Is it necessary for anyone to be brutally honest in life? This question arose in my mind as a confidante send me an email stating that she gets away and gets ahead in life by lying through her teeth. She finds being honest and having to bare her soul a tad inappropriate in this day and age.

Since the beginning of life, all humans have been liars. However, given that the world has changed, that we have entered into the New Millennium, lying has become easier in the quest to move on or move up. The truth is everyone is a liar.

Save for God (if one believes in Him), all of us humankind are liars from the day we are born until the day we die. While there are instances where people are willing to lie even on their deathbed, it is a surprise that young, innocent children can lie so sweetly.

Who taught these newcomers to the world how to lie? Young and innocent they may be but yet they are capable of lying. It is not, I believe, that they learnt to lie from elders and grown ups, although this can often happen. The fact is lying is an inherent trait within each of us.

Why we lie

In other words, lying does come easy. To restrain from lying causes us much pain and even grief. Lying is as easy as simple math but trying to be honest is a Herculean effort. Since it is all so easy to lie, this is the option most of us take.

We lie and think no more about it. But the more we lie, the more our conscience becomes hardened. And then comes the crux of lying, from trivial lying, we gradually become hardcore liars to the point we are no longer able to live our lives truthfully. Or worse, we lose sight of the truth.

We may even reach a point where we wonder what's the point in telling any truth? Is it necessary? Does it matter? Will it make a difference?

Well here's something that I have begun to realise as I age gracefully. While all of us may be liars, somewhere down the road of life - the truth has a way of coming out. It's sad but it's true. It's as if you cannot subdue the truth.

So while we may have carefully camouflaged or hidden all our skeletons in the closet, it becomes only a matter of time before the truth unfolds. What am I trying to say? That all of us must quit lying and be honest and straight as a rod from now on.

I think that's impossible. But what might be necessary is for us to begin practising restraint in lying. Like mentioned earlier this is easier said than done. While pain, loss or hurt might be encountered in telling the truth, the end result is a clear conscience.

A clear conscience helps us live better, our lives then become more meaningful and harmonious.This cannot compare to all the gains we make through lying. Needless to say lying helps in the short term but in the long run these lies turn on the full force of their wrath to destroy us.

It is the wise and discerning person that puts into practise the restrain to lie. They understand, value, and benefit from being honest. For these noble lot, theirs is the Kingdom of God. Am I coming across as holier-than-thou or like some evangelical preacher or some religious crackpot?

No face, no identity and religion

The fact is lying has no face, no identity, no religion. It is something we all take a fancy to in unthinking fashion. It comes naturally. But if, and this is a big if, if only each and every person on earth can take a step closer each day to stop lying, it is soon that we find our lives taking a turn for the better.

An eased conscience is like a free-flowing river, it gives us inner peace, it clears our mind, it helps put us on an elevated plane. We soon find our hearts and minds climbing the higher levels of consciousness. We are no longer base and evil but healthier and happier, there is a certain feeling of goodness and joy. And the world becomes a better place to live in.

But the difficulty is in taking those initial steps. In making an attempt to stop lying and start living truthfully. While in the immediate term we might suffer, in the long run we find ourselves climbing higher and swiftly up the ladder of life. We find ourselves earning respect and admiration for not being corruptible and telling the truth.

We are still far from perfect, but at least we have have taken a step closer to betterment.

CHRISTOPHER FERNANDEZ is a reader of Malaysiakini. Postcards is an occasional column for readers who wish to contribute an essay on anything. If you wish to submit an essay, email it to dina@malaysiakini.com.