What’s is the biggest lie we are told?

[Unknown Op]

Growing up there were so many lies which most of us believed not because we understood anything because it was what has been said any generally acceptable in the society where we found ourselves we have nothing to figure out since the majority of the people already accepted the fact. First they made us to understand that having so many children shows that you are wealthy, whatever your parents tells you is the truth and nothing but the truth but right now we now understand that most of those things are lies. Your number of children has nothing to do with your wealth and our parents can lie to make us do what they what us to do we now have the right to research and discover the truth by ourselves unlike before.

There is a difference between a lie and a belief. There are so many things that are being told to us by our parents or elders, they were never intended to deceive us. They were based on their own personal experiences and reality that they have been through their life for example, idea of having many children in a different society it is considered that a large family can contribute to household by providing more labour, support and people will become more stable and wealthy.

That doesn't mean that this idea applies to the whole universe today. Today, it is very difficult and expensive to raise a kid as economic conditions have changed drastically over the past few years. I also agree that we are lucky enough to have access to information by following few steps as compared to previous generation, but it does not mean that all the information that is present on the internet is accurate and 100% true, we need to verify it before believing it and spreading it.

[Sticky Bomb]

The biggest lie I was told from childhood was "everything would be fine".
I would prefer it if I were told the truth that life has its own plans for us. There are ups and downs, good times and bad times, rainy days and sunny days.
Some days we will have less, while some days we have more. At times it is better, other times it is worse. This is the reality of life. Adulting shouldn't be lying that things will always be fine because, as kids, we grew up believing it before we realised it.

This is not a lie, but it was not explained properly/ It validates the importance of maintaining a positive mindset which attracts positive results. It reinforces faith in you when almost all hope is lost. It is a valid means of deceiving your own subconscious mind not to always be trapped in the negativity of life. In life, every belief we hold strong has a way of being reflected in its physical form whether positive or negative. if you hold this belief that everything would be fine, everything life throws at you wouldn't bring you down because your positive mindset would always work in your favour, even though it might take a while to manifest.

Genuine happiness is built on positivity, faith, discipline, persistence and desire for good things. If you can combine these five and live by it, especially discipline. You would live a happier life because life is more beautiful when approached with a positive mindset

[Dreadboost]

This is not a lie, but it was not explained properly/ It validates the importance of maintaining a positive mindset which attracts positive results. It reinforces faith in you when almost all hope is lost. It is a valid means of deceiving your own subconscious mind not to always be trapped in the negativity of life. In life, every belief we hold strong has a way of being reflected in its physical form whether positive or negative. if you hold this belief that everything would be fine, everything life throws at you wouldn't bring you down because your positive mindset would always work in your favour, even though it might take a while to manifest.

Genuine happiness is built on positivity, faith, discipline, persistence and desire for good things. If you can combine these five and live by it, especially discipline. You would live a happier life because life is more beautiful when approached with a positive mindset

I partially agree with you.

It is either right or wrong. What people like me wants to hear is the realty not promises. Don't sell me hope when it is not certain. In other words, I don't blame Agbamoni for realizing how false that statement is.

A person may be faking his happiness which is a reason why it is preferable to be contend with what you have, to avoid continuously believing things will be alright from people who wont show support to make it right.

[Doll2233]

The media have brainwashed us into believing that beauty is having a slim stature, radiant skin, graceful movement, and so on. This made me focus on women with such descriptions. I have grown to know that true beauty is not determined by just physical appearance. Everyone should have their own benchmark for classifying beauty, not from the media or an organisation. Now, I try to get close to people to observe their behaviour instead of depending solely on physical appearance.

I agree with your view that media often tries to promote narrow definition of beauty. I also think that we should not assume it has complete control over how people see other. There are different factors including personal experience, culture, and family values, they also shape what we find others attractive. It is also true that we often hear this quote that first impression is last impression. First impressions are basically based on appearance, real beauty becomes clear only after getting to know someone's character. Both appearance and personality are combined together.

[Pi-network314159]

Every individual has their own time, and a different journey. As I have grown to understand life, life is all about balance. If you have money that you can take care of yourself and your family, you have peace of mind, and you have good people around you, you have really achieved a lot of things, that rich people are still looking for.  So, instead of chasing after things that society is  recognized as success, the best thing is to define your success with what gives you fulfillment.

You are actually right though, what I have come to understand is that the society make life look like a competition and who is not in the race or line doesn't fall to the category of human. Some says if you are a woman and never got married by 25 -30years then count yourself as an outdated stock while as a man you haven't achieve anything till 40years then you may probably not be able to achieve anything in life. They tag it "a fool at fourty is a fool forever". how do you explain that, isn't that insane? How can lack of achievement at early age makes a person fool forever. Life success is not measure by age but time and opportunity, life is all about timing, if your time has come, whatever you do will definitely work as planned but that doesn't mean failure.

[Queen uloma]

The media have brainwashed us into believing that beauty is having a slim stature, radiant skin, graceful movement, and so on. This made me focus on women with such descriptions. I have grown to know that true beauty is not determined by just physical appearance. Everyone should have their own benchmark for classifying beauty, not from the media or an organisation. Now, I try to get close to people to observe their behaviour instead of depending solely on physical appearance.

I agree with your view that media often tries to promote narrow definition of beauty. I also think that we should not assume it has complete control over how people see other. There are different factors including personal experience, culture, and family values, they also shape what we find others attractive. It is also true that we often hear this quote that first impression is last impression. First impressions are basically based on appearance, real beauty becomes clear only after getting to know someone's character. Both appearance and personality are combined together.

For me, beauty doesn’t have a particular standard that everyone must follow. Media may influence our belief but the way we were taught, the people around us and our personal experience shape what we find attractive.  Appearance can make people to notice you at first but it depends on your character and how you treat people that makes the impression at last.  You may be beautiful outside but good character is what really defines a true beauty.

[Smack That Ace]

Growing up we were told that certain things automatically leads to happiness, success like getting a degree, owing a house early, having a high paid job, getting married before a certain age, buying luxury cars and many more but as people grow and gain experience, many begin to question those beliefs.

Personally, I’ve noticed that some goals looks just Impressive form the outside but don’t always improve someone’s quality of life. On that other hand, some simple things like having peace of mind, good health, financial stability, meaningful relationship or having control over your own time often becomes much more valuable.

I think our biggest mistake is to equate goal with good life. Degree, high-paying job, house, marriage none of these are inherently bad. Rather, income and education are related to our health and wellbeing. But if we make them into checklist and think that achieving them will make me happy, then that is the problem.

I am a little skeptical about home ownership in particular. Owning your own home can provide security. But there are also the pressures of mortgage, maintenance and many more which mean less freedom.

The most valuable thing to me is autonomy. how I use my time, where I live, who I live with and how I make financial decision should be in my own hand. And if money can give me freedom to get out of bad job or bad situation, then its value is much greater.

You have to understand that the same milestone can improve one person's life and make another person's life miserable. The problem is not really the milestones. It's blindly chasing them.

[Bigthraex]

One of the biggest lies we were told growing up was that you have to study professional courses like medicine, Pharmacy, Law, Accountancy to be successful and wealthy. We have grown to see successful people across different disciplines. A particular course or discipline doesn't determine success in life. Success and wealth depends on many things it could be skill, investment, ideas, business plan, career path and inheritance too. One's success and wealth isn't tied to any course or dislike but to the choiced they make and path they choose to explore.

[Iranus]

One of the biggest lies we were told growing up was that you have to study professional courses like medicine, Pharmacy, Law, Accountancy to be successful and wealthy. We have grown to see successful people across different disciplines. A particular course or discipline doesn't determine success in life. Success and wealth depends on many things it could be skill, investment, ideas, business plan, career path and inheritance too. One's success and wealth isn't tied to any course or dislike but to the choiced they make and path they choose to explore.

That isnt necessarily a lie, and it is not necessarily wrong either. Those professions might not make you a billionaire, but they still provide a decent income and a more stable life compared to many other jobs.

Not to mention, there is a huge difference between our grandparents' and parents' generation and ours. It could be because they did not have the same access to knowledge and information that we have today. They are simply giving advice based on what they know and what they have experienced.

Therefore, we cannot assume that they lied to us.

[Vod]

When I was young, I heard a lot that I must "respect elders", elders must have an upper hand, they are wise and I always must listen and trust what they say. Right now I can say that it might also be a lie. Not every person who lived to old age is smart. A lot of elders use that "respect elders" and "age factor" as advantage to manipulate youth, and get what they want in unfair way. A lot of times I have heard elders you "you must" (you must let, you must go, I must go be first and etc) when they address to youngsters, especially to those who they dont know. Should not respect be something that you must earn first, than something you get automatically only because you are old?

There is a difference between "respect" and "old and wise".  You're right that aging does not necessarily make you smart, but you still have to make a journey they have already made.   That is why you should respect them for being an elder, and not for what they learned becoming an elder.   If we didn't have the internet or even urban centers, these fables could save your life, but today people get info from their friends and not society itself.

The biggest lie to humanity is religion.   Religion promises a backup plan.   If an uncle had a luxurious home in the mountains he didn't need, why would I need to care about my life in the suburbs?   Or what people around me thought?   They'll be wiped out in the heat while I'll be comfortable forever.   

Anyone who really believed that would want to relocate as soon as possible, and take others with them in the name of compassion and love.  After all, God made humans the only species that needs to pay to live, so heaven will probably be amazing! 

[Bigthraex]

This one is funny, where I am from it was told to female children growing up that if a man touches them they would get pregnant. This statement was used to create fear so that female kids don't let any man or boy harras, molest or take advantage of their innocence and naivitity. Though better approaches have been adopted like sex education and explaining the risk and repercussions involved.