Live as if all things about you were known by all people

What if everyone knew everything there was to know about you? What would it be like if anyone who saw you instantly knew all your virtues and faults? What if everyone else knew everything you thought, felt, and did? What if everyone knew what you really wanted, how much, and why? Would this result in people seeing you as more and better than they do now, or less and worse? Would it make you change how you are?

People frequently think, feel, or do worse when they don’t believe anyone can see.¹ If all things were known, many seemingly highvalue people would lose value in the eyes of others. How many hidden past mistakes and ongoing indulgences would be revealed?² How many seemingly kind people would be shown to be willing to cause major harm to another for their own slight benefit?

Many good thoughts, feelings, and actions go unseen. Those things that are seen are evaluated through an imperfect idea of what is good, what is evil, and by how much. If all things were known, many seemingly low-value people would gain value in the eyes of others.³ How many hidden virtues and quiet heroes would be revealed? How many seemingly normal people would be revealed as having fought and won many private battles? How many seemingly arrogant people would be revealed as gifted and patient? How many seemingly offensive people would be revealed as holy?

So much of our lives remain hidden from one another. We tend to advertise or exaggerate our best aspects, disappointing those who get to know us better. Live with such virtue in what you do and why you do it that the more someone gets to know you, the better they find you to be.

As much as it horrifies most people to contemplate, there will be a time when much more about yourself will become known to you and others.⁴ In the resurrection, you will see as you are seen and know as you are known.⁵ The additional information thrust upon you will include onerous details proving the insufficiency of your poor choices and inadequacy of your poor character qualities,⁶ even if they were hidden to you in life through ignorance or dishonesty.⁷ Everyone will see much more about each other than they presently do. Everyone will know much more about what you did in life, what you didn’t do, and why.⁸ But what about during this life?

You can come to see much more of yourself during this life, and though they are rare, there are others who already do. There are people on the earth who can see you better than you can see yourself. Whether you’re dealing with such a person or not, it’s best to be yourself and not rely on your ability to hide from others. To prepare for those who already see who you are, act as if everyone you meet can. Live each moment of each day as if all people could see what you do and—more importantly—why you do it. In every case, acting as if all things were known about you will cause you to be better than you otherwise would. Living up to the best you presently know will lead you on the shortest path to learning more about yourself than you already know. To prepare for a time when all things are revealed, act as if they already were.