Do you think people are shaped more by the truth they face or by the lies they believe?
Honestly, I feel like most of us are shaped by the lies we believe — and not just a little, but in very big ways.
One thing I’ve noticed is that people are often more willing to hold onto a comfortable lie than to accept a hard truth. It’s not always because they’re stubborn. Sometimes, it’s just because lies can be easier to digest. They often fit neatly into the things we’ve already been taught, so we don’t question them. The truth, on the other hand, can be uncomfortable. It forces you to think, to ask questions, and sometimes to admit that what you’ve always believed might be wrong.
From childhood, most of us are told things not based on facts but on beliefs — beliefs passed down by family, friends, or society. And when something comes from someone you trust, you rarely stop to examine whether it’s actually true. You just take it in, and with time, it becomes your reality.
I remember when I was younger, there was this belief that if you crossed someone’s leg while they were sitting, you would one day give birth to a child who looked exactly like them. At the time, I didn’t doubt it for a second. In fact, a lot of people I knew believed it so deeply that if you crossed their leg by accident, they would immediately tell you to “cross it back.” And if you refused or ignored it, it could easily start a small fight. It sounds funny now, but back then, it was a serious matter.
Looking back, I realize how much influence such beliefs can have. We accepted them without thinking because they came from people we loved and respected. And that’s the thing — lies are powerful not just because they exist but because they often come wrapped in trust and tradition.
The problem is that once you get comfortable with lies, it becomes harder to accept the truth. In fact, some people don’t even want the truth. They prefer the version of reality they already know, even if it’s not accurate. And because of that, they can be easily deceived. When someone controls what you believe, they can control how you think, how you feel, and even how you live your life.
At the end of the day, I think both truths and lies shape us — but lies have a sneaky way of digging deeper roots, especially when they’ve been part of us since childhood. The real challenge is when we are willing to question what we’ve been told, even if it means breaking away from the beliefs that once felt safe.
Thanks for reading.