I’ve always been one for children, they’re cute, they keep you going and at times they’re absolutely hilarious.
The one thing that will always get me though, is their relentless honesty towards the people around them. Their minds aren’t tainted with what we perceive as our realities.
If you ever want to get an honest opinion (let’s say for instance, about an outfit you’re wearing) just ask a child, they’ll never lie.
A few weeks back, I was on a video call with a friend and her curious little cousin insisted on joining our conversation as well.
Keep in mind that myself and this six-year-old (named Zee) had never met before.
After exchanging introductions I was on the receiving of what felt like close to one thousand questions.
Zee wanted to know things like why my room wasn’t pink, why my hair isn’t long just like her mum’s, why I owned Harry Potter pyjamas when I’m an adult and why I was eating cereal during the night – all valid questions which I myself could not answer.
Then came the real kicker.
“Maybe you should go to the gym with my sister and then your face won’t be so round anymore”.
I burst out laughing immediately, I mean it’s not really in me to get offended over things like that.
Was this child being precocious or just blatantly honest? I decided on the latter.
You see, that’s just the thing about children – they say whatever they’re thinking, whenever they’re thinking it.
If you get offended, so be it.
But it had me thinking, imagine if we all had to be as honest as children.
Do you realise what a difference it would make in our everyday relationships?
I don’t mean we should go around pointing out one another’s flaws.
It’s the principle of honesty that we should carry forward with.
No more beating around the bush, just be direct and say what you feel.
So often people waste time and allow themselves to stay in unhappy situations simply because they’re afraid of being honest.
We’re afraid to criticise or even correct each other out of fear that someone’s feelings are going to get hurt.
Again, why can’t we all just say what we’re thinking?
People live their lives according to their bad habits which could have been stopped if someone had just been honest with them – and that’s just one aspect that could change in a world full of honesty.
Next time you find yourself biting your tongue in a situation that is making you uncomfortable, perhaps take heed from little Zee and say what you’re thinking – what’s the worst that could come from it?
Most times we are our own hero and we can’t let people walk all over us.
Is being brutally honest the key to everyone living in peace in harmony, or could it perhaps be just as bad as the way things are now?
HAVE YOUR SAY
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