Why Exaggerating or Minimizing the Truth is Like Trying to Shut Out the Sun – Step 4

Elvis Presley on stage with one of his quotes

“We want to tell the simple truth, cut and dried, as quickly as possible. There is always a danger that we will exaggerate … .  After all, we still want to sound good.”  (The Basic Text, p. 33)

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What surprises have you found once you’ve fearlessly searched for your own part in mistakes and bad situations, lately?

OR

How do you show the truth when you feel scared?

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I Hate This Part – Pussycat Dolls (3:37)

Awaken to Truth Healing Theta Hz Meditation (6:30)

English Analysis

In today’s SFZ, we see a common thread: truth demands courage. The Basic Text urges us to reject lies. We must avoid both exaggeration and minimization. Friedrich Nietzsche argued in Beyond Good and Evil that people twist truth to protect their egos. This idea shows up here too. We fear honesty because it exposes our flaws.

The 12 & 12 reminds us to own our mistakes. Carl Jung believed self-reflection brings us closer to wholeness. When we face our anxieties, we accept our limits and power. We become less trapped by fear. The question in the 12 & 12 asks us to act, not just to blame. This mirrors Viktor Frankl’s point in Man’s Search for Meaning. Frankl says we must choose our response when we can’t change events.

Elvis’s line compares truth to the sun. Even when we hide from it, truth remains. Like sunlight under clouds, truth seeps in through cracks. We can either let it shine or live in darkness. Together, these ideas warn us: if we warp the truth, we stay stuck. If we face it, we grow.

Facing the truth never feels easy. Yet, honesty lights our path to freedom. Jung and Frankl remind us that this path runs through our fears. The sun, i.e. truth, burns illusions away. We become stronger when we stand in its light.


SFZ Quotes in Spanish

Exagerar o minimizar la verdad es como intentar bloquear el sol – Paso 4

EXAGERAR O MINIMIZAR NUESTRA PARTE SERÍA DESHONESTO –

“No procrastinamos.” “Queremos decir la simple verdad, clara y directa, lo más rápido posible. Siempre existe el peligro de exagerar nuestros errores. Es igual de peligroso minimizar o racionalizar nuestra parte en situaciones pasadas. Después de todo, todavía queremos sonar bien.” (El Texto Básico, p. 33)

Y AHORA: LA PARTE VALIENTE –

“Puedo preguntarme en qué medida mis propios errores alimentaron mis ansiedades persistentes. Y si las acciones de otros son parte de la causa, ¿qué puedo hacer al respecto? Si no puedo cambiar el estado actual de las cosas, ¿estoy dispuesto a tomar las medidas necesarias para adaptar mi vida a las condiciones tal como son?” (12 y 12, p. 52)

“La verdad es como el sol. Puedes bloquearla por un tiempo, pero no va a desaparecer.”

Elvis Presley (1935 – 1977) cantante estadounidense


Análisis en español

Estos textos muestran una idea común: la verdad exige valentía. El Texto Básico nos pide rechazar la mentira. Debemos evitar exagerar o minimizar. Friedrich Nietzsche, en Más allá del bien y del mal, decía que la gente distorsiona la verdad para proteger su ego. Aquí vemos lo mismo. Tememos la honestidad porque revela nuestras fallas.

El 12 y 12 nos recuerda asumir nuestros errores. Carl Jung creía que la reflexión nos acerca a la integridad. Cuando enfrentamos nuestras ansiedades, aceptamos límites y poder. Así dejamos de ser prisioneros del miedo. La pregunta del 12 y 12 nos invita a actuar, no solo a culpar. Esto refleja lo que Viktor Frankl explica en El hombre en busca de sentido: debemos elegir nuestra respuesta cuando no podemos cambiar los hechos.

La frase de Elvis compara la verdad con el sol. Incluso cuando la escondemos, sigue ahí. Como la luz del sol tras las nubes, la verdad se filtra por las grietas. Podemos dejarla brillar o vivir en la oscuridad. Estos textos nos advierten: si retorcemos la verdad, quedamos atrapados. Si la enfrentamos, crecemos.

Enfrentar la verdad no es fácil. Pero la honestidad ilumina nuestro camino a la libertad. Jung y Frankl nos recuerdan que ese camino pasa por nuestros miedos. El sol—la verdad—quema ilusiones. Nos volvemos más fuertes al pararnos bajo su luz.

¿Cómo muestras la verdad cuando tienes miedo?)

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Comments

7 responses to “Why Exaggerating or Minimizing the Truth is Like Trying to Shut Out the Sun – Step 4”

  1. Ari L Avatar
    Ari L

    When I’m scared, I try still to be vulnerable and share my truth with people. I think in those moments, its the hardest, like 1000 lbs are weighing down on the psyche, but I’ve found that the more I’ve done it, the easier it is, and the relief that comes from it is well worth the vulnerability. And, vulnerability starts to feel liberating.

  2. Eli🌱🫶🏾🫡🪱 Avatar
    Eli🌱🫶🏾🫡🪱

    I find I have had much less of a negative impact on people’s lives than I give myself credit for. Becoming right-sized, I guess.

  3. Sabrina J Avatar
    Sabrina J

    Fear profits a person nothing. 13th Warrior.

    Fear blocks progress and ignoring or running from the problem does not make the problem go away. When I face that which I fear, I have always found the the fear was exaggerated and not near as big of a monster as my mind as made it out to be. Courage is the tool that always allows me to conquer fear.

  4. E-Dawg Avatar
    E-Dawg

    That kind of fear can cause me to put off my inventory. Fear is a lack of faith. There’s no reason for me to be scared with a loving and protecting higher power working in my life as I am working the steps to the best of my ability

  5. Br. Buddha Avatar
    Br. Buddha

    Good morning everyone + happy Sunday. Here is today’s thought. Embrace the work you do in serving God + others. Blessings. BB

  6. Jon G. Avatar
    Jon G.

    This topic really hit home because I am currently working on my 4th step and I have been procrastinating horribly. I have 30 days off from work starting this Thursday and I have promised myself I will use all the free time to work on my inventory–but I have made that promise before. With respect to minimizing or rationalizing my part in my resentments, I too have a tendency to do that but I really want to avoid doing that this time because I believe the 4th column (or my part in the situation) is the most important part of the inventory because I can only change my behavior not the other person involved.

  7. Adam Avatar
    Adam

    I create my own resentments and am certainly willing to work on them. I’ve started listing them so I think that is demonstrating my willingness.

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