Truth liberates you and it begins with being transparent. Most people tend to mask their real feelings or opinions in fear of rejection, lack of self-confidence, or the fear of hurting the feelings of the other person. But can this approach serve us in the long run?
Have the guts to say things as you feel even though they can lead to friction. Important to say them nicely and respectfully, though.
It does not mean you become defensive and lose objectivity. It means you say your piece and listen intently and sincerely to others transparency.
If you are unclear about what people’s motives are, ask pertinent questions. The responses will reveal their motives.
Being transparent can help you to ensure:
1. Real concerns are addressed on time – Instead of beating around the bush or delaying matters which can turn grievous with time, being truthful enables you to address the real concerns and work on them in time. While it might make the situation uncomfortable in the short run, it can definitely prevent matters from getting worse.
You build authentic relationships – All meaningful relationships are founded on trust and trust can be built only through authenticity. While it might make you unpopular with some people, in the long run, we all tend to trust people whom we think are transparent or speak their mind. Also by being transparent, we enable the other person as well to respond authentically to us, strengthening the relationship.
Avoid resentment or frustration – Often when real issues are not expressed or ignored, resentment and frustration build up, feeding on our negative feelings and emotions. Resentment ultimately colors our judgment, making us hold on to grudges and prevents us from responding objectively to any situation. And often the object of our resentment never realises the issue because we have never shared it with him, creating the ground for more confusion and resentment.
When we commit to expressing ourselves truthfully, we strengthen our self-awareness and confidence as well as create a more authentic space for everybody around.