Deception is one of the quickest ways to gain little things and lose big things.
-Thomas Sowell
Be careful who you trust when you open up. If someone has repeatedly seen the worst in you in the past, but now they are appearing to be kind to you since they heard about your circumstances, it is unlikely that they suddenly see you as having any redeeming qualities. That person is probably not looking for an opportunity to be generous to you, but is instead looking for how your moment can be generous to them.
In addition, if someone’s confidence level does not match their actions and behavior, that is an enormous clue that they are up to no good. If someone is so sure that they know who you are and what you are going through but you know from their comments, perspectives, and other shares that they grasp little to nothing at all related to you, then this person could have a real problem that requires caution from you. You need to recognize this and respond accordingly with your boundaries.
Furthermore, a person who chooses to cultivate a network of friends who are well known for deceiving and manipulating is most likely not distant from that behavior themselves. I am familiar with a person who has an incredible network of high quality friendships built on substance, character, and perpetual showing-upness to each other. When I compare how that person and that network of people relate to each other to the context of an opportunistic person’s pattern of relationships, there is some high contrast going on.
If someone has a continued history of finding it difficult to see you in a positive light, has a level of pride that does not match reality, or keeps company with individuals who are determined to be their worst self, then you need to look out for yourself. There will be some people that the truth will hurt more to see about than others. The truth may hurt, but it can set you free from much worse. You’ve got this!
—
This post is republished on Medium.
—
