Is honesty really the best policy? Set aside morality and ethics for a moment. Let’s just consider whether honesty is the best strategy for getting what you want out of life.
Upside of Dishonesty
The main benefit of dishonesty is it gives you a seeming advantage over another person. Take cheating, for example. When you’re in a committed relationship and you engage in infidelity, you have a difficult choice to make. If you are honest with your partner about the infidelity, you risk your partner exiting the relationship. Or your partner may retaliate by having his or her own affair. Ironically, it may seem that dishonesty is your best strategy for preserving the committed relationship. Maybe you hope that, given time, you will eventually learn to be faithful. So dishonesty may seem like a reasonable temporary measure until you sort things out. Dishonesty buys you time, and it seems to give you more control over the situation.
The Cost of Dishonesty
One of the more obvious downsides of dishonesty is that you will almost certainly be found out eventually, and the consequences will probably be worse than they would have been if you were originally forthcoming. But this isn’t the most fundamental downside of dishonesty. When you are dishonest with people, especially those you are closest to, you create a nagging doubt. In the back of your mind there is always a question: Would this person still love me if he or she knew the whole truth? If everyone in my life knew the whole truth about me, would anyone value me or accept me? Over time, the strategy of dishonesty leads to a deep insecurity. You begin to question your own self-worth, wondering if you could ever really get what you want out of life by being 100% authentic.
The Relationship Bank
When you are habitually honest, you feel more secure in your sense of self. And by being more trustworthy, you allow yourself to put more trust in the people you most highly value. That’s what honesty is: Money in the relationship bank. It’s an investment that inevitably grows over time, feeding clean, positive energy into all your relationships and life pursuits.
About James Robbins, MA, LPC
Real Testimonials from Real Patients
I have known James for over twenty years and wholeheartedly vouch for him as an exceptional therapist and business coach. He is one of the most intelligent and compassionate people I have seen in my 25 years as a mental health provider and corporate coach. James has a remarkable talent for identifying and leveraging individuals' natural strengths, crafting interventions that empower rather than foster dependency on therapy. Beyond his professional skill, James incorporates a disarming sense of humor, creating an atmosphere where clients feel at ease.
James is talented therapist who works confidently with depression, anxiety and trauma, and who particularly excels as a couples therapist and business/corporate coach. He has a unique ability to help couples build skills that provide insight and connection while still challenging each person to manage issues in their "blind spots.”
His skill with relationship building extends to business relationships, leadership and growth. A business owner himself, James' insight into how companies evolve and thrive allows entrepreneurs to quickly understand what is needed thrive and how to incorporate those strategies.
James has owned and managed Dallas Whole Life for over 20 years and he ensures a commitment to excellence by assembling a team of top-tier mental health professionals that includes counselors, psychologists and coaches. Dallas Whole Life is a well-respected practice in the DFW area and has been featured in the Dallas Morning News, and several local and national tv and radio media outlets.
I do not hesitate to refer people to Dallas Whole Life for their virtual therapy and coaching needs.
James is talented therapist who works confidently with depression, anxiety and trauma, and who particularly excels as a couples therapist and business/corporate coach. He has a unique ability to help couples build skills that provide insight and connection while still challenging each person to manage issues in their "blind spots.”
His skill with relationship building extends to business relationships, leadership and growth. A business owner himself, James' insight into how companies evolve and thrive allows entrepreneurs to quickly understand what is needed thrive and how to incorporate those strategies.
James has owned and managed Dallas Whole Life for over 20 years and he ensures a commitment to excellence by assembling a team of top-tier mental health professionals that includes counselors, psychologists and coaches. Dallas Whole Life is a well-respected practice in the DFW area and has been featured in the Dallas Morning News, and several local and national tv and radio media outlets.
I do not hesitate to refer people to Dallas Whole Life for their virtual therapy and coaching needs.
This is a wonderful practice and I consider myself very lucky to have found them. I saw James for a while out of network and he was worth his weight in gold. I truly appreciated the methods used as they really did help me to grow. James was perfectly compassionate and direct and I would highly recommend him to anyone.
I would like to say after working in this field for a while I absolutely love working at Dallas Whole Life , the owners Dr Heather and James Robbins actually care about connecting you with the right therapists , so your needs are met. , They are definitely in this business to help others. Our therapists are the best ! I cant say enough about the therapists , the owners and the difference we want to make , Its a great place to be !!!! Betsy Carter
Dallas Whole Life Counseling, has been a useful resource for me. In offering online appointments, Dallas Whole Life makes practicing mindfulness simple. Steve is the associate I speak with and he's as dynamic as he is resourceful. I highly recommend the Dallas Whole Life experience.
I have had an excellent experience with Steve Reedy. What initially began as couples' therapy transitioned into personal therapy that helped me address deep-seated issues that have negatively impacted my life for many years. Steve wasn't confrontational and didn't lecture me what my issues were. Instead, he helped lead me until I had those "ah ha" moments of self discovery. As a result of Steve''s counseling, I have a whole new, positive attitude about myself, which has changed the way I interact with others as well. Pursuing counseling with Steve has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life journey. I wholeheartedly recommend Steve.
I have been a client of both James and Heather Robbins for 4 years now. Initially, I sought therapy to address a difficult situation at the time. However, my experience was so positive that I have continued on as a client. I would say that without a doubt the advice and council I have received has improved the quality of my life significantly. James and Heather have a demeanor and style that is extremely versatile and appealing to all. In fact, when I got engaged I encouraged my fiance start seeing James. My fiance was not a believer in therapy and had never been to see a psychologist before. He found Jame's advice to be so impactful that he now has a regular appointment with him and looks forward to their conversations.
It is a unique offering to be able to get couple's therapy from a very happily married couple. My fiance and I are very appreciative of all the help James and Heather have given our relationship.
It is a unique offering to be able to get couple's therapy from a very happily married couple. My fiance and I are very appreciative of all the help James and Heather have given our relationship.
