The Soft Truth

Today, take a minute (or more) and think about the “soft truth.” I believe honesty is something that we owe ourselves and others. Yet, I often struggle with it. Sometimes, the truth is hurtful and stinging. That’s why we have the idiom “brutal honesty.” But does it have to be brutal? Must we shine a spotlight in someone’s face blindsiding them? Or can we just hold a lantern illuminating the path? Perhaps there are times when radical honesty is appropriate. However, there is also a place for the “soft truth.” The kind of truth that lightly probes at the surface while allowing those in our lives to gently dig a little deeper. In many instances, the act of gently drawing attention to something and then backing off and letting others begin a journey of self-discovery may often be more effective than “brutal honesty.”