From Lies to Truth

A Companion Resource Guide from Mind & Faith Matters

 

Episode Summary:

In this episode, Dr. Cory Potter explores how honesty and deception shape our emotional, spiritual, and relational health. Also, we look at how easy it is to slip into half-truths or quiet edits, because we want to avoid conflict, protect ourselves, or just keep things smooth. But over time, even those little tweaks can add up. They can make us feel distant, stressed, and disconnected from who we really are. This episode explores what lies do to our minds and relationships, how truth actually lightens the load, and why is a path toward peace, self-respect, and real connection with God and others.

 

Key Takeaways:

  • We lie more often than we think, usually to avoid discomfort or protect our image

  • Lying activates the brain’s stress center and can dull our internal response to guilt

  • Even small lies carry weight, creating emotional and relational distance

  • Telling the truth frees up mental and emotional space

  • Honesty builds trust and helps us feel more secure and grounded

  • Scripture invites us into truth that is full of grace, not pressure

 

Research + Psychology:

  • Most people lie once or twice a day, often without realizing it

  • Repeated dishonesty makes us less sensitive to guilt over time

  • Lying drains our cognitive energy as we try to manage what we said and to whom

  • Committing to honesty is linked with lower stress, better sleep, improved relationships, and higher life satisfaction

  • Integrity creates inner alignment, which helps reduce anxiety and emotional fatigue

 

Scripture References:

  • Proverbs 10:9 – “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.”

  • John 14:6 – Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

  • Matthew 5:37 – “Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’”

  • John 8:32 – “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

 

Reflection Questions:

  1. Where in your life do you tend to soften or edit the truth?

  2. What emotions come up when you think about being fully honest with someone?

  3. Is there a place where pretending has started to feel easier than being real?

  4. What would it look like to tell the truth to yourself this week?

  5. Where do you need the reminder that God sees it all and still stays close?

 

Practice This Week:

  • Start with Honesty: Begin your day with one sentence of uncensored truth in prayer

  • Notice the Edits: Pay attention to when you’re tempted to change or hide part of what you say

  • Let One Thing Be Real: Pick one relationship or conversation this week where you’ll choose truth over performance

  • Check In at Night: Ask yourself, “Did I live honestly today? Where did I hold back?”

 

Related Resources:

  • The Honest Truth About Dishonesty by Dan Ariely

  • The Soul of Shame by Curt Thompson, MD

  • Article: “Why We Lie” – National Geographic, June 2017

  • HeadsUpGuys.org – Mental health tools that highlight the importance of emotional honesty

 

Conversation Starter:

Ask a trusted friend or spouse:
“Do you think I ever hide how I’m really doing? What would it look like to be more open with each other?”

 

Closing Prayer from the Episode:

“God, thank You that You know us fully, and still choose us. Help us be people of integrity, not just when it’s easy, but when it matters most. Give us courage to speak the truth in love, and the humility to receive it when we need to. We want our lives to reflect who You are: full of grace, and full of truth. Amen.”