Everyone does it. It’s part of the human experience. We learn early on that lying can sometimes keep the peace and save us from punishment. We watch adults as they do it constantly in such a masterful way. The desire to lie is innately woven into the fabric of our being. It’s protective and releases us from feeling judgement from others, allowing us to keep our status within the pack. I remember lying about things as a kid so my mom wouldn’t be upset with me. I also learned early on that I don’t have much of a poker face. This inability to hide the truth became a superpower as I started to notice subtle non-verbal signs when others would lie to me. Over time, I learned it is often best NOT to call someone out on their deception, as in doing so usually causes them to reinforce their protective barrier with even more untruths. As an adult, I can still see the value in lying to save face. Sometimes we think it is what the other person wants to hear. Other times we think that lying will make us look more favorable in the eyes of others. However, this protective habit often morphs into a tangled web, sapping our energy and veering us towards burnout and existential crises. Which begs the question: Why are we pretending to be what we are pretending to be?
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