Redacted information is manipulation. We’ve all done it. Tell a story a certain way when you want people to agree with you, conveniently leave out little bits of it so you can control the opinion, spin doctor the outcome….Put ourselves in the light, the right, and generate a pile on of support.
But are we really doing ourselves any favors by winning favor with half truths? Is it we don’t want correction because correction won’t align with our motives?
I like to believe I surround myself with people who have pure enough intentions and are insightful enough to catch me on my spins…the ones who say “feel like there’s something missing” “Are you sure” or maybe even “have you thought about this”, but I’m sure I’ve used a conversation with limited presentation to feel better about a bad call…used my relationships as medicine before.
When we do that, it’s a mistake. It’s undercutting the whole purpose of having people, and it’s not fair to the integrity of those relationships. On the flip, if the ONLY people we have in our lives are ones who believe our spin and don’t see our blindspots – we probably need more independent thinking people around.
Bottom line is: trust your people enough with the whole truth and let them decide for themselves what they think about it. If we’re afraid of losing their spot in our life because of who we actually are….maybe revisit who you are or revisit your relationships…whichever gets us closer to living in our truth by way of trust.
Deeper Than a Puddle 