Sometimes, lying can feel like a lifesaver. It can be an escape route when you want to do something important but don’t have the confidence or the freedom to be honest. When the truth seems too risky or too harsh, a small lie might feel like the only way to protect yourself or keep moving forward. But is it really okay to lie for a reason? Or is it just an excuse we tell ourselves to avoid facing the hard truth?
I have a personal experience that made me ask these questions. It was when I had just graduated and started working at a table water company. The company was always busy, producing water every day. The workers were only allowed one day off in a week. The job was very tiring and stressful, but it was paying my bills, so I kept going. I was frustrated sometimes, but I did not want to leave the job until I found a better one.
One day, my friend sent me a job advert on WhatsApp. I opened the link and saw that I qualified to apply. The job sounded good and I was very interested. I applied for the job and after some days, I received an email telling me that I would write their entry examination in one month. I was excited, but the date of the exam was near, and I searched the roaster and saw that I would be at work that very day.
I thought hard about what to do. If I told my boss the truth that I wanted to go for the exam, they would never allow me to leave work. The company was very strict, and they had a rule that workers must provide a doctor’s report if they said they were sick. Without that, they would not believe you and might even punish you by deducting it from your salary. I knew they would not accept my reason for leaving. They would also withhold my salary if I left without permission.
After thinking about all these problems, I decided to lie. I sent a message to my cousin, who is a doctor, asking him to prepare a fake doctor’s report for me. I knew it was wrong, but I felt like I had no choice. The company was so harsh that I could not tell the truth.
On the day of the exam, I asked my brother to call my boss and tell him that I was sick. While my boss believed that, I quickly left and went to the new company for the interview and exam. I was nervous, but I knew this chance was important for my future. I could not risk losing it because of the strict rules at my current job.
After the exam I spent a week before going back to work, A week later, I returned with the doctor’s report from my cousin. The company accepted it and did not ask questions. They believed my story and I continued working as usual.
Looking back, I know what I did was not right. I lied, and lying is wrong. But at that moment, I felt like I had no other option. The rules at the company were so strict and unfair. They did not allow workers to grow or try new things easily. If I told the truth, I would have lost my salary or maybe even my job. I wanted to protect myself and still look for a better future.
This experience made me think about lying “for a reason.” Sometimes, people tell lies because they want to protect themselves. They want to avoid pain, trouble, or loss. In my case, the lie helped me to go for a better job opportunity without losing my current income. I believed the reason was good enough to justify the lie.
From my experience, I learned that lying “for a reason” is not always simple. It depends on the situation and the reason behind the lie. Sometimes, it feels like the only way to protect yourself or get a chance. Other times, it can be a way to avoid facing reality or taking responsibility. I think honesty is important, but life is not always easy. Sometimes, people face hard choices, and telling the truth can cause more harm than good.
So, can there be a time when it is acceptable to lie? Maybe yes, but it should not be an excuse to avoid responsibility or hurt others. It should be a careful choice made when no other option seems possible.
This is my response to this episode of hivelearners community prompt of #HL-W166E02 which the topic is tagged FOR A REASON
