The Cost of Truth…

To give someone the truth, one’s own truth, can cost pride…vanity…ego. You may not look so good anymore…the gloss and sheen of the veneer is pulled back when you speak your truth. When you lay yourself bare…well, you are no longer protected (armored), are you? That is always, nearly always, a frightening prospect for any of us…all of us. You’re open now, for the judgment and possibly disdain, even contempt of others…many forms this disdain or contempt may take. Many forms. Laughter, not warm and friendly, but laughter that says the other finds you a fool. Patronizing, the sensation that the other finds you lacking and you are only someone to be pitied, cajoled, and mislead. But these are only the consequences of speaking the truth to those with whom you have no actual feelings. The cost of speaking one’s truth to someone you cherish…or fear…can be further paid in the loss of that one’s approval, friendship, love, and support…gifts of the soul. Ah, but if the truth should cost you the loss of these ‘gifts of the soul’ from someone you cherish, then you were never really receiving these gifts from them to begin with…not really. So…in the end, the truth can only cost you an illusion…which can be a painful enough loss in itself.