鈥淣o legacy is so rich as honesty.鈥� 鈥揥illiam Shakespeare
Recently I have been aware of the role of truth telling in patient care. The truth heals, but it is uncomfortable, which is why we go to great lengths to avoid it.
Truth often needs to be revealed to us by someone else. This is why having long-term, loving and challenging relationships is a critical part of maturation.
My husband does this for me when we share a 鈥榗ompliment and critique鈥� in the evenings. It is a great gift, even though it is often very painful.
Sometimes this gift is not given to us, or we repeatedly reject truth. For these times, we eventually end up sick or at a doctor.
In a聽naturopathic clinic, patients present with issues of headaches, GI upset or 鈥榮tress.鈥� Within a short time, it becomes apparent that their issues are actually shame, guilt, loneliness or long-suppressed disappointment, all stemming from a lack of truth.
Per Sigmund Freud, 鈥渂eing entirely honest with oneself is a good exercise.鈥� I believe this 鈥榞ood exercise鈥� can have a larger impact than any naturopathic modality I offer.
To demonstrate this, I intended to relay a recent patient encounter. Unfortunately, as I did, I realized it might violate the confidentiality laws to which I am bound.
Since legal fees are burdensome, I will instead use the time to turn the painful eye inward and reflect on the areas of my life in which I am not facing the truth.
I can attest as a friend, wife, neighbor and (especially for a) future doctor, that it is critical to heed the famous instruction of Matthew 7:5, and understand that I聽am the hypocrite referred to who must 鈥渇irst take the log out of your own eye; and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother鈥檚 eye.鈥�
To that regard, and as a call to adventure, Jordan Peterson says it best: 鈥淲hatever happens as a consequence of telling the truth is the best thing that can happen.鈥�
What a fearsome proposition! Do you heed the call? I certainly don鈥檛, but I desire to and aim to get closer daily.
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