For many years, in my late teens and early 20s, I had a horrible problem with lying. I lied about school, about work, about finances, everything. I lied to my parents, my friends, my girlfriend. It cost me everything. Every lie got bigger and bigger. I realized that all I had to do was stack the lies on top of each other. My “truth debt” as my dad later called it, finally came due after years of deception. The desperation I felt as the walls closed in on me is a feeling I never want to feel again. As a former liar, I recognize my behavior in the elite. The deflection, the nervous laughter, the indignation when asked to tell the truth, the insecurity. The tells are all there.

The famous saying “a lie can get halfway around the world before the truth can get its pants on” leaves out an important caveat.

You cannot outrun the truth. It is a force of nature. It is the ultimate defense.

Keep the faith.