We all tell lies.

I’m okay. (Yeah,right.)

I’m on my way. (Just kidding, I’m still in the shower.)

That looks cute. (I would never wear that.)

I don't care. (I really care.)

White lies or big lies, good lies or bad lies, they are still a lie.

They are utterly necessary because how would we know the truth without lies?

I sport a tattoo on my collarbone that reads “trust.” It will forever be a reminder that trust is one of the most important aspects of any relationship. It will stand for the immense trust I have in someone or the lack thereof.

You can lie to other people and you can lie to yourself.

It’s hard to lie to yourself. You can’t hide your emotions from yourself. You can ignore them, but not for long. The same goes for lying to others. You can lie for a certain amount of time, but even you will slip up and the truth will come out.

But if you really want to lie, take these steps to ensure the secret is safe:

1. Convince yourself it is what is real

2. Overthink the situation to create an entirely different one

3. Stop being true to yourself and your emotions

4. Maintain a poker face

5. Hurt yourself and those around you

6. Get others to verify your made up situation

Now, do you realize how ridiculous this sounds?

You cannot maintain the best of both worlds - your fake world and reality. It doesn’t work that way.

If you are currently in a sticky situation, fix it. It is like a huge weight is lifted off your shoulders once you realize you can stop living in a fantasy world.

When you get caught in your lie, you look like the bad guy, mainly because you are.

You’re lying to people who truly care about you. Don’t do that. They want what’s best for you, they want you to succeed, they want you to be true to yourself and they want you to be happy.

Stress and anxiety will consume someone who lies. You don’t need that on top of everything else going on in your life: work, school, family matters, or relationships. Ignoring one scenario while living in another can takes it toll on someone's emotional and physical state.

Next time you lie, ask yourself:

Will I be ashamed to tell my kids/parents/a priest I did this?

Will I hurt the person I’m lying to?

Will I be upset if I hurt this person?

Will I be okay if I end up hurting myself?

Is this moral of me to do?

We are all blessed with one beautiful life, why try to create two?