Few people understand how common and harmful dishonesty is— in part because their definition is so narrow as to hide most examples and mask most effects. A better understanding of dishonesty begins with a better definition of honesty.
Many would define honesty in simple terms, such as “trying to tell the truth” or “telling the truth most of the time.” The requirements of honesty range far beyond a mere attempt to tell the truth or an average of the truthfulness of what you say. Honesty requires consummate, full-time practice. It is not a measure of what you try, nor a question of how you are most of the time, but how you are all of the time.
Honesty requires more than just abstaining from speaking something that is false. Honesty is the state of reconciliation between what you think, feel, and do to the truth as far as you understand it. Honesty requires absolute reconciliation to your sincere understanding of reality.
Honesty is a measure of alignment between your self-perceived and outwardly-projected senses of self. Honesty requires total freedom from inward and outward deceit. There is no difference in how an honest person views themselves and how they project themselves to others.
Honesty requires full reconciliation of what you do on the outside and who you are on the inside. It requires accurate awareness of your internal processes and external actions.