THFUENESS 1, Booklet 3 Education EA Definition Earning future trust by accurately reporting past facts. EE IMustration The African Lion is feared by people and other animals. Its ppower and majesty are revered by al. On the plains of Africa, ‘young boys became men only by an act of bravery. Many times this required them to slay an African Lion. The boys learned hhow to respond to a lion's body language. They knew a lion’s intentions by the way the big cat hung its head or displayed its teeth, In the story on page 4, see how lions demonstrate truth- fullness and learn how to distinguish a lie from the truth, ‘ tT Application | Wi | | e Knowing and following the truth affects every part of our lives. e It is the basis for decisions, actions, words, relationships, and beliefs, But Knowing the truth is only half the equation Sea Reatauitieo seis iue aan * encourage athers to five “I Wills in this bulletin are practical ways to demonstrate tell the truth. truthfulness in every aspect of our lives. They are the basis for the activities, lessons, songs, and crafts found on pages 8 not cheat or steal. through 14. admit it when | am wrong. not exaggerate to s&s Praise make things seem Praising truthfulness will reinforce its importance and signifi- different than what cance in children’s lives. Praise must also be genuine and sincere, they are. Look on page 15 for ways to encourage children by a truthful act of praise. A simple note or a kind word is allt takes.pay What Is Truthfulness? TRUTHFULNESS vs. Deception Truthefuleness 1: 1: habitually rep- resenting the truth; telling the facts. : corresponding with what is genu- ine or real. 3: speaking the truth with sincerity. It is from the Old English word treo that we get our ‘words rue, trust, rice, and froth (asin betoth). We get our word for “truthfulness” from the Old English word tre- ‘not, which means “to be firm, solid or steadfast.” Truth is a universal principle of life that will never change. A Good Reputation Human nature desires a good reputation. People want oth- ers to think of them as truthful, dependable, and diligent. Thus, when people knowingly do something wrong, they often try to justify it in order to protect their reputation. Rationalizing something wrong is to call it by a different name so it does not sound as bad. However, no matter what name itis given, deception is always wrong and will stain one’s reputation. Deception ist Bending the rules. ‘Telling a “white lie.” * Telling a partial truth, ‘© Not reporting something that is wrong, + Lying to protect someone else. « Exaggerating something to be different than it really is. * Making excuses.Teaching Truthfulness GA The Concept of Truthfulness True information may change, but the truth never does. For example, lizard is green (true), but if the lizard is a chameleon, it may later change to brown (also true). The ‘ruth about the chameleon's nature is that its color varies, according to its background. This principle by which the chameleon operates is a truth. The present manifestation ofthat truth i the true information. ‘As an authority, one must also be commited to communi- cating truth, Since truth is ore than just accurate words it {is possible to lead someone to the wrong conclusion by silence, tone of voice, expression, or gestures ‘A solid commitment to truthfulness isthe only foundation for stability in lf. Fluctuating standards based on popu- lar opinion or current trends produce instability. The Role of Leadership In this ever-changing world of technology and expanding information, itis essential to know the truth. One placed in leadership is held to a higher standard than others. Teachers must communicate true information in order to be effective. Truthfulness gives credibility toa leader. A person's posi- tion may give him or her authority to be obeyed, but its character which people trust and admire. Those in authority must watch their words very carefully. Because true statements can often be hurtful or inappro- priate, a wise leader must balance truthfulness with dis- cretion and “weigh” each word before speaking. Consistent Character “Honesty is always the best policy." ~ George Washington A person is considered truthful by continually giving accurate reports. Therefore, being truthful isa constant action, not a one-time event, Likewise, one must continually work on his or her char- acter development. People who believe they have mas- tered a character quality often stagnate and prove the opposite. True characteris learned inthe course of expe- rience, but itis lot ifthe attitude of continual learning is abandoned. Win Trust With Truth Trust is the reward for being truthful. A person who consistently demonstrates truthfulness can be trusted by others. The more a person proves to be truthful, the more trust others will have in his or her character. Get All the Facts When making a statement, comment, or evaluation, a person must be certain to have all the facts. Giving all the facts is also important. Telling only part ofa story can be just as deceitful as lying, particularly if it leads the hearer to make an inaccurate assumption. If a person retells a story to others, only to lear later that the story isnot true, it becomes his or her responsi- bility to cormect what was said with those who heard it. The intent all along may have been that of honesty but a truthful person is concerned not only about his or her intent, but also about defending the truth 3