A couple of weeks ago, I made a grave error in judgment.
As I braced for the consequences, I started considering a logical story that would explain such a flaw and project an image of infallibility. I came up with a couple of stories, but each time I told them to myself, I felt weaker. There was no explanation that seemed to strengthen me.
Then I told myself the truth. As illogical as the truth sounded, it strengthened me. It would still make me look stupid to everyone else, but as long as I felt strengthened by it, I felt so much better than the other stories could ever muster.
So when I was interrogated about the incident, I told the truth. As I told it, I judged myself for being so stupid, yet as I told it, I was sure my stupidity regarding that flaw was over. I had learned the lesson, owned it, and was in the best shape for any consequences and for life afterward.
Surprisingly, the details of the error were already known by those questioning me, so what I thought was a courageous act of truth-telling was actually a values-based check of trust. The flaw was stupid, but considering the trust that was placed in me, they were more interested in my honesty than believability.
I walked out of the room with a reinforced belief in values. Errors in judgment can be corrected, but flaws in character bleach out the color in relationships.
The truth strengthens and frees.
– Osasu Oviawe