Daily Frameworks for 08 September 2023

Istiqlál, 01 ʻ’Izzat (Might), 180 B.E.

Reflections on the Life of the Spirit

Quote for Reflection:

Consider that the worst of all qualities and the most odious of all attributes, and the very foundation of all evil, is lying, and that no more evil or reprehensible quality can be imagined in all existence. It brings all human perfections to naught and gives rise to countless vices. There is no worse attribute than this, and it is the foundation of all wickedness. Now, all this notwithstanding, should a physician console a patient and say, “Thank God, you are doing better and there is hope for your recovery”, although these words may be contrary to the truth, yet sometimes they will ease the patient’s mind and become the means of curing the illness. And this is not blameworthy. — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ¹

Question for Consideration:

What do we lose when we tell a lie? ²

Google Bard Response:

There are many things we lose when we tell a lie. Here are some of them:

• Trust: When we lie to someone, we break their trust. This can be difficult to repair, and it can damage our relationships with others.
• Respect: When we lie, we show that we don’t respect the other person. This can make them feel less valued and important, and it can make it difficult to build a strong relationship with them.
• Honesty: When we lie, we lose our own sense of honesty. This can make us feel guilty and ashamed, and it can make it difficult to be truthful in other areas of our lives.
• Integrity: Integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. When we lie, we compromise our integrity and lose respect for ourselves.
• Peace of mind: Lying can create a lot of stress and anxiety. We may worry about being caught, or we may feel guilty about hurting the other person. This can make it difficult to relax and enjoy life.
• Self-esteem: Lying can damage our self-esteem. When we lie, we are essentially saying that we are not good enough to be honest. This can make us feel worthless and insecure.
  

In the long run, lying is not worth it. It can damage our relationships, our self-esteem, and our peace of mind. If we want to live a happy and fulfilling life, it is important to be honest.

Here are some tips for being more honest:

• Be aware of your motives for lying. Are you lying to avoid conflict, to get something you want, or to protect yourself from embarrassment?
• Ask yourself if the lie is really necessary. Is there another way to get what you want or avoid conflict without lying?
• Be honest with yourself. If you are not honest with yourself, it will be difficult to be honest with others.
• Practice being honest in small ways. This will help you build the habit of honesty.
• Forgive yourself for past lies. Everyone makes mistakes. The important thing is to learn from your mistakes and move on.
  

Being honest is not always easy, but it is always the right thing to do. By being honest, we can build strong relationships, improve our self-esteem, and live a more fulfilling life.

1. ’Abdu’l-Bahá. Some Answered Questions. Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed September 07, 2023. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/abdul-baha/some-answered-questions/10#228364906. ↩
2. Ruhi Institute. Reflections on the Life of the Spirit. 4.1.2.PE May 2020. Vol. Book 1. 6 vols. Embarking on a Path of Service. Cali, Columbia: Ruhi Institute, 2020, 7. https://www.ruhi.org/en/walking-a-path-of-service/#RLS ↩