what honesty means to me

What Honesty Means to Me


Honesty is a very basic character trait. It is very important to me.
It means I can trust that what you say to me is the truth. You are not
saying one thing and meaning something else. Your behavior is sincere,
trustworthy, genuine and loyal.

To be honest, you must tell the truth despite the consequences. I know that I am not as honest with my parents as I should be. I’m learning that I get into trouble because my behavior does not show loyalty and integrity to them and they lose trust in believing me, at times. It is not a good feeling and makes me real sad they don’t trust me. How can you go through life knowing that you can’t be trusted?

Honesty shows a part of your character. It shows you are trustworthy. Your conduct is straightforward. At a Boy Scout camping trip, a Scout asked another Scout to purchase some materials for him that he needed for a merit badge. He gave the Scout $20 to make the purchase and return his change. The other Scout took the money, and immediately went to the Trading Post and purchased ice cream only He did not purchase the merit badge materials for the Scout who gave him the money. He did not return any change to that Scout. He was not honest to that other Scout. He was not trustworthy. The Scout who gave the money trusted the other Scout would do the right thing by making the purchase and returning the change. The conduct of the 2nd Scout was not straightforward. He showed he was not an honest person.

Being honest with yourself includes being able to accept responsibility for your own actions and not blame others. Face situations when they come up and not hide from them. When you want to lie, first consider the consequences of that lie. Lying may get you out of a situation for that moment but the lie will come back to haunt you later. Like when I tell my mother that I completed my homework just so she will stop asking me if I completed my homework. Then when I get to school my teacher tells me that I didn’t’ put any effort into the homework I told my mother I did. Technically, I didn’t lie about doing my homework but I wasn’t honest about doing it to the teacher’s expectations.

Building an honest character includes doing your own homework, writing a report in your own words instead of copying it, keeping your eyes on your own paper and admitting when you make a mistake. Telling the truth, being responsible to myself and others, conducting my behavior in a straightforward manner are just a few ways to build an honest character. I want people to treat me the way I want to be treated. If I want people to honest to me, then, of course, in all ways I need to be honest to them.