What Is Your Favorite Form of Deceit To Yourself?

Many of us claim to cherish honesty, but the truth is, we engage in various forms of dishonesty regularly. It is something I see often in my work where these subtle deceit practices become a way to protect ourselves from the sharp edges of the world. 

Research indicates that, on average, we will tell lies (including white lies!) approximately every half-hour during conversations. When you are living with low self worth, it can feel terrifying to be fully seen, which is why we automatically reach for these safety nets

These lies are often not deliberate, as we’ve developed patterns of concealing or altering our genuine inner feelings – both to others and to ourselves and the lack of honesty can undermine our relationships. 

But when we become aware of our behaviors around telling fish stories (“I caught a fish this big” –remember that one?) we can begin to slowly begin changing this pattern. Spotting the common deceit practices you rely on is the very first step toward reclaiming your authentic power.

Here are some of the most common forms of deception. Note the ones that are your favorites (I invite you to drop down to the comments section and let me know!).

Common Deceit Practices We Fall Into

Which of these behaviors do you find yourself engaging in?

• Saying ‘yes’ when you don’t really mean it

• Making excuses when confronted with a situation in which you actually do share some responsibility

• Avoiding mentioning things that might ‘upset’ someone

• Masking your vulnerability with tightness, defensiveness, anger or intellectual arguments

• Not saying ‘no’ directly

• Pretending certainty or expertise when you don’t really know; or inflating your accomplishments

• Not letting others know what you truly think, feel, or want

• When disagreeing, failing to acknowledge what is valid in the other’s position 

• Avoiding or withdrawing from conflicts that you know need to be worked through 

• Complaining about someone to others rather than going to them directly

• Not fully keeping agreements; that is not impeccably doing what we said we would do when we said we would do it

• Exaggerating, withholding or distorting the facts to ‘win your point’

• Not being transparent about your real motivation or agendas

• Using substances, overwork, internet or other addictive behavior to avoid dealing with what you feel

Letting Go of These Emotional Triggers

What else? Are there any other kinds of deceit in which you engage?

This can also be the subject of discussion with a friend or loved one as it calls for your and their honesty, which helps to deepen your connection with one another. Leaning into restorative daily wellness practices like honest journaling can help you catch these moments of hiding before they snowball. When you start managing your emotional triggers with a little more grace, you won’t feel the need to put up these false walls anymore.

As I say, let me know how it goes! 

With Love, Becca