I’ve been thinking about this concept for a day straight now.
I don’t think I buy it.
Radical honesty, as portrayed in the article, is about saying all your thoughts.
But it’s the case that almost all our thoughts are unreflective and non-linguistic. Thoughts being what happens in consciousness.
Or if we redefine thoughts as the reflective language sentences in our mind, then I don’t think we engage that hemisphere often at all.
We do so when we answer questions.
But isn’t this impromtu truth?
If someone suddenly asks me what I think about their shirt, depending on my mood and how I felt about that person, I might say ‘it’s great, love it’ or ‘I just threw up in my mouth a little bit’.
Obviously things are biased. But ‘the truth’ really comes out of left field and changes often.
The idea seems to be more about radical opinions in the spur of the moment. Not radical honesty.
Honesty seems to imply something less open ended. We are honest about events. Opinions change quickly.
Anyway I enjoy how the ideas are making me think. I haven’t had much time for reflection as of late so I’m digging the process, as per usual.
And it’s a great conversation topic. I’m trying to use it more and more. Not to be offensive when I feel pissed off.. but also to hold back less, let a bit more out, and forget about the embarrassment associated with the things I think.
Often times they’re a bigger deal in your head than they are anywhere else.
Anyway I’m thinking about getting the book. We’ll see.
