It isn’t always easy to be honest.
In fact, according to studies, about 60% of people will lie at least once during a typical 10-minute conversation, and the average person will tell two to three lies during such an exchange.
But does it matter?
Is there any real detriment to lying from a health and wellness perspective?
As it turns out, there is.
According to one particular study, authored by a University of Notre Dame psychology professor named Anita E. Kelly, telling the truth and meaning what you say may boast a myriad of health benefits.
Let’s dive in and examine the study in-depth.
The Study
The project was called The Science of Honesty.
Basically, 72 people were recruited, and were randomly separated into two different groups.
One was called a sincerity group, and the other was a control group.
The control group wasn’t given any basic instructions.
But the sincerity group were told that for the next five weeks, they must speak honestly, truthfully, and sincerely every single day.
They were to be truthful about not only big things, but also small things (like why they were late for work, etc.)
Over the course of the next five weeks, the groups both came into the lab for polygraph tests and standard physical health tests. And by the fifth week, the results were actually pretty stunning.
How Were The Groups Different?
By the time the fifth week of the study came around, the health differences being observed between the two groups were quite noticeable.
The Sincerity Group enjoyed numerous health benefits over the control group, including:
- Fewer negative physical health symptoms
- Fewer sore throats
- Fewer headaches
- Less nausea
- Fewer mental health complaints
Even though telling the truth isn’t always easy, it certainly seems that there’s a health benefit to it.
Does It Really Work, Or Was This Study Just A Gimmick?
Granted, the study was simple.
But for all intents and purposes, it seemed to be straightforward with a sound methodology.
There was only one difference between the two groups.
One group was instructed to always mean what they said, while the other group was given zero instructions, and served only as a control.
Could This Study Work For You?
Interestingly enough, the author of the study ended up following the sincerity group’s instructions as well. And she also reported experiencing health benefits as a result of the practice.
Most notably, she said that she went from experiencing 5 – 7 colds every winter, to experiencing zero colds, despite the fact that she was getting significantly less sleep on a regular basis.
Are you interested in trying it yourself, to see if you may be able to enjoy the positive health benefits as well?
It’s simple, but it isn’t necessarily easy.
Always mean what you say, always tell the truth, and never tell a lie.
Do this 100% of the time, and you also may also be able to experience the positive side effects that come along with it.
