#secrets #HidingThings #information #stress
Hiding things takes great effort.
One has to make sure that wherever he or she hides something, no one else can find it.
Also, one has to make sure that there is no other source for whatever is being hidden.
If there is demand for exposure, people will hunt relentlessly for it.
Many times, the information comes out in pieces, sometimes out of context. Saying repeatedly that it is not true is not a solution.
Any crisis manager would advise that if there is something bad that one wants to hide, and there is demand for transparency, it’s better to get it out, take the lumps and move on.
If the lumps are severe, they likely would be more severe if the exposure were delayed.
For many, keeping secrets causes insomnia. It’s tough to sleep under that much pressure.
Secrets – particularly those for which there is a large demand for transparency – cause often immeasurable stress.
Certainly, some things should be kept secret. Parts of one’s everyday life should not be displayed for public scrutiny.
But, other secrets, particularly those of prominent or privileged people, should be exposed.
The consequences of some actions can have real victims, many of whom will never get back what may have been taken from them.
They also may never get over it. Their only solace could be transparency and accountability for those who wronged them.
Never underestimate the healing power of transparency and accountability.
Though some secrets are harmless, even joyous – surprising a spouse with an anniversary trip, for example – many secrets can be devastating.
Keeping secrets can create corruption. When they do, the victims of the corruption suffer.
The public square has very little room for secrets – good or bad. In the public square, knowing that a secret exists enhances the demand for transparency.
When we know something, but don’t know everything, as humans we usually do not stop looking until we know everything. Once we know everything, we can determine any accountability that’s required.
We cannot determine accountability until we know what, or whom, should be accountable.
Almost everyone is keeping a secret. Most are harmless. Some are fun. Some are even proper to keep.
Keeping a secret in which there were victims is not proper. It is also very difficult when demand for exposure is great.
When you have a secret, determine whether it is harmless, fun and whom it may be hurting. Then, decide whether the stress of keeping it is worth it. More importantly, determine whether its exposure could contribute to healing.
Peter