Everyone always says that honesty is the best policy.  Being honest can be difficult sometimes though.

Telling someone something that they might not want to hear can be hard to do..

No one wants to say something that will hurt someone else.

Because of this, people may wonder if they should say anything at all.

Should you be honest and tell someone something even if it might not be taken positively, or should you avoid saying anything altogether?

It depends on the situation

There are some times when something needs to be said, and there are others when it is best to say nothing at all.

For instance, let’s say your friend is talking to you about their goal to become a successful actor.

You don’t believe they are very good at acting, but you may not want to say that.

So you question what to do.

You debate whether to tell him his acting is bad, or not.

In this particular situation, it depends on if your friend wants to know what you think of his acting or not.

If your friend asks you how good you think their acting is, then it is best, to be honest with them about what you think.

BUT

If all they do is tell you that they want to be an actor, unless you feel compelled otherwise, it is not necessary to tell them your thoughts.

Unless they ask you for your opinion, you do not have to give it.

You CAN give it, but because you were not directly asked your opinion, you can avoid any potential conflict or embarrassment.

If you do, however, feel the need to give your feedback there are certain steps you can take to make sure the discussion goes as well as possible.

How to avoid hurting someone

• Plan out what you will say beforehand

If it is at all possible, it is best to plan out what you will say before you do anything.

Give yourself time, so you can figure out exactly what you need to say, and how to say it.

• Consider their feelings

Realize that, the person you are talking to has feelings, so it is best to be compassionate towards them.

Assure them that even though you may be telling them something they do not want to hear, you acknowledge how they feel and that your intention is, to be honest not cruel or insensitive.

Helpful tips

1. Take the situation into account.
2. If it is necessary to tell someone something, always be truthful,
3. Plan out what you will say, and how you will say it.
4. Consider the person’s feelings

Conclusion

Telling someone something that they don’t want to hear is difficult. No one wants to say something that may not be taken well, especially if it is to someone that you care about

However

Sometimes even if it may be difficult, it is necessary to say something.

If it is something that needs to be said, then you might should say it, because being honest with someone you care about is better than saying nothing at all.

Even if it doesn’t spare their feelings, they will probably respect you more for being honest than if you kept quiet.