by Loralie Lynn

Created on: December 11, 2009   Last Updated: December 12, 2009

Honesty is one of the most important qualities a friend should hold.  An honest friend is one who can be upfront about who they are, what they have done, and what they plan to do in the future. When a friend is honest with you, it's sincere and fairly easy to recognize. Here are ways to identify if a friend is being honest with you so that you can decipher the truth from lies and never feel that your being patronized.

Check your friend's body language to know if they are being honest with you. When a friend is telling the truth, his body language says it all.  He is not afraid to look you in the eyes, stand close to you, keep their body leaned toward you, and/or remain calm.  A friend who is lying tends to act nervous, looks everywhere but at your face, keeps his body distanced from yours, and/or makes little anxious movements with his body.  Speaking the truth should be easy for most people, if they are being honest with you. When a friend is not being truthful, you can see it in the way he moves his body.  Pay attention the next time you want the truth from a friend. See how they react to having to be honest with you. If they appear relaxed, focused on you, and sincere, they are probably telling you the truth.

A friend who is being honest does not give excuses or make lengthy conversation when asked the truth. An honest friend will get right to
the point and tell it like it is. Someone who is lying to you will give you a long version of what should be a short answer. For example, if you ask your friend where he was last night and he quickly and easily responds that he went to a movie with other buddies, he is probably telling you the truth. However, if your friend responds with a long answer such as 'well, my mom wanted me to help paint the bathroom, then I decided to get some dinner at this restaurant, and then my friends called to hang out and play basketball, but instead I decided to rent a movie and stay home, and then I fell asleep so I didn't get your call'.  Chances are, he is not being honest. A truthful answer will come out with ease and no added explanations. A lie is something that people fabricate so they give a long drawn out story to make it seem real. A friend who is being honest just gets straight to the point when asked a question.

Avoidance is a main characteristic of a friend who is not being honest with you. When a friend is telling a lie, he will try to avoid the topic
when asked again. This is because he knows

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>