Virtues are qualities or traits regarded as morally noble
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Honesty Is the Best Policy
Virtues are qualities or traits regarded as morally noble and thus esteemed as foundations of respectable honest being and principle. Honesty is among one of the greatest virtues cherished by human beings and it helps a person to perform the correct thing as every so often as many times possible. When they are on the wrong they always admit. It is adhering to sincerity and facts (Edelman, 6). To be regarded as honest, a person has to be true to themselves/others, not cheat and be trustworthy. Honesty as a virtue is an admirable and essential characteristic any individual can possess. Honesty is vital for development of the mind and conscience of human beings as it involves learning to uphold the truth and knowing the reality (Edelman, 6). Honesty is a key virtue because it facilitates a prosperous relationship with other people and living in a successful life.
To begin with, honesty is the basis each and everyone uses for building any relationships be it with friends, family, workmates or strangers. People relate because of various reasons such as work, studies etc. and to keep the relationship going, they have to be true to each other at all times (Rosenberg, et, al, 17). When one is honest to the people he relates with, they are able to trust and confide to him/her when they are struggling or faced with issues of life such as depression. They are sure that their secrets will not be discussed with other people and they will get an honest advice. Honesty cements trust and thus promoting prosperous relationships (Rosenberg, et, al, 19).
Additionally, those who do not say the truth threaten their relationships with others. For example a teenage girl/boy may tell their parents that they are going for a school function over the weekend and they end up going out and are caught by the police. When their parents find out, they will not trust their son/daughter as before if they genuinely ask for permission again in future. Consequently, it may lead to arguments and misunderstandings hence threatening the parent-child relationship. Trust in relationships is brought about by honesty which helps to sustain relationships (Rosenberg, et, al, 19).
Furthermore, honesty helps an individual to lead a successful and excellent life. A persons honesty not only reflects in their words but also in their actions. Honesty with oneself helps one to deal with their inner negative emotions and feelings such as fear and low self-esteem that hold them back from being great (Edelman, 33). Once they deal with the negative emotions, they become more confident and their esteem is boosted. Thus helping them to be productive and take risks such as starting a business which makes them successful. Honesty in a person appeals to prospective employers and investors. Honest individuals lead successful organizations and their lives flourish (Edelman, 34).
However, being honest at all times does not always warrant prosperous relationships and successful lives. There are situations when being honest with those we relate with threatens relationships (Rosenberg, et, al, 29). For example if one tries to correct a wayward friend who is into illegal drugs by telling them they are destroying their health and future, the unruly friend may rebel and feel like they are being judged unfairly based on their actions. The friendship may thus be cut off because they dont want to be told the truth. An honest person may also find it hard to find jobs at times and lead successful lives (Edelman, 36). For example a reformed ex-convict who is looking for employment may be honest about their past when interviewed. Thus they will be shunned and be unemployed leading miserable lives.
Conclusion
In summary, by leading an honest living an individual has a meaningful and enriching life. Honesty is a very key virtue that every person needs to have in todays society. Honesty makes relations with our friends, workmates, parents and teachers to be seamless and trustworthy. Strong and successful relationships are as a result of having two or more people who are willing to be transparent not only in their words but also actions. Honesty brings about trust which is the building block of any relationship. Honesty also helps in strengthening the confidence and building character of individuals therefore making the individuals to lead successful and prosperous lives. There are various situations that I pointed out when being honest may not lead to successful lives and relationships but that does not matter because in the long run honesty is the right thing to do and the greatest policy.
Works cited
Edelman, Marian Wright. The measure of our success: A letter to my children and yours. Beacon Press, 2013.
Rosenberg, Marshall, and Deepak Chopra. Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships. PuddleDancer Press, 2015.