[Bella]

The truth or the lies?

From your experiences, do you think people like to live in denial? Or is the truth too painful for them to confront? Isn't living the lie also painful? Either way, we have to confront reality, right? Which is the better option for you?

How does it affect you as an individual when you're confronted with something you know deep down inside you're in denial about?

How does it make you feel when you see those around you living a lie?



I personally find living in the truth rewarding, because there's always something that we can learn with our eyes wide open. Makes us stronger, right?

[DayLightSun]

I always tell the truth.
Unless I know I will get away with it.

[Shai Gar]

From the arguments I've had here... Obviously they find comfort in their own self absorbing lies.

I find comfort in the truth, and learning how to improve myself. But I'm an NT, that's who we are.

[Shai Gar]

Isn't living the lie also painful?
Yep, because nearly everyone can see aspects of the truth about ourselves that we can't and occasionally point them out. That's when everyone curbstomps the truthteller for "being mean" when they're just pointing something out.

Either way, we have to confront reality, right?
Nope. In fact, society is built around maintaining peoples ignorance of reality.

Which is the better option for you?
Knowing the stark naked truth. That way I can fix things to be right.

How does it affect you as an individual when you're confronted with something you know deep down inside you're in denial about?
I am never "deep down" in denial about anything. I know myself deeply and even if I lie to the world, I never lie to myself. I've done it before and having to come out to myself about that issue hurts.

How does it make you feel when you see those around you living a lie?
This really hurts, because people don't like to know they're living a lie, and I don't like to create a fantasy world for anything other than play. I won't communicate in one.

I personally find living in the truth rewarding, because there's always something that we can learn with our eyes wide open. Makes us stronger, right?
Certainly.

[Bella]

Agreed!! Sometimes, makes me wonder if I'm truly a feeler or a thinker, because i tend to see things differently, and I certainly question everything anyone says. Been like that as a kid?

Me personally, the truth gives us opportunities to make the world a better place- which is why I think I'm more of an idealist at heart. Despite the pain, there is always joy! =)

C'est la vie!

[Shai Gar]

I'm an idealist too. I'm also an ENTP. I'm thinking that you are as well.

[starri]

Sometimes i can go beyond limits to keep the peace. But shortly after I am back to my muckraker habits. I can't stand hypocrisy or double standards. There is a limit to the amount of stuff i can make myself believe to keep the situation going, after which i am a rebel.

[EspressiveGirl]

I pray daily to LIVE, that is DWELL IN the Truth.

I do not need to fear being deceived by others or (drawing from my Christian background) being deceived by the Enemy.

The biggest deceiver I deal with on a day-to-day basis is myself. Self-delusion plagues humanity from time immemorial...we lie to ourselves about ourselves and everyone and everything around us. I swear I think sometimes we are so deluded there is no hope for us...

But I believe that my desire to live in the truth-about myself and about others and about this life-is the best way to WANT to live. I think this will be a lifelong pursuit (as we all want things to be the way we want them, not the way they are) and that it is possible to live in the truth and still be content with how things are.

Living in the truth=Inner Peace.

[dave24]

'What is truth?' as Pontius Pilate said to Jesus.

The idea of truth requires a belief in an objective meaning of life.

A scientists speak of empirical, proven facts rather than truths. Religious persons speak of truths as ideas they 'believe in' without empirical evidence, which Kierkergaard described as taking 'the leap of faith'.

An existentialist argument would be that although empirical facts are obviously proven to exist, there is no objective meaning to any of them, so in order to fulfill the human need for meaning we must create our own subjective meanings.

This is where denial comes from. If you take away your own ability to create the world you live in through your own subjective perceptions, then you are left with a nihilistic view on things, an abyss of meaningless facts.

As Nietzsche put it:

'Sometimes when you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back into you.'

Denial and subjective perception is necessary to survive unless you are prepared to take the leap of believing in God or a cosmic order, with no rational proof.

So yes, I live in denial to some extent, to stay sane, though I am also conscious of the meaningless facts of existence.

[Bella]

I'm an idealist too. I'm also an ENTP. I'm thinking that you are as well.

Thanks! =) I do get really strong hunches for people, situations, theories & principles most consider 'facts' when it's not. I trust myself in that regard. Maybe it has something to do with personal life experiences & my stubbornness? I think people tend to be inquisitive if they feel strongly about something.

Yes, truth = inner peace. I sometimes keep quiet just to maintain harmony. Sometimes, it's better to let people find out the truth on their own, because that's the story of their life. I won't help them understand unless they want to wake up. And, it does hurt me whenever I see people live a lie, because the idealist in me wants to help, in which I do, just by being a friend and offering advice when 'asked.' I think the Socratic method helps them, when asked in a genuinely sincere way?

I think people are scared of the truth when they underestimate their own abilities. In some ways, I think twhen we're in tune we with ourselves, we're more open to the truth- since clarity makes us stronger, wiser, correct? =)