Figure out why you lie and who you lie to. We've all lied at one time or another, to different people, to ourselves, and for different reasons.[1] But coming up with a systematic plan for becoming more honest will be difficult unless you try to define those reasons and those people for yourself.

• Lies to make ourselves look better might include exaggerations, embellishments, and flat-out tall-tales we tell to others, and ourselves, to make ourselves feel better about our inadequacies. When you're unhappy about something, it's much easier to fill it in with lies than tell the truth.[2]

• We lie to peers we think are better than us, because we want them to respect us as we respect them. Unfortunately, being dishonest is disrespectful in the long run. Give people more credit for their ability to empathize and understand you on a deeper level.