Make Keeping Secrets a Little Easier by Expanding Your Understanding of Honesty
Keeping secrets often feels like a lie of omission, and it puts psychological pressure on you. To reduce the burden on yourself, expand your understanding of what it means to be honest.
Withholding information from someone may seem dishonest, but it is not necessary. After all, they are not your beans to spill. Art Markman, Ph.D., professor of psychology and marketing at the University of Texas, explains that you can redefine your idea of honesty without compromising your integrity. You can still be yourself and have a good relationship. The important thing is that you acknowledge that not all secrets are bad and that withholding information may be more beneficial than you think. Plus, as Markman notes, keeping secrets is often relatively inexpensive as long as you don’t drive yourself crazy. Of course, if you want to give yourself more moral support when someone tells you a secret, explain to them beforehand that you won’t lie if asked about it. This way you won’t blurt out the secret, but you won’t be forced to hold back either.
This is the secret of keeping secrets | Fast Company