I have always admired truth speakers. Those refreshing souls who unapologetically disclose their fears and foibles. They remind me that I am human, that we all make mistakes; they are the type of people I strive to emulate.
Living with my vulnerability, and expressing it with integrity.
Now that I understand the dynamics of lying, even by omission. I am endlessly amused (not in a good way) at people’s insistence in pursuing this approach. It’s interesting to notice that it’s always justified in some imagined right to privacy. For example, not talking about the difficult thing that happened because you have a right to grieve alone, and furthermore no one can really understand your pain; or not speaking to your children about the truths of Sex, and appropriate boundaries surrounding the topic, because we assume, they are too young to handle the information (although they were the ones to ask about it in the first place). I have come to see this as the “You can’t handle the Truth” syndrome, or mentality; A patronizing thought process at best. Treating our friends, families and loved ones as children (even if they happen to be young) who are not resilient enough to deal with the information they are presented with, and adjust accordingly.
How can we always assume that we have the capacity to handle things, while other’s do not? Where do these ridiculous notions come from? Some ridiculous, and unevolved souls may say this is the patriarchy. I have to disagree.
Maybe it’s the side effect of a personality disorder such as Narcissism, that doesn’t allow certain people to receive disturbing information, and rationalize it. After all leading experts in the field of Psychology have been stating (in the last 10 years) that they are seeing an abnormal number of Narcissists especially in the Boomer, and Millennial generations. There are tons of videos about how they handle information that may enlighten all of us as to why difficult topics have been kept in the dark. I do not think the blame can be squarely put on their shoulders, however the disorder’s influence on our society should be explored. Especially when considering the numbers.
Regardless of how it all started, I propose we bring it to an end. Maybe it’s time to consider that everyone was created with the ability to cope with the information that is presented to them, no matter how shocking, and actually, it may be more beneficial that it is presented, as to bring awareness and understating around topics of disfunction of any kind. (In clinical psychology this is referred to as exposure method).
WE CAN “Handle the Truth”. We are all born equipped for it, and we become stronger, more resilient, and happier as we learn to know, and own the truth of ourselves our vulnerabilities and our resilience, as well as the difficult realities of living life in a world filled with both good and evil.
So maybe try it. Begin a new practice. Speak the truth around every and all matters in your life. You may be surprised at how well you’re received, and how inspirational and transformational your vulnerability truly is.
