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The wrong order -

We’ve all seen people do this in a way that makes us cringe, but there’s a polite way to do it that will ensure you’re getting exactly what you’re paying for without causing a scene. Don’t be bitter your entire meal just because you were afraid to speak up about an honest mistake!

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Not enjoying work -

Look, everyone around us is glamorizing the grind, making it seem like working overtime and having three side gigs is the norm, but in reality work will always be just that: work. It’s not that fun! And that’s okay.

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If you don’t want to go out -

Some people (extroverts) sometimes won’t understand how a night in eating takeout food and watching TV could be more fun than going out to a party, but instead of making excuses or being dragged out against your wishes, let’s start flat-out saying, “No, thank you.”

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Healing - Many people think healing happens in a linear fashion, that with more time one must necessarily be increasingly healed, but in fact healing is far from linear. There is no real closure and we’re really only hurting ourselves and others when we close the conversation for old wounds.

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Physical satisfaction -

Communicating your needs in regards to sex can be an essential pillar of a relationship. People need to be more honest about when they’re not in the mood, what they like, and what they don’t like, so that frustration and confusion can be avoided.

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Having not seen/read something - Sometimes we feel pressured to say that we’ve watched a film or read a book that we haven’t because we’re afraid of how it will make us seem. But that can easily lead to embarrassing moments and stops you from having a more interesting conversation.

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Gifts we actually want -

No more of this coy refusal to say what we want, followed up by pretending to like the gift we really don’t. Let’s stop the guessing game and the piles of unwanted gifts.

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Pet peeves -

Because they seem like small annoyances, it can be easy to convince yourself that you don’t need to say them out loud. But when it builds up over time, especially in relationships, it can explode at both an irrational moment and in intensity, so tell your loved one they chew too loud sooner rather than later!

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When you don’t know -

It’s okay to not know every answer to every question in the world! Many people try to pretend like they know and offer incomplete or misleading responses, when really the better option is to say you don’t know so that you can find the right answer.

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When you’re not interested -

Whether you’re leading people on, wasting your own time with niceties, not getting the message across with body language, or ghosting someone, the better option is always to say outright, and politely, that you’re just not interested.

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Jealousy - Jealousy, particularly in relationships, takes harmful forms and comes out as arguments or bad moods or revenge-like behavior when not expressed healthily. It’s not embarrassing to be jealous, and any couple will improve if it becomes something you can talk about openly.

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Your ETA -

If you know you’re going to be late because you've just gotten out of the shower and whoever you're meeting is arriving at the agreed location, don’t tell them you’re in traffic. Let’s all start making plans at realistic times for ourselves, shall we?

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How we achieved success -

Young people tend to be mystified by the process of starting a career and it’s because so many people are secretive about how they started. Cut through the fear of competition and help others get started by being honest about your first steps.

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Hurt feelings -

We often pretend we don’t care as a defense mechanism, but it’s only hurting you more in the long run. Being honest when someone hurts you can actually bring you closer, whereas hiding the pain will push you apart.

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Monogamy (or the lack of) -

Whether it’s at the beginning of a romance or 50 years in, it’s good to keep the conversation of whether you want to be monogamous or not open and respectful. Monogamy isn’t for everyone, and much heartbreak could be avoided with a little honesty.

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Giving friends advice -

Friends are supposed to be there for each other, and when they’re asking for advice they’re not asking for you to tell them the easiest thing to hear. The reason you are friends is because they trust you and respect your opinion, so tell them the truth: they should not get back with their ex.

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Age -

Sure, youth has been put on a pedestal in many cultures, but there is so much value and beauty in aging!

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Periods -

Despite the fact that half the world’s population experiences menstruation—and with that cramps, nausea, mood swings, etc.—we are weirdly secretive about them. Being honest about your period isn’t a weakness, rather it’s quite impressive that a person can go on with daily life while dealing with all of that! And some people have worse periods than others, meaning they might have to skip out on work or plans occasionally. This should be openly discussed across genders.

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When you're wrong -

We all make mistakes, that’s why there are erasers on the ends of pencils! Instead of deluding yourself and encouraging more dishonest behavior to somehow frame yourself as not wrong, accept the truth and you’ll find that it wasn’t nearly so bad as you imagined.

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An offensive family member -

Because we don’t get to choose our family, we often brush offensive things family members do under the carpet for the sake of not ruining gatherings. But imagine if you were driving everyone nuts and no one told you? Just try to phrase it in a constructive way.

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When you’re sick -

We’re all learning how important it is to stay home when we’re sick, but it’s not built into many of our work cultures, what with limited sick days and insufficient compensation and the need to constantly prove ourselves at our jobs. But that mindset keeps people sick longer, causes others to get sick, and costs companies in productivity anyway.

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Needing help - For some reason (social media, we’re looking at you!), we’ve all got it into our heads that we need to be skilled at everything all the time. It shouldn’t be embarrassing to ask for help, and in fact just saying your struggles out loud could be enough to receive some aid. 

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Your mental health - Instead of the canned “I’m fine, how are you?” response, try to offer a little candid slice of how you’re really feeling. These days, everyone is going through something, so it’s nice to get a little support wherever you can.

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Guilty pleasures -

We can sometimes feel like the things we like are embarrassing, from a type of music to an unconventional hobby. But if you keep them a secret, you risk never finding people who will connect with you on those fronts, missing an opportunity for deeper conversations about what matters to you.

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Money -

This is especially true in relationships, as it’s very common for partners to lie about finances. But being honest about money is a lot like being honest about sex in that the more you avoid the uncomfortable conversations, the more problems you’re going to have in the future.

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When your plate is full -

We all want to be superheroes, but unfortunately we’re just mortals and we have limits to how much we can take on. It’s easier to say yes to extra tasks and responsibilities, but we should try to say no when we’re at our max.

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Workplace suggestions -

Because of the ranking order in an office, many lower-level employees may refrain from offering suggestions when they see something wrong because they’re worried of looking insubordinate to their superiors. Instead of complaining among colleagues about counterproductive or nonsensical elements of the job, an open dialogue should be encouraged–everyone will benefit.

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Questions that are too personal -

If you’re at your office happy hour and colleagues are asking things that cross your personal boundaries, remember that you’re actually not obliged to be friends with them and you don’t owe them answers. You’re allowed to decline an answer or request that you keep things professional.

See also: The biggest lies you were told as a kid that you still believe

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