes they have more to gain from lying than from telling the truth or because the deceptive person is incapable of discerning what the truth is. Lies can be ‘prosocial’ (constructed to benefit others) or ‘antisocial’ (selfish-serving) (Mares & Turvery, 2018).
Lying can turn into a toxic habit, as part of an obsessive compulsion (Fletcher, 2021), damaging or totally break down relationships. Gone wrong, it has the power to isolate you and discredit your social standing and reputation whilst also dismantling inner-peace; creating anxiety within the liar and those close to them. In fact, telling lies is linked to an increased risk of cancer, obesity, anxiety, depression, addiction, gambling, poor work satisfaction, and poor relationships (Roberts-Grey, 2012; Fitzgerald, n.d).
The evidence (and likely personal experiences at some point in your life), suggests it’s time to carve out some new habits – some better, lighter, more truthful ones.
So bottoms-up! It’s time for a shot of truth serum!
After all, what really is the point of making out your Auntie’s dog’s friend has chronic indigestion and therefore you need to get the next train to Timbuktu in the morning to house-sit them, and so can’t go out and do that thing you had planned on Thursday?
Wouldn't life just be so much easier if we were honest? Wouldn't we feel happier and more confident if we just got comfortable with better asserting ourselves? Felt more satisfied in our own skin that we no longer felt the need to fabricate to compensate for something? That we were just more ok with saying "no" and clearly outlining our boundaries and capabilities?
If you’re ready for a change and want to see how giving up lying can aid you in living your best, most authentic life,
read on for our tips on going fib-free for 30 days:
Adopt these tips and give going lie-free a go this month and see how your life changes.
Will you take the pledge?
You can post about how your #30DayChallnge is going by tagging @theroompsy on Instagram or by using the hashtag #TheGreenSpace30DC ! Good luck!
References
Chat, A. Renuka., n. d. Psychology of Lying: Why Do Children Tell Lies?. Available at: https://www.childhealth-explanation.com/psychology-of-lying.html (Accessed 3 October 2021).
Fletcher, J., 2021. OCD and Lying: What to Know. Available at: https://psychcentral.com/lib/ocd-lying-hyper-responsibility-honesty (Accessed 3 October 2021).
Iliades, C., 2010. The Truth About Lies. Available at: https://www.everydayhealth.com/longevity/truth-about-lies-and-longevity.aspx (Accessed 3 October 2021).
Investigative and Forensic Issues in Fraudulent Reports, pp. 21-36. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-801250-5.00002-1
Mares, A. C, Turvey, B. E., 2018. ’Chapter 2 - The Psychology of Lying’, False Allegations
Roberts-Grey, G., 2012. The Truth Is, Lying Makes You Sick. Available at: https://www.nextavenue.org/truth-lying-makes-you-sick/ (Accessed 3 October 2021).