"Siempre di la verdad. Así, no tienes que recordar lo que dijiste."

Being honest is the simplest way to live a stress-free life. When you always speak the truth, you never have to worry about keeping track of what you said. There's no need to juggle multiple stories or remember which version you told to whom. It's straightforward and liberating.

The idea behind this advice is timeless. Think back to the days before written records. Imagine a small village where everyone knows everyone else's business. If you told a lie, it wouldn't take long for someone to catch on. Your credibility would be shot, and trust once lost is hard to regain. This wisdom has always been relevant because human nature hasn’t changed much. We still value honesty and integrity.

Let's look at a real-life application. Picture a student, Alex, who cheats on an exam. He tells his friends he got a high score because he studied hard. His teacher asks him, and he claims he studied at the library. Now, he has to remember these stories and who he told what. The next time an exam rolls around, he's stressed out, not just about the test, but also about maintaining his façade. Eventually, the truth comes out, as it often does, and Alex faces even harsher consequences than if he had just been honest from the start.

What can we learn from Alex? Simple: honesty really is the best policy. When you're truthful, there's no web of lies to untangle. Life becomes less complicated. If you make a mistake, own up to it. People are generally forgiving if you're sincere and upfront. They appreciate honesty because it builds trust and respect.

Imagine a workplace scenario. You're part of a team working on a big project. One of your tasks is to complete a report by a certain deadline. But things come up—life happens, and you miss the deadline. Instead of fabricating an elaborate excuse, you tell your boss the truth: you underestimated the time it would take, and you’re sorry. Your boss might be disappointed, but they’ll appreciate your honesty. More importantly, they know they can trust you in the future. Contrast this with a scenario where you lie about why you missed the deadline—a lie that might eventually be uncovered, leading to distrust and possibly jeopardizing your job.

To apply this principle in your own life, start small. Practice being honest about the little things. If you’re late to a meeting, instead of blaming traffic, just say you left home too late. If you're in a habit of small fibs, it might feel uncomfortable at first. But over time, you'll notice a shift. You'll feel lighter, less anxious about keeping stories straight. People will likely respond positively—they'll see you as trustworthy and genuine.

Think about a time when you were caught in a lie. Maybe it was something minor, like telling your friend you couldn't meet them because you were busy, but really, you just wanted to stay in. When they found out you weren’t actually busy, it probably caused a bit of tension. What if you had just said, "Hey, I'm feeling really wiped out today and need some downtime"? Your friend might have been a little disappointed, but they'd likely understand and appreciate your honesty.

In essence, telling the truth simplifies life. It builds trust, reduces stress, and helps you maintain clear, honest relationships. So next time you're tempted to bend the truth, remember—keeping things straight is way easier when there's only one story to tell.