Society shapes us from the moment we are born — through school, culture, family, traditions, expectations, and the rules we’re taught to follow without ever questioning them. Many of these teachings help us, but some of them hold us back, limit our potential, or create illusions that people accept as “truth” simply because everyone else believes them.
We all grow up hearing things that are supposed to guide us, but later in life we discover that they were incomplete, misleading, or completely false. What feels “normal” is not always right. What everyone repeats is not always true. And what society expects from us is not always what leads to happiness or success.
That’s why I want to open this discussion.
In your experience, what do you think is the biggest lie society teaches us — and how did you discover it wasn’t true?
Your answer can be about:
- Life
- Happiness
- Success
- Relationships
- Education
- Work
- Human nature
- Anything you’ve learned through experience
.
There is no right or wrong answer.
Just share the truth you have discovered in your own life.
The biggest lie I believe society teaches us is that our worth is measured by the barometer of our external output; that is how much we achieve, earn, produce, or endure. This lie convinces people to chase validation instead of alignment, burn ourselves out trying to prove something that never needed to be proven in the first place. It also teaches us that rest is laziness, gentleness and kindness are mundane, and slowing down to reserve ourselves is falling behind proverbial societal standards. None of this is true to me. The truth is: Our value and worth has nothing to do with how well we perform some work project or meet some key performance metrics. Our humanity isn’t a resume. Our soul isn’t a checklist. Our lives aren’t a competition. We are worthy of love, dignity, rest, joy, and peace simply for being! The day we come to realize this is the day we become more self/spiritually aware that society doesn’t reserve the existential right to define us… WE DO!!
Society teaches that it doesn’t matter your natural and God given ability and intelligent, you still have to cheat your way up.
Also, that you can loose all you have ever gathered if the top 1 percent of the society (those who hold power) decide to trample on you and take everything from you.
What a world…
society puts huge expectations on people thinking they have to follow a list on how things should go in one’s life and realistically that puts pressure and anxiety on people to reach certain goals just to please others. You have people who do not have a college education and are not in debt with student loans, and they are living their best life. there are people who start a family in their thirties, forties and even fifties. everyone’s path is going to be different from their peers. what worked back in the day, is different today.
Unfortunately many of the lies we are told are told to try to make life look rosier than it actually is. For example when the princess kisses the frog he will turn into a Prince!!!.
Nowadays it is very difficult to determine what is truth and what is lies. A good example of this is when we were told that Covid was caused by bats rather than manufactured in a Chinese laboratory.
The pity is that many politicians and government agencies think that the rest of us actually believe their propaganda and lies.
If you have a safe job you have made it in life.
There is a certain age you should be married at.
You should listen to people older than you just because they are older than you.
If you don’t have a degree you can never get a job.
You should do what you are told.
There are some specific features that decide whether you are beautiful or ugly.
Pursuing your dreams is childish and a fantasy.
Earning money is hard.
Crying is a sign of weakness.
Confidence is something you are born with…etc
The biggest lie society keeps pushing is that *“you have to be perfect to be successful.”*
We grow up hearing that straight‑A grades, flawless résumés, and a picture‑perfect life are the only tickets to a good career and happiness. In reality, it’s the messy, imperfect journey—mistakes, setbacks, and all—that actually builds resilience, sparks creativity, and leads to real growth.
There is a lie was some several years ago. It was really encouraged by the society then and even our parents were very much in belief. This thing about go to school, become educated and obviously you will get a JOB and definitely become successful was really a drum bit. I later on come to realise all were not real.
The biggest lies I heard and endured pressure to succeed in school was that you had to learn all subjects and that they would be used in the workplace.Not at all true when I worked for the Summer Youth Employment Program upon finishing school.Also that supposedly having high grades would open doors for one in life.Also other lies were that if you didn’t get a career which was high paying how you would be looked down on.In my life experience and the way globalization was beginning,and jobs from the United States being relocated to the Middle East,Mexico and other countries,it showed that all that had been a myth.Especially about jobs lasting until retirement.Then about life period folks in society still try to get you to believe that by living a scripted life,it would be easier and beneficial in the end.For me,my own path is what works for me.
society puts huge expectations on people thinking they have to follow a list on how things should go in one’s life and realistically that puts pressure and anxiety on people to reach certain goals just to please others. You have people who do not have a college education and are not in debt with student loans, and they are living their best life. there are people who start a family in their thirties, forties and even fifties. everyone’s path is going to be different from their peers. what worked back in the day, is different today.
the Biggest Lie Society Teaches Us that if we work hard we will become successful the reality they seem like we will be successful in short period of time which they mislead us it takes more than short term to be successful in life. As long as you keep being constant and consistency then you will succeed in life it could take years to be where you want to be not couple of months to be successful.
I agree
There are so many examples of this:
- Governments
- Health agencies
- Schools
- Celebrities
The list is endless.
Personally I would use the example of the recent COVID pandemic, there were so many lies by officials that are now coming to the surface, also the so called miracle vaccinations that have done more damage than good as they were not fully tested. I now have no faith in the NHS in the UK as since the pandemic finished it is now impossible to get appointments with a GP or referrals to hospital for more complex issues, waiting times in A&E (emergency room) are now at an all time high and all this is due to cuts that were promised would never be made by the UK government, before and during the pandemic. However I do appreciate everyone who works tirelesy for the NHS as they are in a rubbish position currently and have stuck with their jobs throught the tough times and only have a tougher time ahead. Basically I feel that we are sold nothing but lies from politicians to get our votes, the same politicians who are now resigning over the truth of underhanded tactics during the pandemic, that they lied to us all about how we had to stay at home while they enjoyed lavish parties and laughed at us when we refused vaccines that were clearly not ready to be used.
Waowawa, thanks for this question Vahid, I think about this virtually everyday, and wonders what exactly is the truth.
It’s like life in itself is a lie, so many lies, so many, that I can’t even begin to make a list at the moment.
Lies like it is because you are like this or you are like that, that’s the reason you are not getting married.
You have to be perfect before you are love and accepted.
It’s really an unending list.
The biggest lies is that going to school will help you create wealth, going to school you come out rich but it’s not true at all. It all leads to a particular route.