We all know that honesty is a key component of any healthy Relationship, not only because it helps us avoid harmful breaches of trust, but because it allows us to live in reality as opposed to fantasy and to share this reality with someone else.

Of course, every human being has their own unique perceptions of the world, but by sharing these perceptions with each other, we get to know each other for who we really are.

If you are thinking about what you can do to not only be more honest but to promote an atmosphere of honesty, and generate a steady flow of truth-telling between you and the people you Love most, here are five elements you have to consider to achieve these goals:  

To be honest with someone else, we must first know ourselves. We have to understand what we really think and feel about the world around us. Very often in life, we are either influenced by or conforming to a series of "what should be done" imposed on us by the larger society and most particularly the culture within our family of origin. We may get married, because everyone our age is settling down. We may refuse to get close to someone ourselves, because our parents never got along.

Its important to differentiate ourselves from harmful influences and overlays on our personality that dont reflect who we really are and what we really want. If a voice in our head is telling us not to take a chance or be vulnerable, its important to question where those thoughts come from, then make our actions match what we really desire.

When we are true to ourselves in this way, we are better able to be honest with the people around us. We are less likely to just tell people what they want to hear or try to cover up things about ourselves of which we feel ashamed. Instead, we can be honest about who we are and what we want in the relationship.

So often relationships lose their spark when couple replace substance with form. Things like saying I love you or doing things together become a matter of routine instead of lively choices that emerge from how we really feel. When we form what is, termed a fantasy bond, an illusion of connection that replaces real, loving ways of relating, we often begin to feel distant from our Partner or lose interest. We may start making excuses for pulling away or we may still talk of being in love, meanwhile, we may not be engaging in behaviors that are loving toward our partner.

To avoid this dishonest way of relating, its important to always act with integrity and make our actions match our words. If we say we are in love, we should engage in behaviors toward our partner that someone else would observe as loving.  We should spend real, quality time with our partner, in which we slow down and make contact. We should show our feelings, not just in words but in our body language. Saying I love you, while grimacing or sighing at every move our partner makes is not an expression of love that matches what we supposedly feel.

Not everything we feel in a relationship will be warm and fuzzy. Yet, been honest and direct with someone we love doesnt mean we have to be hurtful or cruel. Sharing life with someone, we are bound to notice some of their negative tendencies and defenses that get in the way of our feelings of closeness and attraction. When we aren't open with our partner about what we feel and observe, we may grow cynical or start building a case against them that actually distorts and exaggerates their flaws.

Instead of being overly critical or attacking angrily, we should aim to be vulnerable with our partner in exposing what we think and feel.  We can say things like, "I miss you when you work all the time. I feel less attracted to you when you act tough or try to control what we do together" etc. These honest and direct statements may feel uncomfortable at times, but they come from a place of vulnerability and openness that can actually lead to more closeness and intimacy.

Just as we should be direct with our partner, we should be open to hearing honesty directed toward us. We should always be willing to listen to our partners and see things from their point of view. What are they trying to tell us about how they are experiencing us and feeling toward us? Rather than argue every small detail, we should look for the kernel of truth in what our partner says to us. Its important not to be defensive, reactive or punishing for feedback. If we get victimized or fall apart when we hear criticism, we emotionally manipulate our partner, and we encourage them to sugar coat or even deceive us in the future. Having a partner who feels comfortable to open up to us is the best case scenario for having an honest relationship, in which we can both mature and develop ourselves.

No matter how connected we may feel to someone else, we will always be two separate people with two sovereign minds.  If our partner doesn't see things the same way we do, it doesn't necessarily mean they're lying. It just means that we are two people, who observe the world from different perspectives. The more we accept this reality, the more comfortable we can feel in accepting that we won't agree on everything, but by being honest with each other, we can know and accept each other for who we actually are as opposed to whoever we want each other to be. In this scenario, neither one of us has to pretend to be someone else or try to fit into an image or expectation. We can, instead, support each other for the things that make us who we are as individuals that light us up and give our lives meaning.

This steady flow of give and take, this willingness to be truthful, even when its uncomfortable, helps establish trust in each other and the relationship. An open exchange, no matter how hard it may feel, really does set us free in the sense that we can accept that we are two individuals who choose to be together despite our differences. Most importantly, when we make this choice, we can rest assured that its because we really love each other and not just because we are drawn to the fantasy of being together.

Living truthfully, things may not always have a fairy tale ending, but as human beings, we are resilient. We can handle our partner feeling attracted to someone else, and we can handle telling him or her when we feel insecure, afraid or even furious. We can handle pretty much anything, as long as we are willing to live in reality and face the truths that exist. Honesty in relationships makes us feel secure, because we know where we stand. When we are honest with ourselves and our partner, we can experience the joy and excitement of living in a real relationship, where we are being chosen for who we are.

I recommend adding honesty to your relationship juice and watch it take a turn for the better.