,

We’re clearly both as dedicated to truth as one another…

YOUR SPYGLASS OF VEHEMENT VERACITY

My friend, meet your Spyglass of Vehement Veracity! I’ve prepared it thoroughly for your ownership and cleared away all emotional traces of its past owner so that nothing is lost in translation or confused between you.

As you know, you’ll use this Spyglass every time you want to determine if someone is lying or telling the truth – or whether a particular situation can/can’t be trusted.

(I’d recommend reserving use for a maximum of twice a month if I were you. There are no hard and fast rules about this, but I feel it’s best to keep the powers of the Spyglass for the moments that REALLY matter in case overuse begins to dull them with time!)

The process of “figuring out” is also known as the completion of a Confirmation of Vehement Veracity…

1. Print your Spyglass image out, or have it pulled up and visible throughout (no screen sleep mode) on a portable device like a tablet or phone. Place the image, in either form, in the center of an otherwise empty table. 
2. If you’re viewing the image on your phone and also planning to play the Song of Stolen Truth (below) on your phone, start playing it before you pull up the Spyglass to avoid interruptions.

1. If you’ve printed the image or are using two different devices, set the device that will play the Song of Stolen Truth (above) on the table just beside your Spyglass and hit play.
2. Sit down at the table. Holding your dominant palm against the Spyglass, close your eyes.
3. Let the soundscape begin to wash over and consume you. Find calm, peace and relaxation – a respite from whatever else you’ve experienced that day – before you start to direct your thoughts anywhere with intention.
4. When you feel calm enough, begin to think only of the situation or person that brought you to the Spyglass. Eyes still closed, concentrate on the lie. What are you trying to determine? Where is the truth you seek?
5. Sitting there, fully attuned, the answer will come to your gut first. It will rise up in your chest. Then, it will rush into your mind, and you’ll know. One way or another, you’ll understand.
6. Don’t worry if you’re sitting for a long time before the gut feeling comes. There is no timeline for this – there’s just what feels right. 
7. If you’re really struggling to find your path, repeat the relaxation process and then refocus on the issue a second time. 
8. When you confirm what you needed to from this process, slowly lower the volume of the Song of Stolen Truth to nothing before you stop it. Then store your Spyglass somewhere safe, out of harm’s way, ready for next time.

This 10-step process will tell you more than you could anticipate on this side of the fence. Once you’ve been through the Confirmation, even once, you’ll know what I mean.

And once you’ve used the Confirmation and Spyglass multiple times? 

You’ll be living far more honestly, avoiding the holes and pitfalls that liars used to trip you into with reckless abandon. Especially if you’re simultaneously implementing my FREE Earnest Guidelines for Honest Living…

ELISSA’S EARNEST GUIDELINES FOR HONEST LIVING

Some of these Guidelines you may already follow. You may struggle with some of them or feel they don’t work for you. That is okay. Everything is okay. All I ask from you now is an open mind and an understanding that I live by these for a reason…

1. Honest and transparent need not equal blunt and cruel – I can’t count the number of times someone has been mean to me or a loved one, then couched it with, “I’m just being honest.” That’s not what I am about,         – and it shouldn’t be what you are about, either. You can be straightforward and truthful without choosing your words sharply or intentionally twisting the verbal knife. 
2. You cannot (and should not) control the consequences of your honesty – Though we know that honesty is a gift and a blessing, not everyone feels that way. Don’t expect your attitude to be universally appreciated, and don’t seek to control the responsive feelings of other people. Not your monkeys, not your circus. 
3. There is a time and a place to say your piece – Though I constantly endeavor to be as genuine as possible, I don’t overstep the mark in times of crisis, emergency or deep sorrow. This is perhaps the only time I’d advocate for silence over speaking up. Wait for things to settle, and when they do, feel out at that stage if you still have something you’d like to say. 
4. It is not selfish to protect your peace – When you’re honest about what you can’t do/don’t want to do/will never do again, you’ll always face pushback. I, myself, have been called selfish for setting boundaries regarding my own time and behavior. But I know I’m not. Know you’re not either,        . Hold that truth close.
5. Keep kindness at the heart of your truthfulness, NOT being “right” – We tell the truth because we know that, in the end, it is the kindest thing to do. Every pretty lie grows uglier and uglier over time. We do not tell the truth because we must always be correct. We do not say things to throw them in the faces of the “less informed.” Intention means a lot. Pay attention to yours.
6. Respect, reverently, the line between truth and opinion – Somewhat connected to guideline five, I try to check in with myself as much as possible about where the line between fact and feeling lies and if I’m ever in danger of crossing it. You can be honest about your feelings, too, of course! But you must present them AS feelings!

That concludes my Earnest Guidelines – and thus, everything I promised to share with you today.

From the Song of Stolen Truth to the Spyglass to this advice that I, myself, follow, I hope I’ve given you all you need to pursue an honest life of your own. To stop being defined by lies – whether your own or other people’s…

Your loving friend,