deceit | David M Masters

Blindsided By Their Ability to Say One Thing and Do Another?

Have you ever been blindsided by someone who had the uncanny ability to say one thing and do another, to say all the right things, looking you in the eye with sincerity, making promises or declarations that touched your soul—only to watch their actions contradict entirely every word? If so, you are not alone. The shock of this kind of betrayal can feel like the ground shifting beneath your feet. It’s confusing. Disorienting. And it cuts deep.

It’s okay to feel angry. Hurt. Even foolish. You trusted. You believed. You wanted to see the best in someone. That doesn’t make you weak. It makes you human.

Why Does It Hurt So Much?

Because words have power. We build our hopes, our expectations, and sometimes our very identities on the things people tell us—especially those we love or admire. When those words dissolve into lies or indifference, it’s natural to feel like we’ve been played or discarded. It’s one thing to make a mistake or have a misunderstanding—it’s another thing entirely to be deceived.

But what do we do with that pain? How do we move forward when the betrayal doesn’t make sense?

Let’s explore a few possibilities.

Option 1: Take a Stroll in Their Shoes

Before we jump to conclusions, consider this: What if their inconsistency isn’t intentional malice but a reflection of deep inner conflict? Some people have spent their entire lives learning how to survive—not how to love, trust, or show up with integrity.

Ask yourself:

- What kind of childhood might they have endured?
- Were they raised in chaos or constant criticism?
- Have they ever had an example of what healthy love looks like?

Sometimes, people say what they think they should say, without knowing how to follow through. Their words are echoes of what they wish they could be—not a blueprint of who they truly are.

This doesn’t excuse their behavior. It doesn’t mean you should tolerate being hurt. But it does offer a softer lens—one that allows for understanding, and maybe even compassion, from a safe distance.

This kind of person isn’t evil. They’re wounded. And their inconsistency may be more about their survival mechanisms than a targeted attack on your heart.

Option 2: Spotting the Predators

But then again… maybe not.

Some people do manipulate. Some people do lie, gaslight, and deliberately distort reality for their own gain. These are the narcissists, sociopaths, and—at the far end of the spectrum—psychopaths. They walk among us, often charming, confident, and convincing.

So, how can you tell the difference?

Signs of a wounded but redeemable person:

- They express genuine remorse when confronted.
- Their actions, over time, reflect growth.
- They try to make amends, even if awkwardly.
- They’re open to therapy, insight, or accountability.

Signs of a narcissist/sociopath/psychopath:

- They deny wrongdoing and shift the blame onto you.
- They lie with ease, often denying things you know happened.
- They show no empathy for your pain.
- They repeat harmful behaviors without change.
- They make you question your sanity—this is gaslighting.
- You feel drained, confused, or constantly “off” around them.

If that’s what you’re dealing with, your next steps must be protective, not compassionate.

Protect Yourself, Either Way

Whether the person is broken or predatory, the outcome is the same: you are being harmed. You are confused, off-kilter, and perhaps doubting yourself. That’s not okay.

Here’s what you can do:

1. Pause and Reflect. Write down exactly what happened—what was said, what was done. Clarity is power.
2. Talk to Someone You Trust. Don’t isolate. Seek wise counsel. A therapist, coach, or grounded friend can help you sort out what’s real.
3. Protect Your Peace. Sometimes that means limiting contact, creating boundaries, or walking away altogether.
4. Forgive for You, Not for Them. Forgiveness doesn’t mean re-entry. It means you’re choosing to let go of the poison they left behind so you can heal.
5. Trust Yourself Again. Just because you were fooled doesn’t mean you’re foolish. You trusted. That’s a beautiful thing. With time, you’ll learn how to trust wiser—but don’t lose the beautiful heart that beats inside you.

Whether the person in question is struggling with unhealed trauma or is an expert manipulator, you are not powerless. You get to choose how you respond. You get to decide how much access they have to your heart, your time, and your sacred energy.

And as painful as this experience may be, it can also be a gateway to incredible growth, insight, and self-love.

So take a deep breath. Stand in your truth. You’re not crazy. You’re awakening.

And that’s where your healing begins.

Hope After Deceptive Love

Is there hope after deceptive love?

You’re putting yourself out there, meeting, greeting, and inviting people into your life in the hope of attracting that one special person, regardless of your past experience which has opened your eyes to how deceptive and untrustworthy people can be when you’ve opened your heart in love.

It’s easy to say, “After what I’ve been through, I will never love again.” Even though the thought crossed your mind, something inside you still believes love is waiting for you, and it is. You could have said, “There is no honest lover out there,” yet, you know you are honest in your love, so there must be someone “out there,” and there is.

If you are diligently waiting for a really good match, someone who is going in the same direction as you, leading to a sustainable future together in life, with growth, expansion, and love, don’t expect it to happen overnight.

If you’ve been wounded by a romantic relationship it’s easy to jump to the conclusion that your previous lover was a psychopath, sociopath, or narcissist, but chances are, he or she was just not being truthful and was practicing dishonesty, keeping or hiding things from you, and this feels like a betrayal.

There are people out there who will use the platform of “love” to achieve their needs or desired results. It can be as basic as the need to have food, shelter, and clothing, or needs or desires which are far more sinister.

And you (as well as most of us), because you are “in love” are less keen to the warning signs at the outset, then are surprised when your partner’s inconsistencies come to light (when they were apparent from the get-go).

Relationships can be stressful, especially painful in the ending phase of them. Many of us carry deep emotional wounds from deceit in romantic relationships, which can range from not telling the truth (consciously leaving out important details) to infidelity.

Harboring the pain from past relationships can hinder or prevent the attraction of true love to you. Your inner pain attracts another person who is similar to the previous one who caused your emotional wound(s) like a magnet.

Not really what you want. Right?

So, doing the deep work of uncovering all those wounds, treating and healing them, can put you miles ahead to attracting a true love into your life.

And if you want a happy relationship, you need to find all the happiness you can in your life, without him or her, because how you feel attracts someone who matches how you feel. If you are exuberantly approaching life, seeking new opportunities to feel and express your love and happiness, this is what will come to you, because like attracts like.

Be patient and have fun

Above all, love and live life with all you’ve got, and if you’re doing that, who cares who comes around to play with you and love you with all their heart?

And that’s when it will happen.

He or she is looking for you and doing their own deep work, right now. Be a match and be available.

See you at the Soulmate Wizardry event.

Deception by Omission

Everyone lies, it’s a basic mechanism we use to get through life with some sense of decorum. Then there are those who are involved in deception with malicious intent or ill-gotten gains. The craftiest of these swindlers engage in deception by omission, then deny any wrongdoing because they didn’t actually engage in lying, they just failed to include some of the pertinent details.

It’s no accident that these details went undisclosed, it was meant to purposefully deceive you, and to prevent you from having access to the truth, then deny all responsibility of deceit by claiming that no deceit has taken place because no one lied. You just did not have all the information. No crime. No foul.

In terms of trust and betrayal, you cannot trust someone who engages in deception by omission. It is a cunning misdirection and intentional withholding is no accident.

Even with the best of intentions, we leave out certain details out of fear. The fear of being caught, punished, made to feel guilty, or because we let someone down and cause someone’s feelings to be hurt. Even so, if you’re leaving out details that would have otherwise been more honest, you are lying.

For those with malicious intent, they lie by omission to manipulate, defraud, do harm, protect themselves, avoid accountability, or to appeal to your more sensitive capabilities causing you to let down your guard. No matter what they call it, or how they try to justify it, they are being dishonest and lying to you by omission.

Practicing deception of any kind, either by outright lying or practicing deception by omission, actually does more harm to the deceiver than you might expect. If you are otherwise a good person attempting to live a good life, the act of deceiving others in any fashion will cost you in your overall health score.

Unless you are a psychopath or pathological liar, these little indiscretions cause stress in the body which builds in magnitude and severely compromises your immune system. It takes a great deal of energy to manage deception and lies. This is a waste of energy which would be better used to sustain life, not to cause its deterioration.

Lying also creates an underlying frequency of paranoia for those who are trying to cover their tracks, often wondering if their true colors will ever be been shown or will they one day be held responsible for their deception.

The act of deceiving others lowers your emotional frequency and keeps your mind in the lower vibrational environments which breed fewer positive thoughts and responses overall. This will tend to attract less positive life circumstances to appear more frequently in your life.

Deception by omission promotes a lack of trust in your inner circle. Even of those who aren’t actually a party to your deception by omission. They will always wonder when and if you might be practicing deception by omission on them, even if you never do.

Once a betrayal of trust has taken place, there is little that can be done to repair the damage, except to be totally honest and trustworthy for long enough a period of time that the offending party can start to trust you once again. The amount of time necessary to regain someone’s trust depends on the person who has been deceived.

Stabbed in the Back

You’ve opened your heart, trusted someone you cared about, allowed yourself to be vulnerable, and he or she stabbed you in the back. Now, you look back and can see every red flag that indicated this might be coming, and you ignored them because you saw the only goodness and the sacred potential in this person. Still, you were stabbed in the back.

People disrespect you, friends let you down, even your own family could betray you. No doubt, betrayal leaves wounds and scars that can endure and cause the deterioration of your entire system, body, mind, and spirit.

What should you do when you’ve been stabbed in the back?

Jesus had the nerve to suggest you should forgive those who stab you in the back 7 times 70 times (Matthew 18:22), and I’m certain that it’s not about the math problem so much as it is about if someone stabs you in the back you should just forgive them over and over again.

Forgive them, yes, but do not let them walk all over you.

What can you do when you’ve been stabbed in the back?

You can forgive them for not honoring your ability to ability to only see them in the best light. No need to punish yourself for putting your faith in – and trusting – someone else, which would be the natural response of your ego which stands in judgment of everyone and everything, even you.

At the very least, take sacred action to set boundaries for those who disrespect you, and distance yourself from those you know have a propensity to stab you in the back.

You are responsible for the perseverance of your sacred space. Do not let anyone take your power away or have dominion over you. Remember that even in the worst situations someone may be able to impose their will over your body, but you must allow them to have dominion over your mind. Stop giving your power away. Do not allow them to exert authority over your mind.

Pay more attention. Remember the old adage, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on you.” Not all people are loving, open, honest, and respectful of others, like you. Every now and then, your bound to run across the occasional psychopath, sociopath or narcissist, who could certainly throw your otherwise peaceful or harmonious life off-balance, or worse, even turn your whole world upside down.

Unfortunately, there are people out there who do not have your best interest at heart. Some people are just toxic, and it’s up to you to decide what’s best for you to do.

When you’re just getting started setting boundaries, “back off,” and a firm, “no” are good ways to protect your sacred space. Drawing firm lines in the sand (metaphorically or otherwise) around you is also effective.

When you’re totally comfortable with the idea of protecting yourself from the negative influence or impact of others on your psychological wellbeing or your life at all, then you can consider the idea of loving them unconditionally.

Loving others, and blessing those who hurt you, is a tough row to hoe, but if you wrap your heart and mind around the idea that everyone (including you) is only doing the best with what they have, you might be able to imagine having compassion (not feeling sorry) for that person. Consider, if you were in his or her shoes, having lived the very life that he/she had lived up to that point, you would have responded in exactly the same way.

You might be able to find the wherewithal to forgive the person by whom you were stabbed in the back, or maybe even not judge them for any wrongdoing at all, for they were simply doing the best the could with the tools they had at the time.

Don’t worry if all that love seems inconceivable at present, but at the very least, stop letting yourself be stabbed in the back.

It’s up to you to do it.

For more information, see: Trust Betrayal dot com.

No Such Thing as a Lie

When someone lies to you, if you feel as though someone has hit you in the stomach or stabbed you in the back, you’ve bought into the lie which asserts that there is such a thing as a lie. What if there is no such thing as a lie?

The idea of promoting the idea that there are lies, and that there are fewer crimes more offensive than lying, is the single most effective tool used against us to keep us fully separated from each other.

This obsession over the difference between truth and lies keeps us at war with each other and keeps us constantly on the defensive, ever wondering, “Who will lie to you next?”

This begins and perpetuates the endless cycle of looking for lies, and as you know, you will always find whatever it is you are looking for. If you are looking for lies, you will find them everywhere you look.

What if there was no such thing as a lie?

What if everything anyone says (in spoken word or print) actually is true one hundred percent of the time?

This is the essence of my Truth Continuum which purports that everything is truth. If history teaches us anything it is that everything which has been widely accepted as truth is subject to change and that one person’s truth can vary wildly from that of someone else.

Truth is subjective. And if truth is subject to influence and personal interpretation, then the antithesis, lies, must also be subjective. Which puts these concepts on par with each other, for if someone’s truth is another person’s lie, they are one and the same; all within the Truth Continuum.

As much as you might like to assert your truth is based on facts or sound science, we know that these things are not as black and white as we might like to believe.

Truth more adequately stated might be, “The truth as I see it,” which reasonably must allow for the truth of others as, “The truth as you see it.” Therefore, all truth, past, present, and future (including other dimensions and places in time and space) resides within the truth continuum.

Lies are a little trickier because there are two kinds of lies, the lies which are contradictory to one’s perceived truth (these may reside within the truth continuum), and lies which are purposefully spun in an effort to deceive someone or to avoid some potentially undesirable consequence (excluded from the truth continuum).

To express a lie which is known to the deliverer to not be true in an effort to deceive may be spun in such a way as to be believable or potentially true is a lie which has no truth within it, even though there may be truths hidden within the details of it, to make it appear to credible or truthful.

Lying with intentional deceit is not the same as declaring something that is believed to be true but may not be perceived by others to be true.

The possibility exists that many of the popular beliefs purported by social engineers and leaders of certain factions may have intentionally spun to deceive a particular populace but with the intention to benefit the purveyors of the lie or the greater part of the population.

Those who use lies to control people may have concocted the most masterful lies with no truth present as a method to manipulate peoples, and even so, because these lies have been believed to be truth by someone, these ideas can also be found in the truth continuum.

So, what if someone lies to you intentionally to deceive you?

Ask yourself, “Does it matter?”

If you can wrap your mind around the idea that people just are, and you honor their ability to be who they are, to say what they say, without judgment, maybe what they say to you, even if intended to defraud you in some way, doesn’t really matter.

This is your life, and you can manage it any way you see fit.

Think about being an unconditional lover who believes in the idea that everyone has the same rights as you to be right or believed, no matter what.

Consider having the courage to believe there is no such thing as a lie, and to say, “I love you no matter what you say, no matter what you do.”

If there were no such thing as a lie, you could easily stay in the frequency of love’s vibration and your countenance would be unshakeable.

Is Withholding the Truth the Same as Blatantly Lying to You?

The act of withholding the truth is a controversial topic, with debates over whether it should be considered a form of lying or not. Some assert that it is merely a strategic data omission and not an outright lie, while others say that withholding information is a lie of omission.

The Psychology of Withholding the Truth

For the average liar, withholding the truth may serve as a tactical maneuver to avoid the guilt associated with direct lies. By omitting crucial details, individuals may convince themselves that they are not actively engaging in bold-faced deceit. Psychologists often refer to this behavior as a rationalization, a self-protective mechanism that enables individuals to reconcile their actions with their own moral compass.

Pathological liars, in particular, may frequently resort to this tactic, justifying their actions by emphasizing what they did not say rather than what they did say. However, the question remains: Can withholding the truth truly be separated from the concept of lying?

The Moral Implications

The Catholic Church, along with various moral and ethical frameworks, takes a firm stance on the issue of withholding the truth. From a moral perspective, the act of intentionally omitting crucial information is considered deceptive and contrary to principles of honesty and transparency, a venial sin according to Catholicism. Many argue that by withholding information, individuals are manipulating the truth, leading to potential harm or misunderstanding.

In the eyes of morality, the intent behind withholding the truth matters significantly. If the intention is to mislead or deceive, regardless of the means employed, it can be viewed as a breach of trust and a departure from ethical conduct.

Legal Perspectives

The legal system also weighs in on the question of whether withholding the truth is tantamount to lying. In various jurisdictions, the act of withholding information can have legal consequences, particularly when it comes to contracts, agreements, and legal obligations. Courts often recognize the importance of full disclosure to ensure fairness and justice.

One notable legal concept is the duty to disclose, which is a legal obligation requiring parties to reveal all material facts relevant to a transaction. Failure to fulfill this duty can result in legal repercussions, emphasizing the significance of transparency in legal matters.

Examples

To illustrate the blurred lines between withholding the truth and lying, consider the scenario of a job interview. An applicant might withhold information about a past employment termination, arguing that they were not explicitly asked about it. While they might not have told a direct lie, the omission of such a crucial detail could be deemed deceptive by the employer.

In a legal context, a seller withholding information about defects in a property during a real estate transaction could lead to legal consequences. The buyer may argue that the seller’s failure to disclose materially affected their decision, thus constituting a form of deception.

Withholding in the Name of Love

There are situations where withholding information can be motivated by compassion or an act of love. In certain contexts, the decision to withhold details may be guided by the desire to protect someone emotionally or physically, maintain their well-being, or uphold a greater good. Here are a few scenarios where compassionate withholding of the truth might be considered justifiable:

Protecting from Harm:

Example: A doctor may choose not to disclose the full severity of a patient’s condition if revealing it could cause extreme distress without offering any actionable steps for improvement. This is often seen in cases of terminal illnesses, where the focus is on preserving the patient’s emotional state.
Preserving Emotional Well-being:

Example: Parents might decide not to share certain family struggles or financial difficulties with their children to shield them from unnecessary stress. This compassionate act is driven by the intention to maintain a positive and stable environment for the well-being of the family.
Surprise or Gift Planning:

Example: Planning a surprise party or gift involves withholding information temporarily. This is done to enhance the joy and excitement of the recipient, demonstrating that withholding can be an act of love aimed at creating positive and memorable experiences.
Personal Relationships:

Example: In certain situations, individuals may choose not to disclose past mistakes or regrets to their partners if doing so would cause undue pain and not contribute constructively to the relationship. The intention is to protect the emotional connection rather than deceive maliciously.
Children and Sensitive Information:

Example: Parents may withhold certain details about difficult family situations or personal hardships from their young children until they are old enough to understand and cope with the information. This is often done to shield them from unnecessary emotional burdens.
It’s important to note that the justification for withholding information in these cases lies in the intention to prioritize the well-being and emotional health of the individuals involved. Compassionate withholding is not synonymous with deceit, as the underlying motivation is rooted in care and consideration for the feelings and mental state of others.

However, it’s crucial to strike a balance and recognize that openness and honesty are generally valued in relationships. In some cases, the decision to withhold information may need to be reassessed over time, and communication should be encouraged when the timing is right.

So, is Withholding the Truth Lying?

In conclusion, the question of whether withholding the truth is a lie involves a complex interplay of moral, psychological, and legal considerations. While some may attempt to rationalize this behavior as a strategy to avoid outright lies, both moral and legal frameworks emphasize the importance of transparency and full disclosure. The implications of withholding information, intentional or not, should not be underestimated, as they can have far-reaching consequences in personal relationships, professional settings, and legal proceedings.

Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

In life, you may encounter people who are not as they represent themselves, and when they are stealthy in their approach to control or manipulate others, we refer to such a person as a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

The Origins of the Phrase

The term has biblical roots, with Jesus warning, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matthew 7:15). Similarly, Aesop’s fable tells of a wolf disguising itself with a sheep’s pelt to move freely among the flock, preying on the herd unnoticed. Eventually, the wolf is discovered by the shepherd and pays the ultimate price for its deception, suggesting that no matter how clever or stealthy the wolf may be, the truth will inevitably come to light.

The Modern-Day Wolf

Today’s wolves in sheep’s clothing are just as cunning, seamlessly integrating into social circles and expertly masking their true intentions. Their primary skill lies in deception—telling people what they want to hear and adapting to any environment to gain trust and manipulate others for their own gain, be it profit, entertainment, or pleasure.

Recognizing a Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

Just like Aesop’s shepherd, you might sense something isn’t quite right in your social circle. A gut feeling may prompt you to scan your surroundings for inconsistencies or red flags. By observing closely, you may spot certain telltale signs that expose the wolf among the flock.

1. Their Stories Don’t Add Up

Wolves are adept storytellers. They craft convincing narratives based on information they’ve gathered from others or the internet, making their tales sound authentic.

However, their web of lies often unravels over time. Inconsistencies may emerge as they forget details or contradict themselves. When questioned, they quickly spin new stories to cover their tracks with smooth and convincing rationalizations.

2. They’re Always on the Move

A wolf in sheep’s clothing rarely stands still. They keep a steady pace, always moving to avoid detection. Their mission requires constant activity, whether it’s forming new alliances or shoring up their image of trustworthiness.

These individuals excel at developing bonds quickly, especially with those who are trusting or eager to see the best in people. They charm their way into hearts with silver-tongued persuasion, building a network of allies to protect their hidden agenda.

3. They Play on Your Emotions

Wolves know how to manipulate emotions to their advantage. Initially, they’ll make everything about you, creating an exhilarating connection designed to release bonding hormones and make you feel deeply attached.

Once they have you hooked, their focus shifts. Suddenly, everything becomes about them. You may feel obligated to cater to their needs out of guilt or a sense of loyalty. Be wary of this tactic—it’s a calculated strategy to maintain control.

4. They Have a Short Attention Span

Wolves operate with a clear agenda, and they’re not interested in detours. Veering off course makes them anxious, and they’ll work quickly to steer things back to their desired path.

They’re also easily bored, constantly seeking new distractions or challenges to keep themselves entertained. This restlessness often leads to juggling multiple tasks at once, with little regard for completion or follow-through. Their lifestyle is fast-paced and superficial, leaving no time for depth or genuine enjoyment.

5. Their Mind Breaks Character

Even the most skilled wolves can slip up. While their game is tight on the surface, their mind may wander in moments that require focus or authenticity.

In group settings like meetings or discussions, their detachment may become apparent through subtle cues—shifting body language, distracted eye movements, or a fleeting expression that reveals their inner thoughts. In those moments, they’ve checked out, mentally plotting their next move or fantasizing about a favorable outcome.

Protecting Yourself from the Wolf

Being aware of these signs is the first step to protecting yourself from manipulation. Trust your instincts—if something feels off, it probably is. Here’s how you can safeguard your energy and relationships:

- Stay Observant: Pay attention to inconsistencies in their stories or behavior.
- Set Boundaries: Limit how much personal information you share and how much access they have to your life.
- Avoid Emotional Manipulation: Recognize when your emotions are being exploited and take a step back to assess the situation objectively.
- Maintain a Support Network: Surround yourself with trustworthy friends and allies who can help you spot red flags.

The Wolf’s Downfall

Like Aesop’s fable, the wolf in sheep’s clothing will eventually reveal their true nature. Whether through a slip of the tongue, a moment of inattention, or the inability to maintain their façade, the truth has a way of coming to light.

While you can’t always prevent encountering a wolf, you can protect yourself by staying vigilant and trusting your intuition. And remember, as clever as they may seem, a wolf can only hide for so long before their disguise falls apart.

In the end, the shepherd always uncovers the truth.

You’ve Been Deceived Now What?

You’ve trusted someone… and they let you down, cheated, lied, committed a criminal act, or otherwise taken advantage of you. When you’ve been deceived, your first instinct might be to ask the question, “How could I have let this happen?”

You need to cut yourself some slack as soon as possible because the fact is that we are surrounded by manipulative people who seek out good and honest people whom they can take advantage of. They can be quite crafty and covert and the fact that they chose you is a compliment to your character and an indication of his or her lack of character.

We all tend to project our own morality onto those within proximity. For instance, if you’re an honest, trustworthy person, you tend to see others as being honest and trustworthy, while liars see others as dishonest, and fear others are always hiding something and may deserve to be taken advantage of.

You’re somewhat in a state of shock because you wouldn’t think of doing this to someone else. Ready yourself to forgive yourself for falling victim to this circumstance, it was not your fault. You are not responsible for someone else’s misdeeds.

Of course, The kind of betrayal I am referencing is the misdeed with malicious intent, you must distinguish this type of activity from an honest mistake. Sometimes someone whom you’ve trusted does something that results in your feeling betrayed, but there was a distinct lack of malice, more likely they hadn’t thought things through far enough or realized that their inattention to detail would be offensive to you.

If someone has simply made the mistake of crossing you unwittingly, cut them some slack, and prepare to forgive them.

Be aware that there are people who may be looking to take advantage of others, but do not fall into the trap of living in fear. Many people may have the tendency to exploit others, and may include personality profiles such as narcissists, sociopaths and/or psychopaths, who are well-versed in building your confidence in them and grooming others for “the take.”

Once you’ve correctly diagnosed a person as one who would lie or otherwise take advantage of you, realize they are a snake. As much as they might beg forgiveness or try to charm you otherwise, a snake is a snake, and it will only set you up to bite you, even worse the next time.

Can people change? Yes. I am in the change business and I see it every day, but you have to learn how to deal with a liar, look out for you and take care of yourself and the others whom you care about. This is your responsibility. If this snake is a repeat offender, you have to do the right thing and take the action which is best for you and yours.

In becoming aware of the existence of individuals who may not have your best interests at heart, learn early detection methods of determining when someone might be being less than honest and pay more attention to potential warning signs early on when you are getting to know someone.

In the event that you are having a twinge, a sense that someone may not be as they appear, don’t be shy about checking out the details for accuracy. If you are uncovering holes in their stories and blatant inaccuracies, there’s no need to confront them about it, just place a safe distance between yourself and this person, and don’t let down your guard around this person.

Now that you are becoming more aware of people and learning how to see people as they really are, be careful not to fall into the trap of seeing everyone as a potential threat. Not everyone is out to get you, but once victimized, it can be easy to be absorbed in perpetual victim mentality (which will only attract more predators) so avoid the temptation to do so.

Remember the good and honest, trusting person that you were before this incident and embrace that part of you even more, only being aware enough to protect yourself in the future.

For more information, see: Trust Betrayal dot com.