Five thoughts, ideas, insights, or quotes to power up your mind to think differently and creatively about life and who we are. Put all previous thinking away and open up a brand new world of the Supermind. YOUR SuperMind.

This week – Honesty.

Honesty seems an old word and human trait these days. It feels like a behaviour we once used to show in the past as it has been fast disappearing in life in the modern society. What was once a cast iron human value, now is a rare breed among people compared to the past. That’s a worrying trend and so SMS has to take a look at this endangered species among mankind.

1. Faking it is making it.

The arrival of social media seems perfectly aligned with the recent rapid decline in honesty. When it began honesty was still in. We didn’t want to look liars and fakes. But as recognition became a temptation especially as we were talking more and more to people we did not know, honesty began to wane. The desire to create an online life that doesn’t match our real life that could lift our image and even income, meant faking it to make it expanded in epidemic proportions.

So, is it OK to join in faking our life as everyone is doing it now? Does that make it right?

2. We are spiritual not religious.

The whole ethos of honesty and integrity was at the heart of society that was founded and ran on religious principles. Over the previous centuries our churches and places of worship were central to the community. Their teachings, their laws of faith, and their messages that our Gods would not approve dripped into the mass conscience. But, we are less religious than ever. We have turned spiritual. The new teachings are that the Universe wants us to succeed and have things. Nothing about honesty comes into it. We just go get what we want.

Has the new spiritual era kicked off a less than honest person today?

3. Feelings first.

Life on Earth today has changed markedly since the century began. Where we were once hardy and thick skinned, it’s all flipped upside down. Everyone has become offended and upset about almost anything. Especially minor trivial irritations. We have elevated basic bothers to major hurt feelings. You can’t go anywhere or watch any TV show without warnings about potential offense. It’s a cotton wool world. And as being offended or devastated (and other big descriptive adjectives) can lead to benefits, so honesty has gone out the window.

Are we using our feelings as an excuse not to be honest?

4. Dishonesty is the new normal.

Perhaps we should not be surprised by dishonesty anymore. Even the great renowned actor and playwright, Noel Coward said, ‘How many people are shocked by honesty and how few by deceit’. That some 70 years ago when society seemed at least more moral than we experience now. Which raises the painful question…

Are we so used to dishonesty that we just don’t bother with honesty anymore?

5. You lose by being honest.

Have you ever told a white lie? A little fib because the truth would cause you problems or you would lose out? I think we have all done that. Nothing major but it wasn’t worth the hassle to own up to the real story. It starts with a minor untruth (they had no BBQ sauce at the supermarket but really you forgot to pick it up). No repercussions so you move onto bigger stuff (you meet your ex for lunch now and again as you still remember the good times you had). If we admitted either there would be hell to pay, so we keep schtum. And so we get used to shelving honesty at all.

Is it better to not be honest as it’s far less bother?

Ok, that’s another SuperMind Saturday done. Thank you for being here for the SuperMind time. Keep thinking about these. We need more minds thinking about this issue and the others issue on SuperMind Saturdays. Why? Because it’s needed. Because the world requires new thoughts and ideas. Perhaps YOURS!!

See you next time for more super thinking.

Photo attributions – free to use under Pixabay Content License by Mr_Zed and Javaistan.