People With True Intellectual Honesty Almost Always Say 7 Phrases In Casual Conversaton
fizkes | Shutterstock Only people who have true intellectual honesty are willing to engage in transparent debates about their ideas without trying to manipulate anyone into thinking the same way they do.
When someone holds themselves accountable by facing conflicting opinions and new information with an open mind, they'll almost always say things that make the people they're talking to feel comfortable and heard. If what they believe is worth defending, they'll be willing to risk learning they were actually wrong in order to get to the bottom of the matter.
If someone has true intellectual honesty, they'll use these phrases in almost all of their casual conversations
1. "That wasn't true, sorry"
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Many people tell white lies for the purpose of making themselves comfortable at the expense of someone else. We associate lying with deceit, but sometimes, it's a way of tricking ourselves into thinking everything is okay when it's not. We think that the more we tell ourselves something is true, the more likely it is to be so.
Even people who are truly intellectually honest slip up and do this at times. They'll begin to tell half-truths in conversation as a way of protecting themselves, but the difference is that they go back and correct their mistakes. Instead of shying away from the truth, they face it head-on. No matter how uncomfortable it may be, self-confrontation is one of the best ways to heal. The sooner that you're able to have what might be an awkward conversation about the truth, the sooner you'll be able to have a genuine conversation.
2. "It's not the best possible outcome, but..."
In order to be at peace with yourself, you have to accept that you can't control everything. When you're assessing the possible outcomes to a situation, you may notice that there's a good chance something is about to go sideways. Rather than stressing about it or trying to prevent all possible negative outcomes, people who are intellectually honest embrace the fact that things may not go their way.
By doing so, you're better able to prepare yourself mentally and construct a plan of action. The people who are able to do this are the ones who build the resilience necessary to go farther in life.
3. "I can't do this by myself. Can you help?"
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Being intellectually honest means admitting that you have limitations, both to yourself and others. Let's face it: we're not superheroes. One person can't do everything well, no matter how good you may be at juggling many tasks.
Communicating that you need help is good for you. Regardless of what you may think, it doesn't display weakness. An emotionally intelligent person knows that they aren't always able to tackle things alone, which is when you should rely on help from others when it's available. This can also be a good indicator if you have the right people in your life. If someone isn't willing to help you during your times of struggle, then they don't deserve to see you at your brightest points.
4. "I'm not all that good at this yet"
When speaking about your abilities, it's best to use language that supports a growth mindset rather than a fixed one. Saying "I can't do this" creates the illusion that you will never be able to learn, or that you lack the skills to grow.
A growth mindset helps you to tackle challenging tasks, regardless of whether you know how to solve the problem yet. This keeps us accountable in our growth process, rather than procrastinating and staying in the same fixed position. Using "yet" highlights that you're willing to make changes when necessary. So when intellectually honest people mess up, they take it as a learning experience rather than a reason to beat themselves up.
5. "I could have done better"
Accountability is one of the top values people with intellectual honesty share. Instead of excusing themselves for putting off tasks or putting in less than their full effort, they stay diligent and call out their own behavior. In order to protect ourselves and our energy, we'll often put lower levels of effort into relationships or tasks than we know is required.
Some people excuse this as a way to preserve their mental health, when in reality, it's gradually programming them to give less than they're capable of. It's hard to take steps forward without getting more organized. Intellectually honest people want to unlock the best version of themselves, so they challenge themselves to keep doing better.
6. "This makes me uncomfortable"
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If you're struggling with becoming intellectually honest, one of the best ways to develop it is by identifying your triggers and communicating them out loud. Triggers are personal, and you may shy away from them without noticing. Acknowledging that something makes you uncomfortable will help you face problems head-on, instead of constantly running away.
Learning to identify your emotional triggers typically takes a few steps. The first is to label your emotions. Instead of jumping to the conclusion that you're being sensitive, name the various feelings you're having and why. It's also important to then recognize how this is affecting you and whether it's a pattern. If so, then this issue is likely a trigger.
When you're finally able to name those triggers, you're able to sit in the discomfort, reducing the intensity of your reactions in the future. While it may be scary at first, it can lead to much more meaningful conversations with people in the future.
7. "No, thank you"
Boundaries can be the protective shield that prevents a casual conversation from becoming a tense argument. People with true intellectual honesty are great at establishing boundaries in order to protect themselves from unnecessary stress. Instead of caving to other people's manipulative tactics, they're not afraid to speak up on their own behalf and say no.
Saying no isn't a bad thing. It lets the other person know that you're not comfortable with something. It doesn't have to be rude. Just be clear and concise about what you want and do not want, and speak your truth regardless of how you think they might react.
Gabrielle Mattes is a writer working towards a Creative Writing degree. Her focus is lifestyle, wellness, human interest, and relationships.
