Excerpt from Dr. Emerson Eggerichs book, “Before You Hit Send”:

Years ago a friend asked me, "Do you know the meaning of rationalize? Rational lies."

This insight captures a great deal of truth about why we are untrue. We have our reasons! The difficulty is that many times we do think before we speak (or hit send); we want to communicate the truth, but we let other factors change our minds. Here I invite you to consider twenty rational lies. Do any of these ring true to you? Is this the inner script you speak to yourself and others about why you are less than truthful at times?

• THE FEARFUL: Honestly, I dread the consequences over past missteps, so I cover them up.
• THE SELFISH: What can I say? Lying works to my advantage, advancing my agenda.
• THE EVASIVE: If others don't know what I did wrong, there'll be fewer problems all around.
• THE PRIDEFUL: I need to look better than I am so others will feel good about me and like me.
• THE EXPEDIENT: I lie since it is quicker and easier for me at the moment.
• THE EMOTIONAL: If it feels true, I say it. I don't need all the facts when I feel I'm right.
• THE INATTENTIVE: I didn't know that what I said was inaccurate; everyone makes mistakes.
• THE FLATTERER: I want to be truthful plus tactful, but insincere praise works better for me.
• THE SELF-DELUDED: Some claim I lie to myself. But that's a lie. I'm 100 percent honest with myself.
• THE CHAMELEON: To duck conflict, I bend my beliefs to fit my audience, which pleases them.
• THE ENTRAPPED: It's not my fault. I was lured into swearing secrecy and facilitated a lie.
• THE PROTECTOR: I feel responsible to protect another's interests even if I have to lie to do so.
• THE CHRONIC: I've always lied even when the truth was better. Something comes over me.
• THE COPYCAT: I'm not really interested in lying, but everybody else lies, so I do too.
• THE PERPETUATOR: I lie to stay out ahead of other lies I have told; sadly, lies beget lies.
• THE ASHAMED: I'm a bit humiliated over the bad stuff I've done, so I lie to appear good.
• THE OATH-MAKER: I admit, when hedging, I swear to God so others believe what I'm saying.